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Trafalgar Entertainment

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Trafalgar Entertainment is a British multinational entertainment group co-founded in 2017 by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire after they stepped down from running Ambassador Theatre Group.[1] Based in London, UK, the company primarily focuses on new productions and the distribution of live streamed content.

Trafalgar Entertainment is the second-largest theatre operator in the UK.[2]

History

[edit]

In 2004, Ambassador Theatre Group first announced that the Whitehall Theatre in London would be reconfigured and reopened with the new name Trafalgar Studios.[3]

After being founded in 2017, Trafalgar acquired the global event cinema business Picturehouse Entertainment, rebranding to Trafalgar Releasing, which specialises in broadcasting live productions.[4]

The following year, the company acquired Stagecoach Performing Arts, a UK provider of Performing Arts tuition with over 2,000 schools and classes. Stagecoach shares a Head Office with Trafalgar Entertainment in Woking, UK.[5]

In 2019, Trafalgar Entertainment began a new partnership with London Theatre Direct, one of the UK's leading ticket retailer distributors and acquired UK-based event cinema distribution specialist, More2Screen.[3]

Later that year, the company announced the launch of Jonathan Church Theatre Productions with theatre director and producer Jonathan Church as artistic director.[6]

2020-2022

[edit]

In March 2020, Trafalgar Entertainment's flagship London venue Trafalgar Studios was forced to close its doors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] In May of that year, Westminster City Council granted planning permission to return Trafalgar Studios to a 630-seat theatre.[8] Building work commenced in the Summer of 2020 and the redevelopment was overseen by Foster Wilson Size Architects.[9]

In May 2020, Trafalgar Entertainment reached an agreement with the New South Wales Government in Australia to become the new operator of Theatre Royal Sydney in a 55-year sublease.[10] In July 2021, Theatre Royal Sydney reopened with Alanis Morissette's Broadway Musical Jagged Little Pill.[11]

In March 2021, the company acquired HQ Theatres,[12] the UK's largest specialist regional theatre operator with a portfolio of 12 theatres, including Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff-on-Sea, G Live in Guildford, Churchill Theatre in Bromley and the Orchard Theatre in Dartford.[13]

Trafalgar Entertainment also went on to acquire a 35-year lease at the Olympia Theatre, London, in May 2021.[14] The theatre is currently under development as part of the regeneration of Olympia London and is set to open in 2025.[15]

In June 2021, Trafalgar Entertainment opened its first cinema complex, The Chiswick Cinema, a five-screen cinema with a private members club. It was the first new cinema in Chiswick, England, to open since 1934.[16]

After a restoration project in 2020, Trafalgar Studios was reopened as Trafalgar Theatre in July 2021 with a revival of the musical Jersey Boys.[17] The restoration returned the venue to a single auditorium with a capacity of 630 seats.[18]

In August 2021, HQ Theatres, as part of the Trafalgar Entertainment group, became the new operator of The New Theatre in Cardiff, Wales, with a 25-year lease.[19]

The following month, Trafalgar Entertainment successfully acquired the children's performing arts organisation Helen O'Grady Drama Academy.[20]

In 2022, the company acquired the London theatre app Stagedoor.[21]

2023 – present

[edit]

In April 2023, Trafalgar Entertainment announced the acquisition of its first Scottish venue, The Pavilion Theatre, in Glasgow, Scotland.[22] It is one of the oldest theatres in Scotland, first opening in 1904.[23]

In August 2023, Trafalgar Entertainment acquired Imagine Theatre, one of the UK's largest pantomime producers.[24]

In March 2024, Trafalgar Entertainment was named in the FT1000 annual ranking of Europe's fastest growing companies.[25]

Divisions

[edit]

In 2022, Trafalgar Entertainment announced the launch of two new divisions; Trafalgar Theatres and Trafalgar Tickets.[26]

Trafalgar Theatres

[edit]

Trafalgar Theatres was launched in May 2022 as part of the company consolidating its venue operations under one division.[23] The previously acquired HQ Theatres brand was retired, and the 12 UK regional venues became a part of the new Trafalgar Theatres division. The company's flagship venue Trafalgar Theatre, as well as Olympia Theatre, and Sydney's Theatre Royal were also made part of the division.[27]

Trafalgar Tickets

[edit]

As part of Trafalgar Entertainment's consolidation in 2022, Trafalgar Tickets was also launched for regional ticketing. Johan Oostervald leads this new division as the CEO of Trafalgar Tickets.[23]

Trafalgar Theatre Productions

[edit]

Trafalgar Entertainment's Theatre Productions division deals primarily with producing new shows and musicals in London, UK and internationally. Co-founder Sir Howard Panter is the creative director of this division.[28]

