Real Learning Ltd
Real Learning Ltd is an Irish theatre-based learning consultancy founded in 2008 that designs and delivers actor-led role-play and skills development programmes for corporate L&D functions and Irish universities and business schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersGlanmire, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Real Learning Ltd does
Real Learning Ltd is an Irish private limited company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Glanmire, County Cork, that delivers theatre-based learning and assessment programmes to corporate and academic clients across Ireland. The firm's core offering consists of two service lines: (1) Role-Play, branded as 'Rehearsal', in which professional actors simulate workplace interactions so that learners can practise high-stakes conversations and receive honest, emotionally authentic feedback; and (2) Actor-Led Skills Development, bespoke interactive workshops focused on communication, leadership, presence, authenticity, resilience, and storytelling. A Forum Theatre derivative is offered for audiences where direct role-play is intimidating. All programmes are co-designed with the client to reflect organisational context, culture, and learning objectives.
The underlying 'technology' is methodological rather than software-based: the firm curates a panel of over 100 professional actors, writers, and directors across Ireland, providing unrestricted access to talent that an actors' agency could not match. The two co-founders anchor the offering with complementary expertise: Ivan McKenna brings 16 years of L&D/HR management in financial services plus an MEd in Training & Development and multiple facilitation licences, while Ciarán Bermingham is an award-winning theatre practitioner and educator. The firm has no external funding, no parent company, and operates with approximately 5 employees.
Revenue is generated entirely through bespoke professional services engagements priced per scope. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales: the firm engages L&D and HR functions in corporate clients (including financial services, pharmaceuticals, energy, media, and state bodies such as Enterprise Ireland and DAA) and partners directly with universities and business schools (Trinity Business School, DCU Business School, UCC, MTU, IMI) to embed experiential learning modules within undergraduate, postgraduate, executive MBA, and diploma programmes. Multi-year recurring contracts, including an 8-year assessment programme with one academic client, drive revenue predictability within a narrow anchor base. Marketing is content-led (website case studies and testimonials), LinkedIn presence, and a strong referral network built over 17 years.
Real Learning Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Real Learning Ltd
- Legal name
- Real Learning Ltd
- Website
- https://reallearning.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Real Learning Ltd is an Irish theatre-based learning consultancy founded in 2008 that designs and delivers actor-led role-play and skills development programmes for corporate L&D functions and Irish universities and business schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Real Learning Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Training and Development Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)
Keywords
Where Real Learning Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glanmire
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Real Learning Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Corporate Learning Programmes: The company designs and delivers bespoke theatre-based learning and development programmes for corporate clients. Engagements are project-based, typically scoped around specific L&D needs (e.g., performance management, courageous conversations, interviewer skills, leadership development). Revenue is generated through fees for programme design, facilitation, and actor talent. The company is not an actors' agency, providing unrestricted access to Ireland's acting community.
- Professional Services - Academic Programmes: The company partners with universities and business schools to deliver experiential learning modules, workshops, and assessment interventions within undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive MBA programmes. Engagements span induction programmes, team-building, placement interview preparation, group project skills, and assessment role-plays. Revenue is generated through programme fees scoped with academic clients.
- Assessment Services: The company provides assessment-as-a-service for academic programmes, including the design of scenario-based assessments and the delivery of live actor-led role-play assessments that are recorded and graded. This has been integrated into diploma curricula for extended periods (e.g., 8 years with one client), indicating recurring professional services revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Programme Engagements (Corporate & Academic) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Real Learning Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Real Learning Ltd designs and delivers bespoke theatre-based learning and development programmes using professional actors to create credible simulations of workplace conversations. Its two core services are Role-Play (Rehearsal), which replaces traditional peer-to-peer role-play with actor-led rehearsal sessions, and Actor-Led Skills Development workshops focused on communication, presence, authenticity, leadership, and storytelling. The company also delivers embedded academic modules, executive education workshops, and recurring assessment services for universities, business schools, and corporate clients across Ireland.
Product overview
Real Learning Ltd is a service-based company offering theatre-based learning and development interventions. The core offerings consist of Role-Play (Rehearsal) and Actor-Led Skills Development services, supplemented by sector-specific programme modules including Undergraduate and Post-Grad Programmes for academic clients, and specialised modules such as Interviewer Skills, Difficult Behaviours, Appraisal Skills, Creative Presentations, and Teamwork for corporate clients. The company collaborates with over 100 professional actors to deliver experiential learning that makes corporate training more memorable and effective.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Role-Play (Rehearsal) Theatre-based learning approach where professional actors create realistic simulations so learners can practise workplace skills and receive honest, bias-free human feedback on their interactions. Aimed at corporate and academic L&D/HR buyers seeking credible rehearsal environments for high-stakes conversations.
- Actor-Led Skills Development Bespoke, interactive workshops led by professional actors that draw on theatre practice (influence, suspension of disbelief, story-telling) to develop workplace skills such as authenticity, resilience, presence, communication, and leadership. Typically delivered in theatre settings for corporate and academic audiences.
