Jamaica Patty Co - Whisky Live - Crosswords - Hacks
SO Resi - Square Roots - Poplar HARCA - Aster Group
Awe London - Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
NHG Homes - Phantom Peak - Tales From The Lighthouse
how Dance Re ections is set to bathe Sadler’s Wells and London beyond in a festival of movement Pages 52-55 preparing to
celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk
The Photography And Video Show - Aziah Cafe - Sudoku Fast, affordable, conveyancing services
Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk
Image by Blandine Soulage
GIG | Ray Gelato And The Giants
The crooner and sax player, songwriter and bandleader brings his hip brand of swing to the Wharf for an evening of classic tunes. Mar 19, 8.30pm, from £25, boisdale.co.uk
Where? London
Docklands West India Quay
KIDS | Tots At the Docks
Join these drop-in play sessions where under 5s can dive deep into the river, stack cargo or even put on a puppet show. Last Weds of the month. Feb 26, Mar 26, 10.30am-2pm, free, londonmuseum.org.uk Where?
GIG | DJs Ben Cain + Lonyo
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place
Where?
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place
The Hine Bar has been making a bit of a name for itself on the Garage revival scene of late, thanks to these collaborations with Belveder vodka. Bo. Mar 13, 7pm-1am, free entry, boisdale.co.uk
George Chapman from the retail team online at wharf-life.com
Sharp focus: The Photography And Video Show is coming to Excel London in Royal Docks, with exhibitors and experts o ering all the latest kit and techniques to capture the very best images
Welcome to issue 131 of Wharf Life. This paper is squarely focused on events, whether it’s a wave of performances coming to Sadler’s Wells with Dance Re ections, local networking with Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs or events at Excel, Woolwich Works or Phantom Peak, read on... Dram ne spirit: How Whisky Live o ers hours of unlimited pourings Find properties for sale with our special focus on shared ownership
on the radar
We’re not sure how need to know
It’s been a burger joint, a pizza parlour and a Korean fast food restaurant. Now Chicken Shop is reimagining the unit beneath Wagamama in Jubilee Place. The brand has branches in Putney, Soho, Notting Hill and soon on the Wharf chickenshop.com
We try the food at new Isle Of Dogs opening Cafe Aziah
contents.
Bite into the Spicy Beef, for example, and your mouth will immediately tingle as it meets the ticklish heat of the scotch bonnet peppers. At £3.95 it might not be Greggs steak bake value (£2.50 for those who care), but it’s still a serious package
Creation, transmission and education – why a French ne jewellery company is putting on the Dance Re ections
The Jamaica Patty Co’s Spicy Beef Patty costs just £3.95 in Canary Wharf
bowl of
in the
Then, of course, you can return to the company’s kiosk in Reuters Plaza and explore its other avours. The Ackee And Salt sh is a potent, salinated
doing the deals
get more for less on and around the Wharf
Yes you read that right, Roka in Park Pavilion is o ering wine, beer and sake for £4 per serving from 4pm to 7.30pm on weekdays. That’s some happy hours... rokarestaurant.com
The latest season at Phantom Peak arrives with Jonas in person...
subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly £25
Burger & Lobster on West India Quay is o ering a two-course set menu for £25 including half a lobster as a main (plus £15 for the whole beast). What’s not to like? burgerandlobster.com
write me words you don’t know you need
subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
noun, fake, from American English
The joy felt at freeing oneself from capital letters in textual communication and relaxing into the more informal lowercase world. Feel like you’re coming across too strong? Simply cap down and feel the stress deplete...
kalopsia
noun, real, from Ancient Greek
An artist’s impression of how Pitch’s venue will look at Churchill Place
The delusion that things are more beautiful than they really are. Fasten those rose-tinted glasses rmly over your eyes and pour a serious glass of Kool-Aid, it’s time to suspend that disbelief and be bamboozled by all the glamour... With you from the start
Immigration Solicitors
COMING SOON Pitch
Churchill Place pitchgolf.london
It may be a little delayed (originally aiming for a January launch), but Pitch is expected to open towards the end of February at Churchill Place.
Extending to 14,500sq ft, the virtual golf venue promises something for players of all levels.
Its agship Canary Wharf location will feature 11 bays for groups of up to eight to play in, a restaurant, a golf store and two
Our immigration team has earned its strong reputation for providing expert legal advice and practical support on a wide range of immigration issues. Trust us to help you make the right application. 020 7205 2896 kiddrapinet.co.uk
bars. Games include Party Putt, Cannon Bowl, Streets Of Neon, Bullseye and Capture The Flag. There’s also plenty of scope to enjoy the more traditional game with Trackman technology and “ultra-realistic visuals” for those who prefer to blast a drive down a beautifully kempt fairway. The system provides for more than 300 courses and even includes the ability to alter the weather to a player’s preference. Seriously, though, who would turn the fog on? Find out more on Pitch’s website or follow @pitchlondon on Insta
Pitch will feature two bars for guests to enjoy
Canary Wharf - West India Quay
diary dates, listings and ideas to make life in Canary Wharf sweeter..
FILM
Hard Truths
Everyman Canary Wharf everymancinema.com
Building on the success of such films as Peterloo, Mr Turner and, of course, Secrets And Lies, director Mike Leigh returns to the contemporary world with a tough, intimate, compassionate study of family life. We follow Pansy Deacon, played by Marianne Jean-Baptiste, a depressed and anxious woman as she battles a meek husband, a short fuse and fears around her family in the run-up to Mother’s Day. See it on March 12, at 6.15pm in the Crossrail Place cinema. Adult tickets cost £20.40
COMING SOON
Secrets Of The Thames London Museum Docklands londonmuseum.org.uk
Tickets have gone on sale for London Museum Docklands’ next major exhibition.
Secrets Of The Thames is set to run at the West India Quay establishment from April 4 until March 1, 2026, featuring more than 350 objects found by mudlarks on the river’s foreshore. Visitors are invited to step into the shoes of treasure hunters and discover how the licensed
explorers hunt down, uncover and identify their finds.
