Award

Freelance Performers / Artist Spend for Empire Theatre Shows

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Jan 2026 at 09:51

Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council has completed a procurement process for "Freelance Performers / Artist Spend for Empire Theatre Shows," in the entertainment services industry. The procurement, situated in the UKC14 region of the United Kingdom, is categorised as a public authority activity within the sub-central government sector. The contract has been directly awarded due to the nature of the procurement, which entails acquiring unique artistic performances, as permitted under UK legislation (PA23). The procurement process was completed without competition as part of a "Below threshold - without competition" procurement method. Key dates include the contract's start and end dates, from 1st December to 31st December 2025, with the contract being signed on 1st October 2025.

This tender provides opportunities for businesses specialising in entertainment services, particularly those capable of delivering unique artistic performances like freelance performers or artists for theatre shows. The opportunity, acquired by Entertainment Unlimited, highlights growth possibilities for small to medium enterprises within the entertainment sector. Companies that excel in unique performance arts and have the ability to deliver bespoke entertainment services would find themselves well suited to such procurement opportunities, fostering expansion and recognition within public sector contracts.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Freelance Performers / Artist Spend for Empire Theatre Shows

Notice Description

Payment to Entertainment Unlimited for Freelance Performers / Artist Spend for Empire Theatre Shows. Please note this is a Direct Award permitted under PA23 due to it being a public contract which concerns the creation or acquisition of a unique work of art or artistic performance.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060649
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003337-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

92300000 - Entertainment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£52,971 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Sep 20254 months ago
Contract Period
1 Dec 2025 - 31 Dec 2025 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
zoe.embleton@durham.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Post Town
Durham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate and Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ENTERTAINMENT

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-060649-2026-01-15T09:51:02Z",
    "date": "2026-01-15T09:51:02Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060649",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM",
            "name": "Durham County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PMPB-8772-VYWM"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Corten House, Dunholme Close",
                "locality": "Durham",
                "postalCode": "DH1 5WB",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKC14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "zoe.embleton@durham.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.durham.gov.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-171460",
            "name": "Entertainment Unlimited",
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "2 Old Church House, Front Street West",
                "locality": "Bedlington,",
                "postalCode": "NE22 5TX",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKC21"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Entertainmentu7nl@btinternet.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM",
        "name": "Durham County Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-060649",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Freelance Performers / Artist Spend for Empire Theatre Shows",
        "description": "Payment to Entertainment Unlimited for Freelance Performers / Artist Spend for Empire Theatre Shows. Please note this is a Direct Award permitted under PA23 due to it being a public contract which concerns the creation or acquisition of a unique work of art or artistic performance.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Below threshold - without competition",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-171460",
                    "name": "Entertainment Unlimited"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "92300000",
                            "description": "Entertainment services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKC14",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "title": "Freelance Performers / Artist Spend for Empire Theatre Shows",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2025-12-01T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2025-12-31T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 63566.26,
                "amount": 52971.88,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": false,
            "dateSigned": "2025-10-01T00:00:00+01:00",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "003337-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003337-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-15T09:51:02Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}