ZOO Venues ltd

ZOO Venues provides performance spaces in Edinburgh for theatre makers, dance companies and other artists presenting work at the Festival Fringe. Its venues include ZOO Playground, with three studios suited to smaller and experimental productions, and ZOO Southside, which has a main theatre and an intimate studio. The spaces vary in layout and scale, giving companies options for black box theatre, thrust staging and end-on performances.

The rooms come with performance infrastructure such as raked seating, stage facilities and technical equipment. Capacities range from a small 20-seat studio to the 200-seat Main House, so organisers can consider different audience sizes and production needs. ZOO's spaces are primarily presented as seasonal Fringe venues, with applications for performance companies to propose work and request a suitable space and schedule.

Support extends beyond room hire. Depending on the arrangement, the offer includes box office services, promotion through venue materials and online channels, technical rehearsal assistance and a duty technician during performances. The team also provides guidance in the lead-up to the festival and during a show's run, including production and marketing support. This makes ZOO Venues a venue partner for companies planning a run of performances, rather than a general-purpose conference or celebration venue. Organisers can review the individual space details and application information to assess which room best suits their production, staging and audience requirements.