Trafalgar Entertainment announces strategic investment in Imagine Theatre

Trafalgar Entertainment (TE) has announced a majority strategic investment in UK pantomime provider, Imagine Theatre.

The Imagine Theatre team, which is led by Steve and Sarah Boden, support productions in more than 50 venues across the UK, from the hiring of the set and props through to the staging of productions. 

In 2023, Imagine Theatre will produce or co-produce 19 pantomimes across the country.

Imagine was also recently revealed as this year’s producing partners for Trafalgar’s new Scottish venue, Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre. Imagine will be co-producing a production of Treasure Island. 

TE acquired the 1,449-capacity theatre earlier this year. 

Helen Enright, chief executive of Trafalgar Theatres, said: “As bold visionaries with big imaginations, Sarah and Steve have created one of the UK’s most successful and respected pantomime companies. 

“With fun-filled family values at the heart of everything they do, Imagine has always led from the front, whether in the development of new technologies or through building relationships with producers and theatre owners. There’s great synergy and many common values between our two companies, and as we both look to expand our regional portfolios, this new investment will help to secure an even brighter future for Imagine.”

Steve Boden, joint CEO and managing director of Imagine Theatre, said: “With the exponential growth of Imagine in recent years, this exciting new partnership with Trafalgar is a natural step forward in our continuing journey to deliver exceptional family pantomime. 

“Having worked with Trafalgar over the past few years, producing pantomimes in many of their wonderful venues, we are very excited about the future and what this investment means, supporting us to continue to create world class, innovative theatre for families across the UK.”

Sarah Boden, joint CEO and business and marketing director, Imagine Theatre, added: “These are very exciting times in the development of Imagine and Steve and I, along with our fantastic team in our Coventry HQ are delighted to be joining the Trafalgar family. The investment in the company will allow us to push boundaries even further and enable us to deliver stronger productions at all scales, within venues that we currently work with and those who may join our family in the future.”