Promising to blend contemporary art, archaeology and digital experiences, the exhibition also features a space for reflection where visitors can think on the mysteries of the moon and tides that make the practice of mudlarking possible along the banks of London’s great artery.
Tickets to see the exhibition cost £18 for adults and £2 for children. Kids over 12 cost £15.50. Prices include an optional £2 donation to the museum.
Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths is coming the Everyman Canary Wharf in mid March
Image by Monika Buttling-Smith / London Museum
Image by London Museum
Starting price for a ticket to attend Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs’ February 28 meet-up
how
finding other
Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs is bringing women in business together
by Jon Massey
This is a story that begins – as so many things do – on the Canary Wharf And Isle Of Dogs Facebook group. That’s where Thaisa Uchoas first contacted personal trainer, Ilona Drob, with the idea that their fledgling businesses might collaborate. She also wanted to book some gym sessions.
“I was going through some issues with my body at the time, feeling it was not mine any more and I wanted to get back into fitness,” said Thaisa, who started a massage therapy
business in 2022. “I signed up for a programme with Ilona, which really helped me get back into shape. It was during those gym sessions in March 2023 that we got talking about how running a business on your own was like.
“We were sharing our thoughts about how lonely it can be and wondering if there were other women locally who might want to help each other in the same way we were.
“We’d started sharing clients and supporting one another, so we thought it might be possible to create a community.”
Before starting their businesses, both women had worked in corporate roles in the recruitment
My goal was to have my own business. My parents had always told me from an early age that, if I wanted to get ahead, I’d need that autonomy
Ilona Drob, Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
sector. Ilona, originally from Poland, had supported herself through university in London before forging a career at a “fantastic female-led company”.
She said: “I really enjoyed that, but my goal was to have my own business. My parents had always told me from an early age that, if I wanted to get ahead, I’d need autonomy – to be in charge of my own destiny.
“They always encouraged me to pursue my studies and try things on my own. My dad was a small business owner and my mum worked at a hospital doing day and night shifts, for many years. She had four kids, so it was really continued on Page 8
Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs co-founders Thaisa Uchoas, left, and Ilona Drob, right, with CWFE ambassador Michelle Buchan, centre
from Page 6
hard. She was the one who told me to continue to study and put myself out there, so I wouldn’t have the same fate as her. That’s what sparked the desire in me to take charge of my career.”
Having long had a passion for health and fitness, Ilona left her job to become a personal trainer at Gymbox in December 2018, simultaneously founding Your Vegan Trainer to deliver exercise programmes and plant-based nutrition for private clients.
“I’d had a few health problems and I wanted to heal – I did a lot of research around nutrition to get myself stronger,” she said. “I’d been working very long hours in recruitment. I loved the buzz, but it had an impact on my wellbeing.
“I went on a course and decided to take a chance, say goodbye to my salary and start my business. It was scary at first, but it was worth taking the risk.”
Scan this for more about Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
She’s since gone on to co-found a second company with Raffaela Kestel, inspired by working in the gym with people in corporate careers.
“BeThriving Wellness offers companies wellbeing programmes,” said Ilona. “I was seeing how amazing people are when they’re in the gym, but hearing that they were not fulfilled and happy in the office.
“So we decided to see how we could change this through consultancy, by installing a culture of health and wellbeing within organisations so it’s at the forefront of what they do.
“That means the employees are very well looked after, happy and fulfilled, which is one of the most important things a company can do for its sustainability and to make it an attractive place to work.”
Thaisa’s journey to business ownership was also through personal experience.
Coming to the UK from Brazil aged eight, she’d grown up in Hertfordshire, studied in Birmingham and moved to London “working crazy hours” in recruitment.
Ambassadors now help Ilona and Thaisa run Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
Ilona is founder of Your Vegan Trainer and co-founder of both BeThriving Wellness and Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
We wanted to create a space for women and for them to have a voice. It’s about education, co-working and networking
Thaisa Uchoas, CWFE
“I always felt I needed to do something different,” she said. “I wanted a job where I would have more impact working with people on a more personal level and I decided I wanted to make people feel better – but didn’t know how.
“In 2020 me and my partner were starting a family – we were going through IVF and there was lots to think about.
“I went on maternity leave and that’s when I was having some health issues and started seeing an amazing massage therapist who helped me through my pregnancy – she was my inspiration.
“Those sessions made me feel so good and I decided to retrain. I was still in my job, but I wasn’t fulfilled, so I handed in my notice in December 2022 to take massage therapy seriously. I took on clients, initially working from home. Then I met Ilona.”
In addition to supporting each other, the two entrepreneurs decided to see what appetite might be out there for other women in business to network in the local area – Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs was born.
“We felt there was a real need to connect with others after the pandemic,” said Ilona. “That’s what made us look to see if there were others like ourselves who were feeling like that.
“We created a Facebook group – in the beginning it was five of us having a coffee. After a few weeks we started to become more active on that page and more people started joining.”
Thaisa added: “Then we thought about a monthly meet-up and we started doing that in October 2023 in a corner of the bar at the Marriott West India Quay because it was free and the staff are lovely.
“I think there were 12 of us including Michelle, who’s now an ambassador for the group.”
Since then things have grown. The group’s monthly meet-ups have grown to an average of 85 attendees, now hosted at Republic next to East India DLR station.
The events are ticketed with entry starting at £5, with the February gathering starting at continued on Page 10
Photo Gregory Batardon
is founder of The Massage Space and co-founder of both Her Sanctuary and Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
from Page 9
6pm for welcome drinks and introductions. As well as the networking, events typically feature a guest speaker who shares their entrepreneurial journey – the highs, the lows and any tips they want to pass on.
The February session also features a prize draw with various benefits available to win before things wrap up at 9pm.
