Beyond Face CIC
Beyond Face CIC is a Plymouth-based Community Interest Company founded in 2015 that nurtures Global Majority artists, young people, and communities across South West England through four programme strands: artist development, youth theatre, regional community workshops, and touring productions, funded primarily by Arts Council England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersPlymouth, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Beyond Face CIC does
Beyond Face CIC is a Community Interest Company founded in 2015 by Alix Harris in Plymouth, England, operating as a non-profit theatre company focused on the systemic underrepresentation of Global Majority artists, young people, and communities in the South West of England. The organisation was established after a group of Black teenagers told Harris that theatre was not for people like them, and it structures its work around four interconnected programme strands: Investing in Artists (writer and theatre-maker development), Creating with Young People (weekly Youth Companies in Plymouth and Exeter), Gathering Regional Voices (community workshops, theatre trips and behind-the-scenes programmes for Global Majority adults in Devon), and Touring Productions (original professional work toured to regional venues). Sub-programmes include The Writers Company (a two-year paid programme investing £5,510.05 per writer), the Associate Artists Programme (a 15-month paid development track at £5,000 per artist), and the We Are Here family of writer-support offerings (Write, Unlock, Share).
The business model is a hybrid non-profit funding stack rather than a commercial product. Core revenue is provided by Arts Council England through National Portfolio Organisation status (held since 2022), supplemented by project-specific grants from the National Lottery, Genesis Foundation, Arts and Humanities Research Council, and university partners. A small box office layer is generated through ticketed touring productions and scratch nights at partner venues (typically £8–£14 per ticket), while donations from individual supporters are explicitly described as vital. All youth and community programmes are delivered free to participants, removing financial barriers. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: a combination of free in-person sessions, ticketed touring productions at venues including Theatre Royal Plymouth, Exeter Northcott, Bristol Old Vic, MAST Mayflower Studios, and Landmark Theatres, plus school partnerships across Torbay and Bristol. The organisation reaches audiences measured in the low thousands per cycle (e.g. 700 people on a single school tour) and operates with a small core team of approximately eight staff plus assistant facilitators. There is no proprietary technology platform — distribution is via the beyondface.co.uk website, MailChimp newsletter, and organic social channels (Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook).
Beyond Face CIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Beyond Face CIC
- Legal name
- Beyond Face CIC
- Website
- https://beyondface.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Beyond Face CIC is a Plymouth-based Community Interest Company founded in 2015 that nurtures Global Majority artists, young people, and communities across South West England through four programme strands: artist development, youth theatre, regional community workshops, and touring productions, funded primarily by Arts Council England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Beyond Face CIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Theatre and Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI), Content & Creative Studio for Creators (Concepting/Production) (MPAAAHAD)
Keywords
Where Beyond Face CIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plymouth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Beyond Face CIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Funding (Arts Council England): Core funding as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) receiving regular support from Arts Council England to sustain operations and programming across all four strands of work.
- Box Office Revenue: Ticket sales for touring productions and some events (e.g., Picture This at £8, Reclaim Festival Scratch Night at £14). Youth company sessions are free.
- Project-specific Grants: Additional funding for specific projects such as National Lottery through Arts Council England, Genesis Kickstart Fund, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for Lit Legacies project.
- Donations: Donations from supporters are described as vital to ongoing work, enabling wellbeing support for artists, residentials for Youth Company, and resources for Regional Voices strand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Company Sessions - Free |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | We are Here to Write - Free |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Theatre Productions - Ticketed |
| Other | Multi-year contract | The Writers Company - Paid Programme |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Associate Artists Programme - Paid Development |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Beyond Face CIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Beyond Face CIC is a South West England theatre company that creates, develops, and tours original theatrical productions while running free community programmes for Global Majority artists, young people (aged 11-18), and adults in Devon. Its core offerings include paid artist development programmes (The Writers Company, Associate Artists Programme), free writers groups and scratch nights, weekly youth companies in Exeter and Plymouth, and touring professional productions presented at regional partner theatres.
Product overview
Beyond Face CIC is a South West England-based theatre company founded in 2015 by Alix Harris, operating as a Community Interest Company with four interconnected programme strands: Investing in Artists (artist development), Creating with Young People (youth company), Gathering Regional Voices (community programming), and Touring Productions. The organisation creates original theatrical productions and provides development opportunities for Global Majority artists, young people, and regional communities. The portfolio includes sub-programmes such as The Writers Company (a 2-year, £5,510.05 per writer programme), We are Here to Write (writing collective), We are Here to Unlock (1:1 support), We are Here to Share (scratch nights), Associate Artists Programme (15-month, £5,000 per artist), weekly Youth Companies in Exeter and Plymouth, and Regional Voices programming (Story-tell and Unpack). Productions include In Search of Goldoni (2025), Picture This (2025), Sitting in the Grey (2023 onwards), and Grow Up! (2024).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- We Are Here: Artists programme providing tools and space for global majority artists to grow personally and professionally and to develop creative community across the South West region. Includes writers' group, scratch night events, 1:1 support, and commissioning opportunities.
