OVO
Reimagined classic plays and stories for modern audiences.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
* | £104k | Early VC | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
OVO is a professional theatre company based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, that specializes in creating bold and imaginative new versions of classic plays and stories. Founded in 2003 by Adam Nichols and Simon Nicholas, the company has grown from a community group to a professional organization with a national reputation, having staged over 100 productions. Adam Nichols, the Artistic Director, was named one of the most influential figures in UK theatre by The Stage in 2021.
The company's business model is primarily commercial, relying on ticket sales rather than public funding. OVO manages and operates two key venues in St Albans on behalf of the local council: the Maltings Theatre, an intimate 120-seat studio which OVO has run since 2011, and the historic Roman Theatre of Verulamium. The company's main event is the annual Roman Theatre Open Air Festival, which started in 2014 and has become one of the largest outdoor theatre festivals in the UK. OVO also tours its productions nationally, with regular appearances at venues like the Minack Open Air Theatre in Cornwall, where its production of "As You Like It" won the Minack Trophy in 2016.
In recent years, OVO has secured significant investment for expansion. A £104,000 investment from Big Issue Invest in 2022 enabled a long-term lease on the Roman Theatre site for festival expansion and infrastructure improvements. Furthermore, a £300,000 grant from the government's Community Ownership Fund is financing the conversion of the 17th-century St Germain's Barn into a new, year-round theatre and repertory company, set to open in 2026. This new venue aims to provide opportunities for early-career performers and creatives.
Keywords: theatre production, classic plays, open-air festival, St Albans theatre, Roman Theatre of Verulamium, Maltings Theatre, Adam Nichols, live performance, Shakespeare, site-specific theatre, arts organization, UK theatre, community theatre, performing arts, repertory company, Minack Theatre, cultural venue, dramatic arts, reimagined classics, Hertfordshire arts