2026 Free

Polka Theatre Impact Report 2026

Polka Theatre is one of the UK's leading children's theatres. Its Impact Report 2026 records 125,000 visitors, 724 performances of 20 productions, 14,156 free theatre tickets, and 32,500 children seeing a show with their school, with 60% of workshop places given free to children and families.

Report snapshot
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About

Polka Theatre in Wimbledon is one of the UK's leading theatres dedicated to children, producing and touring shows for young audiences and running creative learning programmes with 269 school partners across London and the South East.

Key Metrics

Visitors and audiences 125,000 visitors welcomed and 724 performances of 20 productions staged across Polka's two auditoriums.
Children reached in schools 32,500 children saw a show at Polka with their school, across 269 school partners in London and the South East; 10,325 children experienced the 'Sisters 360' tour free in their school.
Free access 14,156 free theatre tickets given and 60% of workshop places provided free to children and families so cost is never a barrier.
Creative learning 41,000+ people joined Creative Learning participants programmes.

Key Outcomes

  • 32,500 children experienced live theatre with their school, many for the first time.
  • 14,156 free tickets and 60% free workshop places removed cost barriers for families.

Geography

London

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...
Key Metric 2
Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...
Key Metric 3
89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...
83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members
Key Metric 2
100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds
Key Metric 3
46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)
Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University
Impact Snapshot
Student support
1 in 3 students received financial support through scholarships and bursaries to help them through the year.
Community engagement
Over 11,900 children, young people and members of the local community engaged in music engagement activities.
Young musicians in Cumbria
1,396 young people engaged through RNCM Engage Cumbria via instrumental teaching, music production courses and community music-making.
1 in 3 RNCM students financially supported to continue their training.
Impact Snapshot
Sessions delivered
Around 1,000 shared reading and creative writing sessions delivered each year in around 70 locations.
Groups across Scotland
70 Open Book groups meeting across Scotland and online.
More connected
95% of participants said they felt more connected to people as a result of taking part, based on feedback from 237 Open Book Members.
95% of participants felt more connected to others through shared reading.