- The Writers Company
- We Are Here to Write: The Collective
- We Are Here to Share
Products and services
- The Writers Company A 2-year programme supporting South West-based Global Majority playwrights with £5,510.05 total cash investment per writer (including a £1,000 Year 1 bursary and £3,790.05 Year 2 commission), paid session attendance (£120/day), travel, resources, mentoring and dramaturgical support to write a 30-minute draft.
- Associate Artists Programme A 15-month paid development programme offering two South West-based Global Majority artists or companies a £5,000 development fee, four performance opportunities, mentoring, workshops, marketing, producing and dramaturgical support.
- We are Here to Write Free online fortnightly writers group held Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm for Global Majority writers, including group writing sessions, guest workshops, masterclasses, talks on topics like arts funding, wellbeing sessions, and opportunities to have material performed at scratch events and earn paid commissions.
- Plymouth Youth Company Free weekly Wednesday sessions (6-8pm) at the Roland Levinsky Building (University of Plymouth) for young people aged 12-16 from the Global Majority to develop theatre and performance skills with professional theatre makers; includes exchanges and production opportunities.
- Exeter Youth Company Free weekly Tuesday sessions (6:30-8:30pm) at Emmanuel Hall for young people aged 11-18 from the Global Majority to develop performance and creative skills, featuring exchanges and full production opportunities.
- Story-tell Free monthly Sunday workshops (11am-5pm) for Global Majority adults in Devon to explore creativity, learn new skills, meet new people, and access seed commissions and scratch night sharing opportunities as part of the Regional Voices strand.
- Unpack (Go and See and Behind the Scenes) Regional Voices sub-programme for Global Majority people in Devon to watch shows, demystify theatre, and advocate for the arts. Includes 'Unpack: Go and See' (group theatre trips with post-show workshops) and 'Unpack: Behind the Scenes' (workshops with Beyond Face team and guest practitioners).
- In Search of Goldoni (touring production) A comedic touring solo show written and performed by Saikat Ahamed and directed by Alix Harris, exploring grief, identity, and travel through a journey from Venice to Romford; presented at regional partner venues with ticketed admission.
- Sitting in the Grey (touring production) A touring production exploring the bystander effect and adult/young people dynamics through protagonist Ashlee, with school touring across the South West and venue performances including a 281-attendee performance at Millbay Academy accompanied by Teacher CPD.
Quantifiable outcome
- 700 people reached during Sitting in the Grey school tour
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Beyond Face CIC
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Beyond Face CIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Beyond Face CIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- Bristol Old ViccoreAssociate Company relationship established in spring 2024 alongside Diverse Artists Network, MAYK, and Theatre West. Venue host for performances and We are Here to Share scratch nights. Provides financial contribution and marketing support for Associate Artists Programme.
- Theatre Royal PlymouthcoreMajor producing theatre venue in the South West. Co-produced In Search of Goldoni with Beyond Face. Host venue for Picture This production and other events. Partner for Associate Artists Programme providing financial support and performance opportunities.
- MAST Mayflower StudioscoreSouthampton-based cultural venue. Partner in Associate Artists Programme contributing financially, providing space, and hosting one of the We are Here to Share scratch nights. Committed to artist development and representation.
- Landmark TheatrescoreNorth Devon venue (Queen's Theatre and The Landmark). Partner for Associate Artists Programme providing financial contribution, space, and hosting scratch night performance.
- Doorstep ArtssecondaryTorbay-based arts organisation. Co-produced Scratch & Share event and collaborated on joint scratch night in Paignton. Partnered on touring Sitting in the Grey to secondary schools in Torbay.
- DreamArtssecondaryPartner for joint Scratch & Share event with Beyond Face and Doorstep Arts in Torbay. Young people from DreamArts performed alongside Beyond Face participants.
- Strike A LightsecondaryGloucester-based arts organisation. Partner for Summer Residency supporting Sitting in the Grey development. Co-running Take Space to Lead theatre practitioner training programme for Global Majority artists.
- Impossible ProducingsecondaryCo-production partner for In Search of Goldoni alongside Theatre Royal Plymouth. Advisory board membership for Alix Harris.
- Company ThreesecondaryNational theatre company focused on young people. Partner for Grow Up Exchange project creating new full-length plays with teenagers from Northumberland, Swindon, Plymouth, and London.
- Mortal FoolssecondaryYouth theatre organisation. Partner for Grow Up Exchange project alongside Company Three and Prime Theatre.
- Prime TheatresecondaryReading-based young people's theatre. Partner for Grow Up Exchange project alongside Company Three and Mortal Fools.
- Exeter NorthcottsecondaryTheatre venue in Exeter. Hosted We are Here to Write scratch night. Partner for The Rhythm of Us programme with Devon Diversity Consultants.
- University of Plymouth (Widening Participation)secondaryContinues to support young people's work in Plymouth. Partnership enables access to university resources and widening participation initiatives.
- TamashasecondaryLondon-based theatre company. Listed as partner/logo on website. Partnership for SHIFT event celebrating Global perspectives in British theatre.
