Creating the headspace to grow a creative business

How The Playing Space moved from juggling everything to building something bigger.

A business built on creativity, not spreadsheets

The Playing Space has always been about confidence, creativity and giving people a place to express themselves.

Since starting in 2002 (originally as Greenacre Drama Classes), it has grown into a broad and ambitious offer, from weekly classes to summer camps, teacher training and school partnerships.

At the centre of it all is Gabrielle Maddocks, whose focus has always been simple: create a space where people feel supported and inspired to develop.

But as the business grew, so did everything else that came with it.

Creating space to actually think again

The biggest shift wasn’t about doing more. It was about creating the space to step back.

With a clearer structure in place, things started to feel more manageable. There was a better sense of what was happening across the business, without needing to constantly check, chase or piece things together.

That breathing room made a real difference. It meant decisions could be made more calmly, and the focus could move from keeping things running to thinking about what comes next.

With a clearer structure in place, things started to feel more manageable

Getting back to the creative side of the business

With that space came a change in how time was spent.

“Now that my time is no longer filled with admin, I can focus more on the creative side of my business.”

Instead of being pulled into the background tasks, Gabrielle could put her energy back into what she actually built the business for, developing ideas, improving sessions and shaping the experience for students.

And once that shift happened, things started to move forward again.

Now that my time is no longer filled with admin, I can focus more on the creative side of my business.

Gabrielle Maddocks, Owner of The Playing Space

Growing in a way that feels natural

With stronger foundations in place, growth stopped feeling like something that needed to be carefully managed.

New parts of the business, like teacher training and summer camps, became easier to introduce and run. They felt like a natural extension of what The Playing Space already offered, rather than something that added more pressure.

That’s when growth starts to feel different. Less like something you’re trying to keep up with, and more like something you’re choosing to build.

More clarity, more confidence, better decisions

Having a clearer view of the business has also changed how decisions are made.

There’s now more confidence in what’s coming in, what’s working and where to focus next. That clarity has supported a 39% increase in revenue since 2019, but more importantly, it has made that growth feel sustainable.

One of the biggest changes has been what’s now possible.

Projects that once would have been pushed aside, like writing blogs or developing resources, now have space to take shape.

And that matters, because those ideas are what keep a creative business moving forward.

A business that now works with you, not against you

The Playing Space hasn’t changed what it stands for. It’s just removed the friction that was getting in the way.

Now, the business supports the creativity behind it, not the other way around. And that’s what makes the next stage of growth possible.

“Having someone with such useful insights on how I can focus my energy and build my business in a sensible way is incredible… I’m excited to see what the future brings!”

Having someone with such useful insights on how I can focus my energy and build my business in a sensible way is incredible… I’m excited to see what the future brings!