“Our aim right now is for more people to know about our network,” said Ilona. “We’d love to think that every aspiring female entrepreneur locally would want to come to us to meet other people who have done it, so they can start sooner and get their business off the ground.
“It’s about tapping into people who do have a dream, even those who have the idea as a side hustle. For us, it’s about creating an ecosystem where everyone who comes to one of our meetings will find value.
“Absolutely any kind of business is welcome. We’re also aspiring to boost diversity and inclusion, so we want people with differing backgrounds to be included.
“There is so much to learn from people with different businesses from our own.
“Even though we’ve grown, it’s still about women coming together to collaborate – we now have a team of nine ambassadors to help organise what we do.
“It’s about women checking us out and actually getting support with what they want to do.
“We are a friendly group –people are so accessible. We’ve found there are so many powerful women who have had successful careers in the corporate world coming into entrepreneurship and finding they have no-one to turn to for advice. It’s so important to have people to bounce ideas off.”
As one of the original attendees, Isle Of Dogs-based businesswoman and senior leader, coach and mentor at Tropic Skincare, Michelle Buchan, has become one of the group’s ambassadors.
“A friend said I should go – my background is in the corporate world and I’ve often felt men dominate the conversation in that setting,” she said. “You often come up against egos. A group of women produce a different
atmosphere – more supportive and collaborative.
“It’s a different kind of networking. There may be a lot of women sitting at home thinking they’ve got an idea, a scheme, but that it’s only them struggling with those problems.
“This group really wants to help them through those struggles because we know it’s easy to feel isolated.”
Thaisa, who recently started offering massage therapy services at One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, said: “We wanted to create a space for women and for them to have a voice in this area.
“It’s about education, co-working and networking and it’s really worked.
“Initially we ran it for free but we needed it to cover its costs which is why we now charge a fee to attend.
“This is because it takes time and effort for us to organise the network, to sustain it and to grow the group.”
Thaisa is also now a serial entrepreneur, herself, having co-founded Her Sanctuary with founder of E14YogaCoach Sharon Osu.
She added: “One of the most important things about this group is for our members to collaborate with each other and to get work out of it.
“I’ve collaborated with Ilona, of course, and it’s important that this is a part of it. We know it’s not always simple to make sales or to find clients.
“That’s why we ask a key speaker to share their story each month. It’s good for people to see that the journey isn’t always easy and for them to hear that in language that they can understand.”
key details
Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs is open to women who have started their own business or are hoping to do so.
The group is not restricted geographically, despite its name, and welcomes women from across Canary Wharf, east London and beyond.
The group holds regular monthly meet-ups with the next set to take place at Republic on February 28 from 6pm-9pm. Tickets start at £5.
Premium memberships, which include full access to CWFE’s regular monthly events are also available.
and its development team will be on hand to answer your questions and receive your feedback. Details of the proposals will appear on our website – www.49millharbour.co.uk – after the public exhibition.
If you would like any further information on our plans, or would like to discuss further please contact: kim.humphreys@carvil-ventures.co.uk
It’s about women coming along, checking us out and actually getting support with what they want to do
Follow @cw_female_network on Instagram for more details about CWFE including links to its other social media pages and booking information for events
Scan this for more about Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
Ilona Drob, CWFE
Thaisa
Average attendance at Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs’ monthly meet-ups
CWFE hosts its monthly gatherings at Republic close to East India DLR station
your refreshing
how the opening of Awe London at 8 Harbord Square delivers independent beauty right on Wharfers’ doorsteps
advertisement feature
When I was a lot younger, I had an obsession with Canary Wharf,” said Kamden Monplaisir.
“Aged nine, my mum brought me to the estate, because she’d noticed I had a major interest in numbers, money and counting –maths was always my strongest subject in school.
“I was inspired by the suits and the culture – it felt like a different world when you stepped into it. As a child, I’d never seen anything like it. Later, I only applied for jobs I could get here” Kamden, who grew up not far away in Bow, founded creative nail bar business Awe London in 2019. Soon she’s set to expand her operation to 8 Harbord Square in Wood Wharf as one of a cohort of independent business launching in its commercial units over the coming weeks and months.
“When I was starting out, I used to work at Aquascutum in Canary Wharf, but the company went into administration,” she said.
“That’s when I moved on to Burberry. I have a degree in international finance and I was working for their corporate finance division.
“After pursuing that for about five years, I decided I wanted to start my own business – The Esther Academy – an organisation working with young women to support, inspire and nurture them in their future endeavours.
“That continued until the pandemic hit and business died down. I already had other things going on creativity-wise and I started Awe London in 2019.
“I’m also a mum and about to be again, which is a big pride and joy of mine and just as important as my entrepreneurial life.”
The business Kamden’s running now was born out of need – a desire to offer a better service than what she’d experienced.
“I’ve always been obsessed with
When I was a lot younger, I had an obsession with Canary Wharf. I was inspired by the suits and the culture – it felt like a di erent world
Kamden Monplaisir, Awe London
getting my nails done,” she said. “But I felt disappointed by the salons I was going to compared with my expectations.
the West End – the prices were three times as much, but it was
“I’d visited businesses in the West End – the prices were three times as much, but it was a different atmosphere and I wondered why that couldn’t be available in other places.
“When you go to a spa, you want to experience that ‘wow’ moment, but many nails salons in the UK were just about getting in and getting out – I wanted to change that.
to change that.
“Our first branch was in South Woodford and we were there for about four years. It was a beautiful community to work in as a residential area.
“Then my ambitious side set me wondering how I was going to grow this business more, which had been quite difficult in such a small area. continued on Page 15
South Woodford and we were there for about four It continued on Page 15
A selection of designs by Awe London featured at @awelondon on Instagram
The Great Escape
ESCAPE TO LONDON’S LUXURY HEALTH CLUB
Years since Kamden Monplaisir founded Awe London, a brand she’s now bringing to Canary Wharf
Scan this code to nd out more about Awe London
Kamden created Awe London after failing to nd the service she wanted in nail salons she was using as a client
A selection of designs by Awe London featured at @awelondon on Instagram
Image by Jon Massey
from Page 12
“We were popular on social media and I noticed that a lot of my clients were coming from London for our services, so I packed up and moved to Shoreditch.