Venues managed by Trafalgar Entertainment

[edit]
Venue Location Start year Trafalgar Entertainment role Seated capacity
Trafalgar Theatre London, UK 2016 Trafalgar Entertainment manages and owns the theatre.[1] 630
Olympia Theatre London, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment holds a 35-year lease, and the venue is set to reopen in 2025.[29] 1575
Fareham Live Hampshire, UK 2023 Trafalgar Entertainment will operate the theatre on behalf of Fareham Borough Council.[30] 1000
Theatre Royal, Sydney Sydney, Australia 2020 Trafalgar Entertainment hold a 55-year sublease.[7] 1200
The Chiswick Cinema Chiswick, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment owns and operates the cinema.[13] 401
Churchill Theatre Bromley, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre. 785
New Theatre Cardiff, Wales 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment manages and owns the theatre. 1144
Lyceum Theatre Crewe, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of Cheshire East Council.[31] 677
Orchard Theatre Dartford, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of Dartford Borough Council. 956
The Pavilion Glasgow, Scotland 2023 Trafalgar Entertainment manages and owns the theatre. 1449
G Live Guildford, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of Guildford Borough Council. 1000
Beck Theatre Hayes, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of the London Borough of Hillingdon Council. 600
Wycombe Swan High Wycombe, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of the Wycombe District Council. 1076
Cliffs Pavilion Southend-on-Sea, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. 1630
The Palace Theatre Southend-on-Sea, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. 603
Swindon Arts Centre Swindon, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of Swindon Borough Council. 200
Wyvern Theatre Swindon, UK 2021 Trafalgar Entertainment operates the theatre on behalf of Swindon Borough Council. 635

Media Coverage

[edit]

During the COVID-19 lockdown imposed by the British Government, Trafalgar Entertainment co-founders Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire began a media campaign to help reopen theatres across the UK.[32]

In May 2021, Panter published an article in The Times criticising the British Government for lack of clarity on when theatres and entertainment venues would be able to reopen without restrictions.[33]

Shareholders

[edit]

The largest shareholder of Trafalgar Entertainment is Barings Alternative Investment, which operates as a subsidiary of MassMutual Holding LLC.[34] Other shareholders include Greg Dyke, James Tanner, NWH Consulting Ltd, Sir Richard Branson and Griffon Corporation.[35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Burn-Callander, Rebecca (17 May 2016). "Theatre's power couple step back from ATG to run Trafalgar Studios". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Future of major Glasgow theatre secured as entertainment giant launches takeover". Glasgow Times. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b Inverne, James (7 April 2004). "London's Whitehall Theatre to Be Reborn as Trafalgar Studios". Playbill. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  4. ^ Dalton, Ben (19 November 2019). "UK's Trafalgar Releasing acquires event distributor More2Screen (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Stagecoach Performing Arts Blog | Woking Homecoming for Howard and Rosemary". stagecoach.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Jonathan Church launches new production company with Trafalgar Entertainment". The Stage. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b Snow, Georgia (22 June 2020). "Coronavirus: Trafalgar Studios begins redundancy consultations". The Stage. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  8. ^ Thomas, Sophie (5 May 2020). "Trafalgar Studios to be converted into single auditorium". London Theatre. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Trafalgar Studios → Foster Wilson Size". Foster Wilson Size. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Trafalgar Entertainment to operate Sydney's Theatre Royal". Limelight. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Jagged Little Pill (2022 Season)". Theatre Royal Sydney. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Theatre news: Trafalgar Entertainment acquires HQ Theatres". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  13. ^ a b Cavendish, Dominic (30 March 2021). "Meet the power couple saving local theatre from collapse". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  14. ^ "London set for biggest theatre since the National in 1976". Financial Times. London. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Kensington Olympia: Stage set for London's biggest theatre since 1976". BBC News. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  16. ^ Semlyen, Phil de (17 June 2021). "London's eco-friendly new cinema is sexy AF". Time Out London. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Trafalgar Theatre unveils new Art Deco restoration | West End Theatre". westendtheatre.com. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  18. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (13 June 2021). "Historic London theatre to reopen after multimillion-pound restoration". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  19. ^ Staff Writer (17 August 2021). "HQ Theatre's Acquire Cardiff's New Theatre". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Trafalgar Entertainment buys Helen O'Grady Drama Academy in education expansion plan". The Stage. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  21. ^ Stagedoor. "Stagedoor Gets Acquired by Trafalgar Entertainment | by Stagedoor Editors on Stagedoor". Stagedoor. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Glasgow's Pavilion theatre sold to London company". BBC News. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  23. ^ a b c "Glasgow's historic Pavilion Theatre sold to Trafalgar Entertainment for undisclosed sum". Sky News. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Trafalgar Entertainment acquires pantomime producer Imagine Theatre". 7 August 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  25. ^ Kilby, Nathalie (1 March 2024). "FT 1000: the eighth annual ranking of Europe's fastest-growing companies". Financial Times. London. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  26. ^ Lewis, Genevieve (26 May 2022). "Trafalgar Entertainment announces new ticketing and theatre divisions". TheTicketingBusiness News. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Trafalgar Entertainment cements brand with new operations and ticketing arms". The Stage. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Trafalgar Theatre Productions – Trafalgar Entertainment". Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Kensington Olympia: Stage set for London's biggest theatre since 1976". BBC News. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  30. ^ "£13 million arts venue Fareham Live will open next year". Southern Daily Echo. Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Lyceum Theatre, Crewe – Trafalgar Theatres". trafalgartheatres.com. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  32. ^ Boland, Hannah (25 June 2021). "West End is on the brink of collapse, theatre owner warns Boris Johnson". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  33. ^ Panter, Howard (11 March 2024). "Uncertainty risks bringing curtain down on theatre industry". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Market Leader London Theatre Direct Launches #LTD20 Campaign and Major New Brand". businesswire.com. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  35. ^ "Husband-and-wife theatre titans stage blockbuster Barings deal". Sky News. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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