What Cheek by Jowl does

Cheek by Jowl is an international theatre company founded in 1981 by director Declan Donnellan and designer Nick Ormerod, and registered as a UK charitable arts organisation. It produces and tours live theatrical productions in multiple languages — English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Italian — performing in more than 400 cities across 50 countries and six continents, with an archive of 40+ productions spanning Shakespeare, European classics, Jacobean drama, and contemporary works. Its operational base is at the Barbican Centre in London, where it holds Artistic Associate status, and it is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, indicating recurring public-sector funding as part of the UK's cultural infrastructure.

The company's core offering is live theatre, monetised through ticket sales, performance fees, and co-production arrangements with international venues and festivals such as the Chekhov International Festival, Piccolo Teatro di Milano, Les Gémeaux/Sceaux, and Sydney Festival. Distribution operates through three channels: international touring to theatres and festivals, co-productions with institutional partners, and — more recently — film distribution, exemplified by the 2025 North American distribution deal with Juno Films for the documentary ACTING (made with Sophie Fiennes). The company maintains long-dated co-production partnerships in Russia, France, Italy, Spain, and Australia, and has developed dedicated ensembles for its non-English-language productions.

Beyond core performance, Cheek by Jowl operates an educational and content ecosystem comprising global workshops and masterclasses, school education packs, a podcast series ('Not True, But Useful'), a media library of production archives, and published books on acting craft — most notably Declan Donnellan's 'The Actor and the Target', originally published in Russian in 1999 and subsequently translated into 15 languages. The organisation has no proprietary software, no public API, and no disclosed AI or technology stack; its competitive position rests on the Donnellan-Ormerod creative partnership, its international touring infrastructure, and the cultural brand built over four decades.

Name

Cheek by Jowl

Legal name

Cheek by Jowl

Website

https://cheekbyjowl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cheek by Jowl is a UK-registered international theatre company, founded in 1981 by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, producing multilingual live productions toured across 400+ cities and 50 countries, with co-productions, educational workshops, and film distribution as complementary activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Performance Fees: Revenue generated from live theatre performances through touring productions at international venues, festivals, and co-production partners. The company performs in multiple languages (English, French, Russian) across global venues.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cheek by Jowl is an international theatre company that produces and tours live theatrical performances of classical and contemporary plays in multiple languages (English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Italian) to audiences worldwide. Beyond its core live performance programme, the company delivers acting workshops and masterclasses, publishes educational resource packs and books on acting, produces documentary films such as ACTING, and distributes a podcast series on theatre craft.

Product overview

Cheek by Jowl is an international theatre company founded in 1981 by co-artistic directors Declan Donnellan (director) and Nick Ormerod (designer). The company operates as a unified producing organisation offering live theatrical productions performed in multiple languages (English, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian) to audiences worldwide. Beyond core performances, the portfolio includes theatrical documentary films (such as ACTING), educational podcasts, theatre workshops and masterclasses, education resource packs, published books on acting theory, and a comprehensive media library archive. The company functions as a registered charity and Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, with its production base at the Barbican in London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Productions Live theatrical performances of classical and contemporary plays produced and performed in English, Russian, French, Spanish, and Italian, presented in 400+ cities across 50 countries. Available to international theatre audiences, festivals, and partner venues.
• ACTING (Documentary Film) Feature-length documentary film exploring the craft of acting, made in collaboration with director Sophie Fiennes, with international distribution including a North American theatrical release through Juno Films. Targeted at cinema audiences and film festival programmers.
• The Actor and the Target (Book) Published book by Declan Donnellan on the craft of acting and the company's actor training methodology, available globally in 15+ language editions. Aimed at actors, directors, students, and theatre practitioners.
• Theatre Workshops and Masterclasses In-person training workshops, masterclasses, and lectures delivered worldwide for actors, directors, students, and theatre institutions, delivered from the company's home in London and at international locations.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Juno FilmsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025North American distribution partner for the documentary film ACTING, with premieres scheduled in New York City (April 10) and Los Angeles (April 11).
• Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Teatro d'EuropamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Producer of The Revenger's Tragedy, Cheek by Jowl's first Italian production. The production was co-produced with Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione in collaboration with Cheek by Jowl.
• Les Gémeaux / Sceaux / Scène Nationale, ParismajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Co-production partner for 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, facilitating French performances and European touring.
• Sydney FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011International co-production partner for 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, presenting the production in Australia.
• Chekhov International Theatre Festival, MoscowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999The festival commissioned Donnellan and Ormerod to form their own Russian company of actors in 1999, leading to Boris Godunov and subsequent Russian-language productions.
• Barbican Centre, LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheek by Jowl is an Artistic Associate of the Barbican Centre in London, where its production base is located. The Barbican serves as the company's home venue for productions and co-productions.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreOthersCheek by Jowl is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, receiving regular public funding as part of England's cultural infrastructure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CbyJ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CheekbyJowl
• Facebookfacebook.com/cheekbyjowl
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearecheekbyjowl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheek-by-jowl-theatre-company-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cheek by Jowl