“It was a tough decision because I knew we’d lose some clients but it was a great move and many of our customers travel in to see us there. The new location gave us more exposure and we were able to cater for tourists, commuters and residents.
“There was a much bigger footfall and more of a lively vibe and we’ve achieved what we wanted to, which is amazing.”
As thoughts of further expansion emerged, the stars aligned to bring Kamden’s twin obsessions – Canary Wharf and creative nails – together. It made the decision to say yes to Canary Wharf Group’s team an easy one.
“I was contacted by them while they were looking out for small east London businesses that might be interested in a second location,” she said. “It came at the
perfect time. I’d built the team and the infrastructure and I had just started thinking about growth and that suggestion really tapped into my love for the Wharf.
“When I was considering areas, Canary Wharf had always seemed like a dream – when I walked through the malls, I always thought it would be great to be here.
“Then, this new opportunity at 8 Harbord Square made that a bit more attainable so I pursued the opportunity and around seven months later we had the keys.”
For Kamden and her team, success is all built on the customers experience –the key reason her clients keep coming back to indulge in Awe London’s extensive range of services.
“It’s about the care you get from our people,” said Kamden. “If you come to us we’ll always aim to brighten up your day.
“At Canary Wharf, clients will come to Awe London, feel relaxed and enjoy lovely beverages –getting your nails done should never feel like a chore.
“Some customers get a treatment because they need to look their best for an event or to
When I was considering areas, Canary Wharf had always seemed like a dream – I always thought it would be great to be here
Kamden Monplaisir, Awe London
maintain their appearance, but here we also want them to enjoy the process.
“It is a luxury and we want people to feel they are having a good time while they are with us. One of the things I’ve fallen in love with about Canary Wharf as it has changed is the community aspect to the estate.
“There are opportunities to network and to meet loads of people. We’re offering a service, of course, but we also want to build our client base.
“In our businesses, we have the opportunity to build a rapport with our customers and learn about their lives. In some cases we see them going from their first continued on Page 16
I like each salon to look like and represent a bit of the place it’s in, so none of them are exactly the same
Kamden Monplaisir, Awe London
from Page 15
job, the next step in their career, marriage, a new house and beyond. That’s really lovely.
“I’m so excited for the future and what can come from this opening. The exposure we got from Shoreditch was good, but this will be a new level of opportunity for us.
“This kind of project to support small businesses is unusual. It’s tough for small companies to break through but being in an area alongside big brands and having the chance is great and I’m so grateful for it. We’re really looking forward to opening.”
While Awe London’s Canary Wharf branch will be an extension of Kamden’s brand, she said the new nail salon had been designed to have its own personality to reflect the area it would be operating in.
“I like each salon to look like and represent a bit of the place it’s in, so none of them are exactly the same,” she said. “You’ll know it’s an Awe London salon, but I wanted the contemporary feel of Harbord Square to be present when people walk in.
“I saw the brickwork, the appearance of the apartments upstairs and thought: ‘this is me – modern, contemporary, with an industrial feel, but also with a bit of plush velvet, beautiful smells, flowers and the feminine touch.”
As for further expansion, Kamden has big plans and a model she feels is ready to grow.
“There can be a bit of apprehension when you expand – we’ll have double the number of staff with this opening, but I’m not afraid,” she said.
“We’ve built really strong infrastructure in the business and I’m excited to work with new
people. Running businesses isn’t how I thought it would be at all. I hope I’d become rich, go on holiday every other month – all glitz and glamour.
“I didn’t understand the magnitude of it or the hard work you need to do.
“But I’ve got a great support system in place, a great family and I’m a woman of faith. That all helps manage the stress.
“I take time out for myself – you have to believe in balance if you don’t want it to completely take over your life.
“If I could go back with some advice I’d tell myself to relax – to remember that I was built to do this and that I can get over any hurdle that comes my way and to have faith that the plans I’ve made will work out.
“In the future, I’d love to expand Awe London globally and partner up with people all over the world. You have to have passion to grow a boutique nail salon.
key details
Awe London offers a wide range of manicure and pedicure services. Follow the brand’s Instagram @awelondon or check its website for Canary Wharf opening details. Go to awelondon.co.uk for more informaiton
Canary Wharf Group is supporting a number of independent east London businesses to open in the commercial units at 8 Harbord Square on Wood Wharf. Also confirmed are salon Wayne Hairdresser and florist and plant shop The Flower Club. Go to canarywharf.com for more details
Scan this code to nd out more about Awe London
Awe London o ers a wide range of manicure and pedicure services including intricate nail art
A selection of designs by Awe London featured at @awelondon on Instagram
Over the coming weeks and months, the western edge of Wood Wharf is set to come alive with new openings and launches
activity
Retail units at 8 Harbord Square will be filled by independent businesses from east London
Right, the ground floor of 8 Harbord Square stands ready to welcome fresh
HACKETT Grey Flat Cap, £78 Cabot Place hackett.com
MANGO Round-neck Bouclé Sweater, £35.99 Canada Place mango.com
MANGO Floral Pu -Sleeve Dress, £49.99 Canada Place mango.com
nally, nally, the mercury is going up and the winter chill is receding. Jess Maddison has hit the malls to celebrate the change in season with these spring styles
PAUL SMITH Organic Cotton Sweater, £165 Cabot Place paulsmith.com
LEVI’S Mission Denim Blazer, £130 Canada Place levi.com
BIMBA Y LOLA Heart Down Jacket, £180 Jubilee Place bimbaylola.com
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Take notice that on February 13th 2025, Knighton Estates Limited applied to Tower Hamlets Council for a new premises licence in respect of Makers Café, The Hickman Building, 2 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1EW.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The application seeks to permit the sale by retail of alcohol from 12:00 until 23:00 Monday to Friday.
