Blue Orange Arts Ltd
Charity 1145871
Overview
Summary
Blue Orange Arts Ltd appears to operate as a locally rooted independent theatre organisation whose charitable purpose is delivered through a mixed model of public performance, participatory arts activity and venue provision. Its role is broader than presenting shows: it combines affordable audience access, rehearsal and theatre infrastructure, and opportunities for community involvement. The programming evidence suggests a deliberate attempt to sustain a small cultural venue through a varied offer spanning family entertainment, adult work, new writing and horror, although the extent to which priority groups benefit directly remains unclear.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Soho and Jewellery Quarter
Confidence: low
Direct evidence identifies the Blue Orange Theatre as situated in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and describes the organisation's current public programme, venue hire and facilities as operating from this venue. The supplied evidence does not itself identify a ward.
- Blue Orange Theatre official website — homepage
The site states that the Blue Orange Theatre is situated in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, is operated by Blue Orange Arts Ltd, and lists a 100-seat theatre, rehearsal studio and bar. - Blue Orange Theatre official website — Hiring the Space
The organisation makes its theatre, studio and bar available for productions, functions, rehearsals and courses, evidencing active service and facilities provision from the venue. - Charity Commission Register — Blue Orange Arts Ltd, charity 1145871
The registered charity contact address is The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham.
Remaining uncertainties
- The organisation states that it delivers outreach community projects and has collaborated with Crisis, St Basils and Aquarius, but the available current evidence does not identify the locations, dates or continuing status of those projects. These partnerships therefore do not justify additional operational areas.
- The website includes a touring section and refers to work across Birmingham and the West Midlands, but no current touring itinerary or named delivery venues were evidenced. It is unclear whether touring presently extends the organisation's operational footprint beyond its Jewellery Quarter base.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City as the area in which the charity operates, but this does not by itself show that services are delivered across the city. The more specific current evidence supports a venue-led, locally based operational identity.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, programme evaluation or project list identifying the locations and dates of outreach workshops, community projects and touring activity.
- Confirmation from Blue Orange Arts Ltd of any active partner-delivered projects and the Birmingham wards or venues in which they currently take place.
- Current venue programme or booking information showing whether regular activity is delivered at sites other than the Blue Orange Theatre.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A cultural venue as well as an arts producer
The organisation appears to use control of a physical theatre venue as a core part of its charitable model, rather than treating space merely as a setting for its own productions.
Why it matters
This suggests Blue Orange may be local cultural infrastructure: its value may include enabling rehearsals, performances and social gathering for others, not only the work it presents itself.
Show evidence
“Facilities include a flexible 100 seat theatre space, a 10m x 8m rehearsal studio and a spacious bar.”
Source:Organisation“Activities include theatre rental.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity provides buildings, facilities or open space.”
Source:Charity Commission
Accessibility is framed through affordability and involvement
The organisation appears to pursue public access to theatre not only by staging work, but by positioning participation and affordability as practical routes into arts engagement.
Why it matters
This distinguishes it from a venue focused solely on ticketed entertainment and may make it a useful partner for organisations seeking lower-barrier cultural activity.
Show evidence
“The charity aims to provide the public with the opportunity to access high quality theatre.”
Source:Charity Commission“The emphasis of the work is to bring the arts to the local community and encourage involvement in all areas of the theatre's work and output.”
Source:Charity Commission“Birmingham's Affordable Family Panto returns this Summer.”
Source:Organisation
Programming appears to balance dependable family work with niche adult audiences
The programme may be designed to diversify audiences and revenue by combining recurring family pantomime with adult pantomime, cabaret, comedy horror and theatrical horror.
Why it matters
This suggests organisational resilience may depend on serving several distinct audience segments rather than relying on one artistic format or community.
Show evidence
“The theatre presents Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and Jack Off The Beanstalk.”
Source:Organisation“The theatre presents Dame Ida's International Cabaret Show, The Witchfinder and Being Frank.”
Source:Organisation“The Blue Orange Theatre opened in 2011.”
Source:Organisation
- How workshops, classes and exhibitions operate, and whether they are regular or central to current delivery.
- Whether children, older people and disabled people receive tailored provision or are named as broad beneficiary groups only.
- Which external artists, community groups or charities use the venue, and whether theatre rental creates sustained partnerships.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or impact data showing audiences, workshop participants, pricing and beneficiary reach.
- A programme of venue hires, partners and resident companies, including the use of rehearsal space.
- Information on access provision, concessions and participation routes for disabled people and other priority groups.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The activities employed to achieve the charities aims and objectives are: ? Stage Performances ? Educational Workshops & Classes ? Art Exhibitions ? Theatre Rental The emphasis of our work is to benefit the community of our local area by bringing the arts to them and encouraging them to be as fully involved in all areas of the theatres work and output.
Charity objects
1) TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS IN BIRMINGHAM AND THE WEST MIDLANDS (THE AREA OF BENEFIT) THROUGH THE PROVISION OF WORKSHOPS, CLASSES AND BY SUCH OTHER MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES MAY DETERMINE. 2) TO PROMOTE AND FACILITATE THE DRAMATIC ARTS IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS HIGH QUALITY THEATRE.