EHC 0726 Provision of annual family pantomime

BEAM is a flagship venue and multi-faceted Arts & Culture destination in the centre of Hertford, which opened in August 2024. BEAM sits on the site of the former Hertford Theatre and is the result of a significant investment by the council. BEAM has a range of facilities including a 550-seat Theatre, a flexible Studio space, with seating for 140+, three dedicated cinema screens, a dance studio and community space, as well as hospitality spaces. The Pantomime is a major commercial driver for BEAM and will deliver significant revenue back to the venue.

The Council is seeking an experienced Pantomime Production Company to produce and deliver an annual high-quality family pantomime at BEAM for the next three years (2026-2028), with an option to extend for a further two years (2029-2030).

Objectives:

• High Quality: The quality of the pantomime is critical to BEAMs ongoing success and the appointed Pantomime provider will need to deliver a captivating and magical Pantomime that appeals to all ages and has high-quality at its core.

• Attract a broad audience demographic: BEAM is ideally located to be able to reach an extremely broad range of audiences. It’s therefore important that the Pantomime present an attractive offer to all potential customers. School visits will also be important to the success of Pantomime at BEAM.

• Revenue Growth: Pantomime is a critical commercial driver for BEAM, so it is expected that revenue growth will be built into all Pantomime planning.

• Community Outreach: Pantomime provides an excellent opportunity for local talent- especially young people- to get involved in the magic of Pantomime.

• Brand Awareness: As a new venue, building brand recognition is highly important to us and Pantomime provides an excellent opportunity to grow Brand Awareness on a regional level, as well as the national level through the potential of award nominations.

East Hertfordshire District Council reserves the right to cancel the procurement and not to proceed with the long term contracts at any stage of the procurement process. East Hertfordshire District Council also reserves the right not to award a contract.

Neither East Hertfordshire District Council nor any person on whose behalf of whom this procurement is undertaken is to be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest or tendering for these contracts.

The Council reserves the right to carry out additional financial checks on all companies tendering for this Contract at any time during the procurement process, to ensure that they continue to meet the Council`s requirements and remain financially viable to perform the Contract.

To access this procurement opportunity please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home and follow the on-screen guidance. Any clarifications regarding this opportunity must be raised through the Correspondence area in the eTendering system.

If you are experiencing problems with the eTendering system, In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK Support Desk which can be contacted via email: support@in-tend.com or telephone +441144070065 for any website /technical questions, Monday to Friday 8:30 - 17:30.

The Council undertakes to hold confidential any information provided in the proposal submitted, subject to the Council`s obligations under the law, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If the potential supplier considers that any of the information submitted in the proposal should not be disclosed because of its commercial sensitivity or for reasons of confidentiality, then this should be stated with the reason for considering it sensitive. The Council will then endeavour to consult with the potential supplier about such commercially sensitive or confidential information when considering any request received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 before replying to such a request, but the decision of the Council in deciding whether an exemption applies is final.

Please note the deadline for return and allow sufficient time to make your return as late returns will not be permitted.

Conditions of participation: There is a minimum turnover threshold of £1m pa, and previous experience of delivering a similar contract.

previous notice regarding PPME https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045773-2025