PUBLIC NOTICE – LICENSING APPLICATION LICENSING ACT 2003
The premises will not be open to member of the public after 18:00 on any day.
Take notice that on February 13th, 2025, Knighton Estates Limited applied to Tower Hamlets Council for a new premises licence in respect of Makers Café, The Hickman Building, 2 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1EW.
The application can be viewed at the offices of the Licensing Team, Environmental Health & Trading Standards, Tower Hamlets Council, 160 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BJ or online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk.
The application seeks to permit the sale by retail of alcohol from 12:00 until 23:00 Monday to Friday. The premises will not be open to members of the public after 18:00 on any day.
The application can be viewed at the o ces of the Licensing Team, Environmental Health & Trading Standards, Tower Hamlets Council, 160 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BJ or online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Any person may make a representation in writing relating to this application no later than March 13th 2025 addressed to the Licensing Team above or by email to: licensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Any person may make a representation in writing relating to this application no later than March 13th, 2025, addressed to the Licensing Team above or by email to: licensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
It is an offence, liable on conviction to a n unlimited fine, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application.
It is an o ence, liable on conviction to an unlimited ne, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application.
PUBLIC NOTICE
LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS SPECIAL TREATMENT LICENCES
Notice is given that: Madeleine Wollheim-Stone and Stephanie Louis-Fernand of Novacane Studio Ltd
Has applied to the London Borough of Tower Hamlet for: Tattoo
Licence(s) for the premises: 78 Containerville, 1 Emma Street, London, E2 9FP
Anyone wishing to oppose the application must give notice in writing to David Tolley, Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, 4th Floor Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ WITHIN THREE WEEKS specifying the grounds of opposition. Persons objecting to the grant of a licence must be prepared to attend in person at a hearing before a Committee of the Council.
Cost of a ticket to see Tales From The Lighthouse at Half Moon Theatre
The show has been written and performed by Oliver Bishop and features live music from acclaimed folk artist Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne with original songs by David Gibb
taking inspiration from the
how Half Moon Theatre in Limehouse is set to stage Tales From The Lighthouse for kids aged 5 and up
by Jon Massey
Storytelling, traditional music and original songs combine with puppetry in Tales From The Lighthouse. The show is set for two performances at Half Moon Theatre in Limehouse on March 15 and promises maritime entertainment for Ages 5+ and their carers.
Written and performed by Oliver Bishop, audiences will meet a lonely lighthouse keeper who has grown fearful of the sea
and its wild and stormy nature. However, an encounter with a mysterious stranger sees him confront his fears and rediscover his wonder at the beauty of the ocean that surrounds him.
Billed as “perfect for anyone captivated by myths, magic, music and folklore, the show
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Limehouse - Wapping - Whitechapel - Tower Hill
features songs penned especially for the story by David Gibb and live music from Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, twice nominated for BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards. Expect some audience participation and plenty of seafaring mystery.
key details
Tales From The Lighthouse will be performed at Half Moon Theatre on March 15 at 11am and 2pm. Shows last an hour and tickets cost £8. Go to halfmoon.org.uk for more information
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Late Night Comedy Rave
Where? The George Tavern Whitechapel
Adam Flood delivers an experimental night of electronic music and live comedy promising big beat and stand-up antics on the Whitechapel stage. Mar 7, 11pm, £10, thegeorgetavern.london
Where?
Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
OPERA | The Magic Flute
Charles Court Opera presents an English version for Mozart’s popular comic masterpiece. Expect fantastical creatures and lots of deception. Feb 25-Mar 8, times vary, from £12.50, wiltons.org.uk
| Kelly Lee Owens
Where? Troxy Limehouse
The artist brings tunes and tracks from her Dreamstate album to east London as part of a European tour. Expect focus and power. Mar 13, 7pm, from £35.81, troxy.co.uk
ash back
Wilton’s Music Hall is set to host Pride And Prejudice by Guildford Shakespeare Company on March 10-11. Austen’s classic is reimagined for a cast of three in this new adaptation. Tickets from £12.50 wiltons.org.uk
Scan this code to read our interview with GSC co-founders Matt Pinches and Sarah Gobran for more
GIG
Image by Bill Knight
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | SúperNovae And Friends
Where?
Poplar Union Poplar
The London-based band host their regular monthly performance, inviting bands and solo artists to showcase their talents and music. Mar 14, 7pm, free, poplarunion.com
Where?
The Space Isle Of Dogs
STAGE | Corpse In The Room
It can be uncomfortable to think about death, but when you’re locked in a room with a talking corpse, it becomes unavoidable. Expect the macabre. Mar 18-22, times vary, from £10, space.org.uk
Where?
Theatreship South Quay
GIG | An Evening With Ian A Anderson Broadside Hacks presents a solo performance of deathfolk blues and psych-folk from the guitarist and singer who’s spent 50 years gigging worldwide. Mar 15, 7pm, £13.75, theatreship.co.uk
and nd out more about Byblos
how Cafe Aizah is serving up a fusion of Asian flavours and coffee with the odd mocktail thrown in for good measure
by Jon Massey
Just how long Skylines Village has before the plot of land on the corner of Marsh Wall and Limeharbour gets redeveloped is anybody’s guess. But the bulldozers show no sign of making good on plans for a big new tower just yet. In the meantime, the sharp white and red triangles of its buildings are presiding over something of a foodie invasion.
While a ina affe n ercato may have sadly gone, its unit will soon become a new restaurant and Chinese Gourmet, B. Bakery and smash burger street food van Pikel are all happily trading away. nto that mi comes afe i ah the latest venue to pop up. This one comes complete with heated wooden lean-to as a dining room and a lengthy men of pan sian ishes ta ing in Singapore, Thailand, China and Japan
with the occasional nod to Europe and Jamaica.
