CleanBreak
Clean Break is a UK charity founded in 1979 that uses theatre to transform the lives of women with experience of the criminal justice system. It produces touring professional productions, runs a Members Programme of trauma-informed workshops, and delivers a Young Company training programme in partnership with leading drama schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CleanBreak does
Clean Break is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1017560; company number 2690758) and women's theatre company founded in 1979 by Jenny Hicks and Jacki Holborough, two women who met while incarcerated at HMP Askham Grange. Headquartered at 2 Patshull Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 2LB, it operates from the UK's first dedicated centre for theatre and the arts for women with experience of the criminal justice system. The organisation produces professional theatrical productions that tour to major UK venues including the Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Theatres, Bush Theatre, and Brixton House, and runs a Members Programme of trauma-informed theatre workshops and 1:1 support sessions for women with experience of or at risk of entering the criminal justice system. Complementary programmes include the Young Company (training for 18-25 year-olds with lived experience of the criminal justice system, delivered in partnership with LAMDA, RADA, Guildhall, Mountview and Royal Central), the Rewriting Justice training course for facilitators working in criminal justice settings, a Knowledge Hub digital content platform built with Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator support, and an annual Film Festival.
The business model is non-commercial and based on a diversified mix of charitable income streams: Arts Council England National Lottery grants and donations/grants constitute the core funding base; a Big Give Arts for Impact Challenge match-funding campaign runs annually; ticket sales and studio hire generate transactional revenue at the London headquarters; the Friends membership scheme (annual subscription, with a reduced £15 rate for Big Give donors) provides recurring revenue; and the Rewriting Justice training course generates professional-services fees. The core services — theatre workshops, Members Programme activities and most community delivery — are provided free to beneficiaries. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the 11-50 employee organisation does not rely on any proprietary technology platform, treating its core asset as the long-standing Member community, the body of original theatrical works, and its co-production relationships with prestigious UK theatres.
Customer-facing activity is split between a beneficiary segment (women with experience of the criminal justice system, young women and non-binary people at risk, and prison populations across multiple HMPs including Holloway, Askham Grange, Winchester, Styal, Downview), a donor/funder segment (Arts Council England, individual donors, Big Give / Figurative Philanthropy matches, the Co-operative Foundation), and an audience segment attending co-produced productions at partner venues. Distribution operates across live touring (regional UK), direct community delivery in prisons and women's centres, studio space hire at the London headquarters, and a global self-serve digital channel through the Knowledge Hub and Film Festival. Co-production partnerships with high-prestige institutional theatres function as the principal go-to-market channel for the company.
CleanBreak firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CleanBreak
- Legal name
- Clean Break
- Website
- https://cleanbreak.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Clean Break is a UK charity founded in 1979 that uses theatre to transform the lives of women with experience of the criminal justice system. It produces touring professional productions, runs a Members Programme of trauma-informed workshops, and delivers a Young Company training programme in partnership with leading drama schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CleanBreak is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CleanBreak business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Funding: Clean Break operates as a registered charity (number 1017560) and relies on donations, grants, and fundraising campaigns. They participate in the Big Give Arts for Impact Challenge, a match funding campaign where donations are doubled during specific campaign periods.
- Friends Membership Scheme: Clean Break offers a Friends membership programme where donors of £30 or more receive regular updates on work, invitations to events, and news on further opportunities. The Friends scheme provides recurring revenue from supporters.
- Ticket Sales and Space Hires: Revenue generated from theatre production ticket sales and hire of studio spaces at their London headquarters.
- Training Programme Fees: Revenue from training courses including 'Rewriting Justice' facilitating playwriting workshops in criminal justice settings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Friends Membership - Annual subscription for supporters |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
CleanBreak product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clean Break is a UK registered charity and women's theatre company that produces and tours professional theatrical productions, delivers trauma-informed theatre workshops and 1:1 support directly in women's prisons and women's centres, and runs training programmes (including the Young Company and Rewriting Justice courses) for women with experience of the criminal justice system and for theatre/criminal justice professionals.
Product overview
CleanBreak is a women's theatre company offering a portfolio of interconnected products and programmes focused on using theatre to transform lives of women with experience of the criminal justice system. Core offerings include Theatre Productions (groundbreaking plays for stages, prisons, and communities), the Members Programme (trauma-informed theatre workshops and support sessions), and the Young Company (training for young women aged 18-25). Supporting infrastructure includes a Knowledge Hub (digital library of resources developed with Bloomberg Philanthropies), Training Courses (such as Rewriting Justice for criminal justice settings), Film Festival (annual online showcase), and Development Programmes (Seed Commission and Playwrights Pathway for emerging writers). Additional offerings span publications (Rebel Voices anthology), audio dramas (Blis-ta), co-created films (Hope), and supporters schemes (Commissioning Circle, Friends Membership). The company operates from studios at 2 Patshull Road, London NW5 2LB.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Theatre Productions Groundbreaking ticketed theatrical productions with women's voices at the heart, performed at major UK theatres and developed with Clean Break Members and commissioned playwrights.
