Hayes Theatre Co

What Hayes Theatre Co does

Hayes Theatre Co is an Australian non-profit independent theatre company founded in 2014 and based in Potts Point, Sydney, with a 1-10 employee team. It presents musical theatre, cabaret, and new Australian work in an intimate venue, runs development programs for emerging music theatre artists, and hosts festivals such as the Festival of New Work. Its audience is Sydney and Australian theatre-goers seeking small-scale, original, and emerging music theatre productions.

Name

Hayes Theatre Co

Legal name

Hayes Theatre Co

Website

https://hayestheatre.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hayes Theatre Co is a Sydney-based non-profit independent theatre company founded in 2014, presenting musical theatre, cabaret, and new Australian work in an intimate Potts Point venue while supporting emerging artists through co-productions, festivals, and benefit events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre and Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Musical theatre productions
• Cabaret performances
• Live theatre venue
• Performing arts development
• New work showcases

Headquarters

HQ city

Potts Point

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for productions and events at the Hayes Theatre Co venue. Prices range from preview rates to premium evening performances, with various concession categories.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Accepts donations from patrons during ticket purchase or independently through their giving program. Donations support Australian artists and development programs.
3. Charitable Events: Annual Carols by Cabaret charity event raising funds for Wayside Chapel, with raffle and direct donations.
4. Venue Hire and Partnerships: Partner productions hire the venue, with Hayes Co-productions alongside independent producers sharing revenue and costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hayes Theatre Co is an independent producing theatre and venue that presents musical theatre productions, cabaret performances, and new work development programs at its Potts Point venue in Sydney. It produces its own mainstage seasons while co-presenting with independent producers, and runs annual events including the Festival of New Work, Winter Cabaret Season, and improvised musical theatre nights. The company also offers vocational training programs, masterclasses, and networking events for emerging music theatre artists.

Product overview

Hayes Theatre Co is an independent Australian theatre company based in Potts Point, Sydney, operating as a producing house for music theatre and cabaret. The company's portfolio consists primarily of full-scale theatrical productions presented at its venue, supplemented by curated seasonal programs including the Festival of New Work (a development hub for Australian music theatre creators), the Winter Cabaret Season, and recurring events like Musical Bang Bang (improvised musical theatre), Home Grown (emerging writer showcases), and the 2-Day Musical Challenge. Additional offerings include industry masterclasses, networking events, and an online ticketing platform. The company also partners with independent producers and other theatre companies to co-present productions both at Hayes and at external venues such as the Foundry Theatre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Theatre Productions Full-scale musical theatre productions presented at the Hayes Theatre Co venue in Potts Point, Sydney, including classic musicals, contemporary works, Australian premieres, and world premieres. Targeted at theatre patrons and produced both independently and in association with independent producers.
• Festival of New Work An annual two-week festival dedicated to developing and showcasing new Australian music theatre writing, featuring work-in-progress presentations, concert readings, masterclasses, and networking events for emerging and established creators.
• Winter Cabaret Season An annual curated season of cabaret performances held in winter, featuring solo shows, variety acts, and emerging artists across multiple nights of programming.
• 2-Day Musical Challenge An annual event where teams of composers, writers, directors, and actors create and perform an original short musical within 36 hours, culminating in a world-premiere performance.
• Musical Bang Bang A recurring improvised musical theatre event co-presented with Bang Bang Rodeo, where performers create a complete musical in real-time based on audience suggestions, with no script and one-night-only performances.
• Home Grown Showcase