The welcome here is warm. It’s a good-humoured sort of place and after some deliberation over the lengthy menu we opt for a Tofu Thai Green Curry and Singapore Fried ice. t . an . respectivel , these are very competitively priced, especially when the owner insists on applying an introductory discount of .
Eagerly we pop out to the dining shelter and await our food. Inside there’s a pleasant quantity of cheery fake greenery, vibrant pictures of food on the walls and comfy seats to go with robust marble-topped tables. It’s a cosy, comfortable but functional space a room to eat in rather than to linger longer. n eat e o. he foo is goo soli st ff. rice is a ense mo n of grains, browned with an umamirich seasoning and shot through with chunks of chicken.
My companion’s tofu is thoroughly soaked in the rich Thai sauce, pale jade in colour with a delicacy completel el ing its fierce heat. While the cooking isn’t likely to win any highfalutin awards, this is a place of comfort that delivers on portion size and, most importantly, on atmosphere. Who wouldn’t want to return to a place where everyone seems very pleased to see you?
key details afe i ah is locate on arsh Wall an is open ever a from am pm. Its food is also available on Deliveroo Go to cafeaizah.com for more information
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Dark and delicious, a heap of Singapore Fried Rice at Cafe Aizah for £8.99
ash back
Byblos Harbour opened its doors on the Isle Of Dogs in 2008. Recently an extensive refurb has been capped o with paintings by local artist Kyrsten Perry, working in partnership with owner Aboud Grimesty byblos-harbour.com
Scan this code to read our interview with Aboud and Kyrsten
Harbour
Weeks since Cafe Aizah opened its doors on the Isle Of Dogs
Left, a haven from the cold winter weather on the island, inside Cafe Aizah’s dining shelter
Above, a warm welcome awaits within the news Isle Of Dogs establishment at Skylines Village
fully immersive town Phantom Peak has launched its latest season and is inviting adventurers to explore its tales
by Jon Massey
Now in its third year of operation, the stately pleasure dome of Phantom Peak –decreed in Canada Water by Nick Moran, Glen Hughes and their team –recently launched a fresh season. The fully immersive townscape, complete with canals and platypuses, has welcomed some 83,000 guests to its 30,000sq ft playground.
Part role-playing game, part escape-room, part platypus, the show has seen visitors wind their way through more than 100 storylines split into 11 seasons with live actors and digital counterparts on hand to weave the pleasant fictions.
Having recently celebrated its 400th show, the venue is currently hosting JonaCon. Its 12th season sees the town all shook up with the arrival of ff an marvello s Jonas, founder, director and celerate fig rehea of , the company that runs pretty much everything in a completely unsinister way.
Despite being the townsfolk’s s ppose savio r, this is the first time Jonas has appeared in person at Phantom Peak’s actual performances and visitors will quickly pick up on the tensions, unrest, secrets and rebellious fervour.
Mysteries that demand examination abound. The latest season includes 10 new stories to explore as JonaCon feat res e cl sive sessions ith e fig res, teasing tales such as The New Adventures Of Jonas and The Real Househubbies Of Phantom Peak s ever, performances start ith a grand opening ceremony and close ith a finale performance. In between, visitors are free to explore the open-world environment, taking advantage of the attraction’s various hospitality options as the see fit.
There’s a reason Phantom Peak has won a multitude of awards since opening, with many guests returning time and again to discover fresh stories, puzzles and silliness.
key details
JonaCon will run at Phantom Peak in Canada Water until May 11. The attraction is open from 6pm-10pm on Thursdays and Fridays, from noon-4pm and 6pm-10.30pm on Saturdays and from noon-4.30pm on Sundays. Tickets start at £42 per person.
Go to phantompeak.com for more information
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Visitors to Phantom Peak in Canada Water since it launched in 2022 83,000
Phantom Peak features extensive sets and diabolical digital machines to play with
There are plenty of places to nd refreshment within the townscape
The attraction works well for groups both big and small
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
The Albany Deptford TRY | Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue The world’s most successful computer game steps o the screen and into the world of immersive experiences. Tickets are on sale now... From April 4, times vary, from £20, minecraftexperience.com
STAGE | Amelie
Trinity Laban Musical Theatre presents Amelie The Musical, a song and dance take on the iconic French lm. The tale of an astonishing young woman. Mar 14-15, times vary, from £10, thealbany.org.uk
Pen Theatre South Bermondsey
Scan this code to nd out more about Gobsmack’d and how to order its food online STAGE | People Looking Up The play about love and space promises an experiment in the theatre and politics of the cosmos by emerging theatre company Dovetail. Mar 5-8, 7.30pm, £16.96, thepentheatre.com
Serving up potent smash burgers and peerless fries, Gobsmack’d inhabits Deptford Market Yard. Run by the team from the late lamented Sharkbait’n’Swim, this is rapid food with serious quality between the buns @gobsmackd.burgers on Insta
by Alistair Veryard Photography / alistairveryard.com
Recurring character Dr Winter shows his disdain for two players’ e orts
how
Whisky Live London will fill Woolwich
Works’ Fireworks Factory with
luxurious drams and rarities
by Jon Massey
Woolwich Works is set to be steeped in spirit when Whisky Live London returns in March.
This year the tasting event is celebrating its 25th anniversary complete with a makeover and an extensive array of brands.
The basic format of the show is simple enough. Visitors pay about £50 for which they get a guide, entry, a Glencairn tasting glass and the opportunity to sample unlimited pours from the various distilleries and organisations featured.
Scotland dominates, of course, however there’s also a World Whiskies Awards 2025 stand offering tic et hol ers the chance to try expressions from around the globe. Beyond exploring the exhibition, which will be arranged in the Fireworks Factory, the Woolwich venue’s largest space, a range of add-on experiences such as masterclasses and tutored tastings can be booked.
“I’m so excited for this year’s Whisky Live London, especially as it celebrates the 25th anniversary of this magnificent event, sai Bradley Weir, the editor of Whisky Magazine who will be hosting tastings at the show.