- Devon Diversity ConsultantssecondaryLed by Sandhya Dave. Partner for The Rhythm of Us programme with Exeter Northcott, working with Encompass Group on performance, play, storytelling and writing skills.
- Tara TheatreminorPart of collective statement against racist violence. Facilitating wellbeing spaces for artists and creatives affected by recent events.
- New Earth TheatreminorSignatory of collective statement against racist violence. Part of network of Global Majority-led organisations providing mutual support.
- Talawa Theatre CompanyminorSignatory of collective statement against racist violence. Part of network of Global Majority-led organisations providing mutual support.
- tiata fahodziminorSignatory of collective statement against racist violence. Part of network of Global Majority-led organisations providing mutual support.
- Barbican Theatre PlymouthsecondaryHistorical partner for youth work and productions. Previous collaboration on youth programming and Where's Abi? musical with Plymouth Music Zone.
- Diverse Artists NetworksecondaryFellow Associate Company at Bristol Old Vic alongside MAYK and Theatre West. Collaborative relationship for increasing depth of artist development offers in the city.
- MAYKsecondaryFellow Associate Company at Bristol Old Vic alongside Diverse Artists Network and Theatre West.
- Theatre WestsecondaryFellow Associate Company at Bristol Old Vic alongside Diverse Artists Network and MAYK.
- University of the West of England (UWE)secondaryAmy Saleh is Senior Lecturer in Education at UWE. Academic partnership supporting Lit Legacies project and research.
- Stoke Damerel Community CollegeminorPartner school for Sitting in the Grey development with Strike A Light and University of Gloucester summer residency.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Beyond Face CIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- tiata fahodzi: Producing theatre company championing African and diverse voices in contemporary British theatre. tiata fahodzi shares Beyond Face's Global Majority-led producing and artist-development mission and is a co-signatory of the recent collective statement.
- Tara Theatre: London-based multicultural producing theatre focused on diverse voices and artist development. Tara is a co-signatory with Beyond Face on collective statements against racist violence and operates an analogous artist-development-plus-touring model.
- Talawa Theatre Company: One of the UK's leading Black British theatre companies, producing work and developing artists. Both Talawa and Beyond Face centre Global Majority artists and narratives, though Talawa operates at national scale from London with a broader producing remit.
- New Earth Theatre: Asian British-led producing theatre company developing new writing and artists. New Earth is mission-aligned with Beyond Face on Global Majority representation and is part of the same collective-statement network.
- Tamasha Theatre Company: Long-established London-based theatre company developing and producing work by culturally diverse artists. Tamasha is a direct peer in mission (Global Majority artist development and touring production) and is listed as a Beyond Face partner in the SHIFT event collective statement.
Direct peers
- Company Three: National theatre company focused on young people, partnered with Beyond Face on the Grow Up Exchange project. Highly comparable in mission (youth theatre-making, co-created work) and partnership-driven delivery model.
- Strike A Light: Gloucester-based arts organisation partnering with Beyond Face on Sitting in the Grey summer residency and the Take Space to Lead training programme for Global Majority artists. Comparable regional arts/artist-development scope and partnership-based delivery.
- Doorstep Arts: Torbay-based regional arts organisation co-producing scratch events with Beyond Face and partnering on the Sitting in the Grey school tour. Most operationally similar peer in terms of regional focus, community/youth programming, and production touring scale.
- Mortal Fools: Youth theatre organisation partnering with Beyond Face on the Grow Up Exchange project. Comparable in youth-focused drama-making and co-creation methodology across UK regions.
Emerging players
- Eclipse Theatre: Black-led producing theatre company developing and touring work by Black British writers. Comparable in producing and artist-development focus for Global Majority voices, though operating primarily from the Midlands and at a smaller scale than Talawa.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Beyond Face CIC social profiles
Digital presenceBeyond Face CIC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Beyond Face CIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Beyond Face CIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Beyond Face CIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Beyond Face CIC 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 Beyond Face CIC
What does Beyond Face CIC do?
Beyond Face CIC is a South West England theatre company that creates, develops, and tours original theatrical productions while running free community programmes for Global Majority artists, young people (aged 11-18), and adults in Devon. Its core offerings include paid artist development programmes (The Writers Company, Associate Artists Programme), free writers groups and scratch nights, weekly youth companies in Exeter and Plymouth, and touring professional productions presented at regional partner theatres.
Is Beyond Face CIC a public or private company?
Beyond Face CIC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Beyond Face CIC founded?
Beyond Face CIC was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Beyond Face CIC based?
Beyond Face CIC is headquartered in Plymouth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Beyond Face CIC make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Funding (Arts Council England) is the primary driver. The others are box Office Revenue, project-specific Grants and donations.
Who are Beyond Face CIC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are tiata fahodzi, Tara Theatre, Talawa Theatre Company, New Earth Theatre and Tamasha Theatre Company. Direct peers are Company Three, Strike A Light, Doorstep Arts and Mortal Fools. Eclipse Theatre is listed as an emerging player.
Does Beyond Face CIC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Beyond Face CIC.
What industry is Beyond Face CIC in?
Beyond Face CIC's product category is Community Theatre and Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of MPAGABAI, Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts. Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7812.