Trafalgar Entertainment

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. 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.

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

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

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.

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.

Later that year, the company announced the launch of Jonathan Church Theatre Productions with theatre director and producer Jonathan Church as Artistic Director.

2020-2022
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. In May of that year, Westminster City Council granted planning permission to return Trafalgar Studios to a 630 seat theatre. Building work commenced in the Summer of 2020 and the redevelopment was overseen by Foster Wilson Size Architects.

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. In July 2021, Theatre Royal Sydney reopened with Alanis Morissette's Broadway Musical Jagged Little Pill.

In March 2021, the company acquired HQ Theatres, 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

In 2022, the company acquired the London theatre app Stagedoor.

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

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

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

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

Trafalgar Theatres
Trafalgar Theatres was launched in May 2022 as part of the company consolidating its venue operations under one division. 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.

Trafalgar Tickets
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.

Trafalgar Theatre Productions
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.

Media Coverage
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.

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.

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