“I realise I’m very privileged to have the opportunity to pick the brains of industry leaders and master distillers, but what is so special about this event is that it allows everybody to talk whisky with those who pour their hearts into it every day as a profession.
“Also, let’s not forget the sheer volume of product that is available to sample from all over the world, some of which can be e tremel i c lt to so rce.
“It’s such a special event to see so many distilleries come
together under one roof all with the common goal of educating, entertaining, and hopefully making even more fans of their brands. I can’t recommend it enough to anybody with an interest in his an fine spirits, from eginners to aficiona os and I hope to meet some of you at m tasting masterclasses.
Prices for Bradley’s tastings start at £15.83, while visitors can also learn to blend their own whisky in sessions with his colleague, Christopher Coates for £46.88.
Beyond the basic ticket, the sho offers a lassic perience an a remi m perience at £71.72 and £102.77 respectively. he former offers five ho rs of access to the show, while ticketholders for the latter will be able to roam the stands for six hours, get access to a premium lounge with complimentary refreshments and a token to use at the show’s street food vendors. They will also receive two tokens to try rare and award-winning whiskies at the World Whiskies Awards Premium Stand and get a tote bag to carry any purchases they might make. All visitors to the event will be able to enjoy live entertainment and street food and to make purchases from Parisian whisky shop La Maison Du Whisky – the event’s o cial retailer.
key details
Whisky Live London is set to run at Woolwich Works from March 28-29. Tickets start at £51.02 for three hours access to the show including a tasting glass and unlimited pours. Go to whiskylive.com for more
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Visitors expected to attend Whisky Live London at Woolwich Works in March 3,000
Standard entry includes three hours’ access and unlimited pourings
The event takes place at the Fireworks Factory within Woolwich Works - the venue’s largest space
- Peninsula - Woolwich
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | JJ Lin
The Singaporean performer brings his Final Lap World Tour to London, promising “a spectacular musical extravaganza” featuring “mesmerizing” songs. Mar 11, 6.30pm, from £220, theo2.co.uk
STAGE | Alice By Heart
Students from Rose Bruford College’s Actor Musicianship programme present a coming-of-age retelling of Alice In Wonderland set in wartime. Mar 7-10, times vary, £11, greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Greenwich is set to be overrun with Pirates, a major exhibition at the National Maritime Museum that will open on March 29. Expect timbers to be shivered and myths dispelled with adult tickets costing £15 rmg.co.uk
Scan this code to read our in-depth preview of Pirates at the National Maritime Museum
EVENT | St Patrick’s Day Cabaret Performer Mark T Cox is promising good craic and Irish pop classics from The Pogues to The Cranberries via The Corrs for this celebratory knees-up. Mar 15, 7.30pm, £10, woolwich.works
Image by National Maritime Museum
Images by Chris Sharp / sharp-pictures.com
how
The Photography And Video Show will bring, kit, inspiration and skills to Excel for its London debut
by Jon Massey
what’s happening
There’s a new event in town.
Speci cally, The Photography And Video Show is set to arrive at Excel London for the rst time over four days in March.
what’s it all about?
Professional and amateur photographers plus lm, video and content creators are invited to the east London exhibition centre in Royal Docks to check out the latest kit and techniques.
what brands will be there?
The major players will all be present including the likes of Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fuji lm, OM System, 3 Legged Thing, Pentax, Tamron, Lowepro and Sigma.
In total more than 250 brands will be showing cameras, lenses, equipment and accessories, with visitors able to try out kit and purchase it at the event.
Retailers such as Wex Photo Video, CameraWorld and London Camera Exchange will also be present, o ering exclusive show discounts and trade-in nance options.
New for 2025 will be exhibitors such as Tilta, Imagen AI, Viltrox, Ti en, Nya-Evo and Sandisk.
there’s more?
Education is a major component of the event, with a range of talks and demonstrations on o er across six stages and theatres. Photographers participating in sessions include Lindsay Adler, David DuChemin, Joel Grimes, Colin Prior, Andy Gotts, Julieanne Kost, Scott Kelby, Sarah Edmunds, Kelly Brown and Belinda Richards.
On the moving image side, Teja Lisjak, Libby Penman, Mandy Celine, Dan Thorburn and Dean Sherwood will be sharing insights and tips for making lms and capturing video.
and for content?
The show has invited content creators Oliver Howells, Kym Moseley, Tati Kapaya, Tamara Gabriel, Andy Burgess, Ellis Reed, Bax Mundoba and Courtney Victoria to share their expertise on its Creator Stage.
beyond the stages?
Many of the brands exhibiting will also be hosting their own programmes to demonstrate kit
250+
Exhibitors set to participate in The Photography And Video Show at Excel London from March 8-11
sharpening the
This is the event’s London debut and we’re really looking forward to welcoming thousands of tech geeks and creative artists alike
Ruth Folkard, event director
and skills on their stands. Adobe will be running an education programme at its hub, while the show will also host the Nikon School, Canon Spotlight, Fuji lm School and o erings from Sigma and Digital Camera World.
places to play
The Photography And Video Show has partnered with Creativity Hub Events to o er visitors interactive shoot sets where they can practise their skills and try out their purchases.
The Creator Playground will also return for a third year with attendees told to expect giant garden gnomes, illusion tunnels and much more besides.
they say...
Event director, Ruth Folkard, said: “The Photography And Video Show isn’t just ‘another trade exhibition’, it’s far more than that. It’s a date for the diary for anyone who loves to be behind the camera.