- Members Programme Free theatre workshops and 1:1 trauma-informed support sessions for women with experience of the criminal justice system or at risk of entering it, including creative activities, a Members Festival, and an Acting Traineeship.
- Young Company Training Programme Acting and theatre-making training for young women and non-binary people aged 18-25 with lived experience of the criminal justice system or at risk, delivered in partnership with LAMDA, RADA, Guildhall, Mountview and Royal Central.
- Rewriting Justice Training Course One-day paid training course for theatre artists, playwrights, facilitators and criminal justice professionals on facilitating playwriting workshops in criminal justice and community settings.
- Knowledge Hub Online digital library of articles, blogs, interviews, videos, audio content and e-books about Clean Break's trauma-informed theatre practice and the criminalisation of women.
- Friends Membership Annual membership for supporters providing updates on Clean Break's work, invitations to events and opportunities to engage with the company.
- Commissioning Circle Supporters scheme in which members directly invest in Clean Break's emerging writers and contribute to the creation of new plays.
- Film Festival Online film festival showcasing short films on criminalisation, healing, racial and social justice themes, accessible via the Knowledge Hub with free and premium access.
- Shop (Publications and Merchandise) Online retail of Clean Break publications, play scripts (e.g. 'Dixon and Daughters') and related merchandise available through the Clean Break website.
- Studio Space Hire Hire of studio spaces at Clean Break's London headquarters at 2 Patshull Road, Kentish Town, by external organisations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly half of women leaving prison are re-convicted within a year - Clean Break's work aims to break this cycle
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CleanBreak
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CleanBreak technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CleanBreak partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Brixton HousecoreCo-production partner for 'The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women' and 'Baby' (new play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, October 2026).
- LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)coreDrama school partnership providing acting and theatre-making training to Clean Break's Young Company Members since October 2025.
- RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)coreDrama school partnership providing acting and theatre-making training to Clean Break's Young Company Members since October 2025.
- Guildhall School of Music & DramacoreDrama school partnership providing acting and theatre-making training to Clean Break's Young Company Members since October 2025.
- Mountview Academy of Theatre ArtscoreDrama school partnership providing acting and theatre-making training to Clean Break's Young Company Members since October 2025.
- Royal Central School of Speech and DramacoreDrama school partnership providing acting and theatre-making training to Clean Break's Young Company Members since October 2025. Also partnered on 'Celebrating Success' research project (2015).
- RoundhousecoreIndustry partner providing support to Clean Break's Young Company. Previously collaborated on youth loneliness podcast project with Brazen.
- AKTA PhotographyminorIndustry partner providing photography support to Clean Break's Young Company.
- National TheatrecoreCo-production partnership for 'Dixon and Daughters' by Deborah Bruce, opening at the National Theatre in April 2023. Continued collaboration following earlier successful productions.
- Bush TheatrecoreCo-production partnership for 'Favour' by Ambreen Razia, directed by Roisin McBrinn & Sophie Dillon Moniram, autumn 2022 production.
- Sheffield TheatrescoreCo-production partnership for 'Typical Girls' by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, directed by Roisin McBrinn, autumn 2021 production.
- Cardboard CitizenscoreFirst-time collaboration exploring the intersection between women's experience of homelessness and the criminal justice system through multimedia provocation 'All The Lights Are On'.
- Royal Court TheatrecoreOngoing co-production partnership with the Royal Court Theatre. Notable productions include 'Inside Bitch' (2019), 'Pests' (2014), 'Mules' (1996), and 'Yard Gal' (1998). The partnership has produced critically acclaimed work devised by Clean Break Members.
- Donmar WarehousecoreMajor co-production partner for '[BLANK]' (2019) and collaborator on the all-female prison-set Shakespeare Trilogy (Julius Caesar 2012, Henry IV 2014, The Tempest 2016). Productions featured Clean Break Patron Dame Harriet Walter and graduates in the cast.
- Theatr ClwydcoreCo-production partner for 'Thick as Thieves' by Katherine Chandler (October-November 2018). Theatr Clwyd served as the primary venue for the world premiere.
- Salisbury PlayhouseminorTour venue partner for 'Thick as Thieves' by Katherine Chandler, November 2018.
- Hull TruckminorTour venue partner for 'Thick as Thieves' by Katherine Chandler, November 2018.
- ArtichokecorePartnership for PROCESSIONS, a mass participation artwork celebrating 100 years since the Representation of the People Act. Clean Break worked with artist Miriam Nabarro to create banners for the march.
- 14-18 NOWcoreUK's arts programme for the First World War centenary that commissioned PROCESSIONS.
- Arcola TheatrecoreVenue and creative partner for 'Belong' production as part of Arcola Creative/Disruption Festival. Also previously hosted 'Inside Out' (2002), 'Didn't Die' (2003), and other productions.
- LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre)coreFestival co-production partner for 'The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women' alongside Brixton House.
- Red Lion ChambersminorBarrister chambers whose members reviewed films in Clean Break's 2024 Film Festival programme, providing expert legal perspectives on criminal justice themes.