- Undergraduate Programmes Workshops designed for undergraduate students to develop core professional skills including confidence, communication, and workplace readiness, tailored to each university's curriculum and learning objectives.
- Post-Grad Programmes Advanced workshops for postgraduate students focusing on communication, influence, leadership skills, and preparation for high-performance roles, typically embedded within postgraduate business programmes.
- Interviewer Skills Training programme helping interviewers develop skills to conduct professional, effective interviews, minimise bias, and make stronger hiring decisions through actor-led practical role-play scenarios.
- Difficult Behaviours Workshop providing tools and realistic practice for engaging in challenging conversations, de-escalating conflict, and conducting assertive, respectful communication, drawing on actor-led Forum Theatre derivatives.
- Appraisal Skills Training enabling line managers to give constructive feedback, support growth, and build trust through interactive actor-led sessions focused on performance and appraisal conversations.
- Creative Presentations Immersive experiential learning using theatre skills to help participants increase the effectiveness of their communication with audiences.
- Teamwork Programme exploring theatre techniques and research to develop collaboration skills, releasing the 'power of ensemble' within teams in academic and corporate settings.
- Academic Assessment Services Design of scenario-based assessments and delivery of live actor-led role-play assessments that are recorded and graded, integrated into diploma and degree programmes on multi-year engagements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sustained client relationships spanning 5+ years with multiple Irish universities and business schools (Trinity, DCU, UCC, IMI)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Real Learning Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Real Learning Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Real Learning Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Real Learning Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Celemi Partners: Sweden-based learning and development firm built around interactive business simulations and experiential workshops for global enterprises. Comparable to Real Learning in using immersive, scenario-based pedagogy, but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
- Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Global, research-driven leadership development organisation offering experiential programmes, assessments, and feedback tools for executives. Comparable to Real Learning in addressing leadership and interpersonal skill development, but as a much larger, multi-method incumbent rather than an actor-led niche specialist.
- Senn Delaney (a Korn Ferry company): Global culture and leadership transformation firm within Korn Ferry, using experiential methods including role-play and simulation to shape leadership behaviour. Comparable to Real Learning in applying experiential learning to corporate leadership development, but as part of a much broader talent consultancy portfolio.
- BTS Group: Global consulting firm specialising in business simulations and scenario-based learning for sales, leadership, and strategy execution. Overlaps with Real Learning's experiential, simulation-led methodology but operates as a much larger, multi-region incumbent with broader advisory offerings.
Direct peers
- Second City Works: The corporate training arm of The Second City, applying improvisational theatre techniques to business skills such as leadership, communication, and sales. Directly comparable to Real Learning's actor-led experiential approach, with a broader US-based delivery footprint.
- Lane4 Management Group: UK-based performance development consultancy that uses professional actors and immersive simulations to build leadership, communication, and team effectiveness in corporate clients. Highly comparable to Real Learning in methodology (actor-led rehearsal, scenario co-design) and target buyer (L&D and HR leaders), though operating at larger scale in the UK market.
- Performance Development Group (PDG): US-based experiential learning and business simulation firm designing custom simulations and role-play programmes for corporate leadership development. Comparable to Real Learning's bespoke scenario co-creation and actor-facilitated interventions, though serving primarily Fortune 500 clients.
Others
- Roffey Park Institute: UK-based management education institute offering leadership and organisational development programmes. Co-founder Ivan McKenna is accredited through Roffey Park, indicating direct familiarity; comparable to Real Learning in serving organisational learning buyers, though Roffey Park is a broader management education provider rather than an actor-led rehearsal specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Real Learning Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceReal Learning Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Real Learning Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Real Learning Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Real Learning Ltd 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 Real Learning Ltd
What does Real Learning Ltd do?
Real Learning Ltd designs and delivers bespoke theatre-based learning and development programmes using professional actors to create credible simulations of workplace conversations. Its two core services are Role-Play (Rehearsal), which replaces traditional peer-to-peer role-play with actor-led rehearsal sessions, and Actor-Led Skills Development workshops focused on communication, presence, authenticity, leadership, and storytelling. The company also delivers embedded academic modules, executive education workshops, and recurring assessment services for universities, business schools, and corporate clients across Ireland.
Is Real Learning Ltd a public or private company?
Real Learning Ltd is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Real Learning Ltd founded?
Real Learning Ltd was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Real Learning Ltd based?
Real Learning Ltd is headquartered in Glanmire, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Real Learning Ltd make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Services - Corporate Learning Programmes are the primary driver. The others are professional Services - Academic Programmes and assessment Services.
Who are Real Learning Ltd's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Celemi Partners, Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), Senn Delaney (a Korn Ferry company) and BTS Group. Direct peers are Second City Works, Lane4 Management Group and Performance Development Group (PDG). Roffey Park Institute is listed as an others.
Does Real Learning Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Real Learning Ltd.
What industry is Real Learning Ltd in?
Real Learning Ltd's product category is Corporate Training and Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development, with a secondary code of MPAGAOAJ, Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8742.