About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

Who are we investing in?

Soho Theatre has an international reputation for new writing theatre, comedy and cabaret, and seen many household names perform across its three stages.

Alongside developing and producing original work and supporting emerging playwrights, comedians and artists, the theatre runs programmes that enable young people to access the arts and develop their skills. Earned income from Soho Theatre’s mainstream programme helps to subsidise its youth theatre programmes and more risk-taking theatrical work.

What are we investing in?

The Arts Impact Fund has offered Soho Theatre an unsecured loan of £300,000 to produce an initial 12-episode run of stand-up comedy within a trading subsidiary, Soho Theatre Productions. The rights to broadcast this content will then be sold to broadcasters, digital platforms and distributors, providing a new source of income for the theatre.

Digital filmed content will enable Soho Theatre to target new audiences outside London and other main metropolitan areas in the UK and internationally, and will attract new diverse audiences to its London venue. The partnerships formed through the project will also contribute to positive artistic outcomes for Soho Theatre’s live comedy and theatre work and will create new touring opportunities and increased exposure for artists. Any revenue from the new venture will support and expand the theatre’s artistic and social impact activities.

Read the full case study on Soho Theatre on the Arts Impact Fund website.

London

Theatre

£300,000