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $100,000 raised for Wayside Chapel through annual Carols by Cabaret
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• LPD ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPD Productions is presenting 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' in association with Hayes Theatre Co. This is a co-production partnership where LPD serves as the producing entity and Hayes Co as the venue/association partner.
• Well Done CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWell Done Creative is presenting 'Head Over Heels' in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
• Redfern Lane ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedfern Lane Productions is presenting 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
• Joshua Robson ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoshua Robson Productions is presenting 'The Addams Family' in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
• Cheers ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheers Productions is presenting 'We Are The Tigers' in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
• Neglected MusicalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeglected Musicals presents rarely-seen musical theatre works at Hayes Theatre Co, including 'The Rink' and 'The Witches of Eastwick'. They specialize in presenting musicals that have never or rarely been seen in Australia.
• Neil Gooding ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeil Gooding Productions co-produced 'Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell' with Amazon Woman Enterprises in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
• Griffin Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGriffin Theatre Company co-produced 'Flat Earthers: The Musical' with Hayes Theatre Co. This was a world premiere co-commission with Malcolm Robertson Foundation support.
• Green Door Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Door Theatre Company is presenting 'HOUSE OF ROT' in association with Hayes Theatre Co as part of the 2026 Winter Cabaret Season.
• John T Reid FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of the Festival of New Work 2026, providing generous support for the festival programming.
• KawaisupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Festival of New Work 2026.
• Robertson FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Festival of New Work 2026.
• Bang Bang RodeocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBang Bang Rodeo co-presents Musical Bang Bang improv events with Hayes Theatre Co. This partnership brings musical improv comedy to the Hayes venue.
• QueerstoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueerstories partnered with Hayes Theatre Co to present 'Homage', a spin-off event from the popular Queerstories storytelling project.
• Malcolm Robertson FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommissioned 'Flat Earthers: The Musical' and provided development support for the production.
• Arts Centre MelbournesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided development assistance for 'Flat Earthers: The Musical' and co-produced The Pirates of Penzance.
• City of SydneysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Sydney's Accommodation Grant Program makes Hayes Theatre Co possible. Also provided Creative Grant funding for 'Artefact' musical development.
• The Russell Mills FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerously supported the development and presentation of 'The Pirates of Penzance' adaptation.
• Wayside ChapelcoreOthersAnnual beneficiary of Carols by Cabaret charity event, with over $100,000 raised over ten years to support those less fortunate in the community.
• Foundry TheatresupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal venue partnership for 'The Pirates of Penzance' presentation at 55 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont.
• Playking FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported development of 'Flat Earthers: The Musical'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• New Musicals Australia: Australian initiative supporting the development of new musical theatre works. Comparable as an ecosystem participant overlapping with Hayes' new-work development mission, though operating as an advocacy/development platform rather than a producing venue.

Broad incumbents

• Sydney Theatre Company: Australia's flagship subsidised theatre company operating at the Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay. Comparable as a Sydney venue-presenter and producer of theatrical seasons, but at significantly larger scale and broader dramatic remit than Hayes.
• Melbourne Theatre Company: Australia's oldest professional theatre company, producing mainstage seasons including musical theatre. Comparable as a producing theatre with subscription ticketing and venue operations, but at much larger scale and with broader programming scope.
• Malthouse Theatre: Melbourne-based theatre company producing contemporary Australian and international work. Comparable as a venue-presenter with a curatorial focus on new and adventurous programming, though operating at a larger scale than Hayes.

Regional players

• Adelaide Cabaret Festival: Australia's largest annual cabaret festival, where Hayes artists have performed and won awards (e.g., Frank Ford Commission 2026). Comparable as a curated cabaret programming platform, though operating as a festival rather than a producing venue.

Direct peers

• Belvoir St Theatre: Sydney-based independent theatre company producing new Australian work and contemporary programming. Directly comparable as another Sydney independent theatre presenting its own seasons while also operating a dedicated venue, with similar audience development and co-production models.
• Darlinghurst Theatre Company: Sydney independent theatre company presenting a mix of new Australian works and productions at its own venue. Closely comparable in scale and programming focus on contemporary Australian theatre for a Sydney audience.
• Griffin Theatre Company: Sydney theatre company dedicated to new Australian writing, and a confirmed co-production partner of Hayes on Flat Earthers: The Musical. Comparable as a venue-presenter and developer of Australian theatrical IP.

Emerging players

• Neglected Musicals: Australian producer presenting rarely-seen musicals at Hayes Theatre Co and other venues. Comparable as a musical-theatre programming partner with overlapping audience and similar fringe-musical curatorial niche.
• Neil Gooding Productions: Independent Australian producer that co-produced Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell in association with Hayes. Comparable as a music-theatre producing partner with overlapping production pipeline and venue relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hayestheatreco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hayes-theatre-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hayes Theatre Co