Backstage Production

Backstage Production shares the first stages of our cultural infrastructure pilot study, based in the London neighbourhood of Elephant and Castle. The project reveals where and how art, craft and design happens behind the scenes within the city. 

We spent many hours talking to artists from across all forms of practice, artisans, designers, tradespeople and small business owners, working alongside each other within the purpose built studios, live-work units, and converted former railway arches. We wanted to find out what made them choose where they situated their practice and how they find working within their space. How does their physical environment affect what they do? How did they adapt it to their needs? How do they find the organisational and management structure? How do they engage with the surrounding area – their neighbours, peers, collaborators, suppliers, clients and those that run the cafes where they go for lunch? 

Our project is not about mapping every studio, workshop, gallery, performance or rehearsal space in the city. We feel that the map is not the territory, so we’ve looked behind the scenes and underneath the surface to understand how, why, when and where creative work happens. 

Backstage Production is the result of research carried out by Theatrum Mundi as part of the Urban Backstages project, a two-year study of cultural infrastructure in four European cities – London, Glasgow, Paris and Marseille –  initiated in partnership with the Ax:son Johnson Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden. 

In this film, we ask people in Spare Street, Maldonado Walk, Robert Dashwood Way, and Pullens Yards what it is like to work in these backstage spaces and how they support different kinds of cultural production.

Commissioned by Theatrum Mundi
Shot and edited by Lucia Sceranková
Supported by the Ax:son Johnson Foundation

Featuring
Elisa Alaluusua. Artist
Dale Inglis. Artist
Jas Sapal. Business Development Manager
Amanda Jacome. Beautician
Cassidie Alder. Woodcarver
Wilfe Gorlin. Woodcarver
Owain Williams. Architect
David Horgan. Illustrator