- Women in PrisoncoreAdvocacy and campaigning partner. 'Hear' by Deborah Bruce was commissioned by Women in Prison to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Corston Review.
- Irene Taylor TrustminorCo-ran residency at HMP Styal for 'Inside a Cloud' by Sabrina Mahfouz, performed by women in prison.
- Tricycle Theatre (now Kiln Theatre)coreSupported Clean Break's Emerging Writers Programme alongside Bristol Old Vic and Royal Exchange Theatre, developing 'House' by Somalia Seaton and 'Amongst the Reeds' by Chinonyerem Odimba.
- Bristol Old ViccoreSupported Clean Break's Emerging Writers Programme alongside Tricycle Theatre and Royal Exchange Theatre.
- Royal Exchange TheatrecoreSupported Clean Break's Emerging Writers Programme alongside Tricycle Theatre and Bristol Old Vic. Also co-produced 'Pests' (2014) with Royal Court.
- Royal Central School of Speech and DramacoreResearch partnership for 'Celebrating Success' project funded by CreativeVouchers scheme. Researchers Dr Selina Busby and Dr Nicola Abraham focused on the impact of Clean Break's education programme on women entering creative industries.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CleanBreak competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cardboard Citizens: UK theatre company that makes work with and for people affected by homelessness, mental ill-health, and the criminal justice system. Comparable to Clean Break because both use theatre as a tool of social reintegration and have an explicitly trauma-informed, lived-experience-led production model.
- Synergy Theatre Project: UK theatre company that works with prisoners, ex-prisoners and young people at risk of offending. Directly comparable to Clean Break because both deliver creative programmes inside prisons and reentry pathways, with overlap in beneficiary profile and London/UK footprint.
- Geese Theatre Company: UK company using theatre-based interventions in criminal justice settings, including prisons and probation. Directly comparable to Clean Break in mission (arts-in-criminal-justice), delivery model (workshops inside prisons), and end beneficiary (people at risk of or exiting the justice system).
- Rideout (Creative Arts in Prison): UK charity producing creative arts projects in prisons and with ex-offenders. Comparable to Clean Break as a niche, mission-aligned charity using performance and creative workshops as rehabilitation tools within the UK criminal justice system.
Broad incumbents
- Royal Court Theatre: Major London theatre and long-standing Clean Break co-production partner (Inside Bitch, Pests, Mules, Yard Gal). Comparable as a broad UK theatre institution whose portfolio includes Clean Break productions, but with a much wider artistic remit well beyond the women's criminal justice niche.
- National Theatre: UK flagship producing theatre and Clean Break co-production partner (Dixon and Daughters, 2023). Comparable as a broad incumbent that has hosted and amplified Clean Break's work, but operates an extensive commercial and classical repertoire far beyond the social-impact theatre niche.
- Donmar Warehouse: London theatre and Clean Break co-production partner, including [BLANK] (2019) and the all-female prison-set Shakespeare Trilogy that won the Longford Prize. Comparable as a major UK producing theatre that engages with Clean Break's mission through select co-productions, but whose core programme spans classical and contemporary work.
- Bush Theatre: London new-writing theatre and Clean Break co-production partner (Favour, 2022; earlier writer development). Comparable as a broad theatre institution in Clean Break's network that supports emerging playwrights, with overlap in mission-aligned writers but a wider remit than Clean Break's criminal-justice focus.
- Soho Theatre: London theatre and writers' development hub; former employer of Associate Artistic Director Lakesha Arie-Angelo (Writers Lab). Comparable as a broad London institution overlapping with Clean Break in writers' development and women-led programming, but with a much broader comedy and new-writing remit.
Emerging players
- Mind the Gap Theatre: UK touring theatre company led by artists with learning disabilities, delivering performance, training and outreach. Comparable to Clean Break as a like-sized, specialist UK arts charity using participatory performance with a marginalised beneficiary group, though focused on learning disability rather than criminal justice.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CleanBreak social profiles
Digital presenceCleanBreak financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CleanBreak leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CleanBreak funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CleanBreak M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CleanBreak
What does CleanBreak do?
Clean Break is a UK registered charity and women's theatre company that produces and tours professional theatrical productions, delivers trauma-informed theatre workshops and 1:1 support directly in women's prisons and women's centres, and runs training programmes (including the Young Company and Rewriting Justice courses) for women with experience of the criminal justice system and for theatre/criminal justice professionals.
Is CleanBreak a public or private company?
CleanBreak is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CleanBreak founded?
CleanBreak was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CleanBreak based?
CleanBreak is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does CleanBreak make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Funding is the primary driver. The others are friends Membership Scheme, ticket Sales and Space Hires and training Programme Fees.
Who are CleanBreak's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cardboard Citizens, Synergy Theatre Project, Geese Theatre Company and Rideout (Creative Arts in Prison). Broad incumbents are Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Bush Theatre and Soho Theatre. Mind the Gap Theatre is listed as an emerging player.
Does CleanBreak have an API?
No public API is recorded for CleanBreak.