“This is the event’s debut in London and we’re really looking forward to welcoming thousands of tech geeks and creative artists alike. Beginner or pro – it really doesn’t matter, there’s something on for everyone and we’re family friendly too.”
key details
The Photography And Video Show is set to make its debut at Excel London from March 8-11. Open from 10am-5pm each day, standard tickets cost £18.95 with discounts available for multi-day access. Professional creatives can apply for free entry. Full programme available online. Go to photographyshow.com
Scan this code to nd out more about the show
The Photograpy AndVideo Show will see Excel London lled with kit and inspiration for four days in March
Visitors will be able to try out the latest equipment
on things to do, places to go, people to see
| Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition
LDN, which has now sold more than a million tickets, opens its latest attraction, this time o ering a 90-minute journey through Ancient Egypt. Mar 28-Jun 29, times vary, from £20, tutankhamunexperience.com
| Move It 2025 With more than 270 classes and four stages, whether you’re a dancer, teacher, choreographer, performer or enthusiast, this is the event for you. Mar 7-9, times vary, from £29.50, moveitdance.co.uk
| Codeword This totally techno night features the talents of Amotik, Nørbak, Kameliia and Cukier, all promising to pump the venue full of fast and frantic beats. Mar 14, 11pm-7am, from £17.30, fold.london
With the Silvertown Tunnel set to open to tra c and charges coming in for its use as well as journeys through the Blackwall Tunnel, there’s a lot to take in. Much info is available on TfL’s site, or we’ve done an FAQ for locals t .gov.uk
Shows will take place across Sadler’s Wells’ three venues as part of Dance Re ections
how the Van Cleef & Arpels’ Dance Re ections festival brings movement to Sadler’s Wells East and beyond...
by Jon Massey
Serge Laurent isn’t, in most senses of the word, a performer. His professional background hasn’t been one of gracefully bending his body to music or the beat of some internal rhythm. Nor is he a choreographer, guiding lithe, athletic individuals to move their forms to an exacting design.
e or s for a fine rench jewellery company. Headquartered in Paris, it’s a brand that celebrates its 129th birthday this year. As director of dance and culture programmes at Van Cleef & Arpels, history is important to Serge, especially in his delivery of Dance Reflections, a festival that’s set to bathe London in movement from March 12 to April 8. But why is a company dealing in design, precious metals and gems involved in dance at all?
When as first contacte the maison, they told me about their association with dance,” said Serge, who had spent the best part of two decades as live arts curator at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and around the world.
“I studied the story of Van Cleef & Arpels and found out it had a strong histor in the fiel of ance as a source of inspiration. That dates back to the 1920s – and was quite intriguing to me.
“I found out that the connection became even stronger when Claude Arpels met with a very famous choreographer in the 1960s – co-founder of the New York City Ballet, George Balanchine – and that he’d been inspired to create a piece called Jewels in 1967.
“Today we continue to emphasise the maison’s commitment to dance and to write his story with Dance Reflections.”
The festival, as Serge says, is just the tip of the iceberg – the public-facing element of collaborations and sponsorship initiatives around the world. But things go a lot deeper than funding and brand awareness.
“Looking at the maison, it struck me that it’s work has very similar values to the world
Scan this code to nd out more about Dance Re ections
The work of the maison Van Cleef has very similar values to the world of dance – creation, transmission and education
of dance,” said Serge. “There’s the value of creation, which is obvious, but also of transmission.
“The savoir-faire of the maison can only be perpetuated by valuing transmission. It’s exactly the same in dance, which is an immaterial art form. After the show, nothing is left.
“If you want to preserve a dance, you have to transmit it. When as first creating a an Cleef workshop, I saw a young guy working with and watching an older jeweller – he was transmitting those gestures and that history.
“The third value is education. I’m an art historian by training and if you have that background, you know how important it is to communicate with people – to give them clues so they understand what they’re seeing.
“It’s always a challenge to approach ifferent a iences contemporary art is like a new language so you have to help people see that they’re discovering that when they’re in front of a piece. You have to explain that what they’re seeing doesn’t come from nowhere, that it’s part of evolution through the ages.
“I always say that when Vaslav Nijinsky presented the Rite Of Spring for the first time in aris in 1912, at the Theatre De ChampsElysee, it was a scandal, and now it’s a masterpiece.
“When Pina Bausch danced in her Paris debut at the Theatre De La Ville, people left the auditorium and now she is hailed as a goddess of dance.
“I always try to teach people that, when they come to the festival they will probably know some things, but they will also see new names and new approaches.
“They should think about what has happened before and why the artist is doing what they are now, even if it looks a bit strange. It doesn’t come from nowhere, it is the result of history. That’s
Serge Laurent, Van Cleef & Arpels
Image by Marc De Groot
Van Cleef & Arpels director of dance and cultural programmes, Serge Laurent
the three values of
D A N C
EStratford - Bow - Hackney Wick
the reason I like to do this job as a curator – it’s not only to select artists who are good for people to know about, it’s also to showcase work that contributes to this art form and to help enlarge its vocabulary.
“The festival is a way to talk about something. It’s not enough for a curator to say: ‘This is my shortlist, these are my discoveries’. It’s a responsibility and a context to talk about dance and artistic approaches. People can like it or not – my main goal is they understand what an approach is.”
The London iteration of Dance Reflections will feature performances across Sadler’s Wells’ three venues –including the freshly minted Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford – as well as at the Royal Opera House, Tate Modern and the Southbank Centre.
The programme is extensive, including work by Balanchine, presented in partnership with the Royal Ballet from March 28-April 8 and aga Drea ing – a piece about ancient myths and futuristic technologies by Shu Lea Cheang and Dondon Hounwn – in the South Tank venue at the former power station on the Thames. It’s perhaps testament to the importance of the opening of Sadler’s Wells East that such a major festival will also touch E20 alongside London’s other major cultural centres. It’s also evidence of the importance of legacy and long-term partnership.
We have a o t ifferent partners in ifferent co ntries, said Serge. “The festival is the tip of the iceberg, and the rest you don’t see – that’s OK. For me, Dance Reflections is a way to celebrate what we do all year round. My idea is to present audiences with the diversity of dance through an historical approach. Usually in a festival you focus on one kind of artists.
“Here I want to combine ifferent generations an there is one common point between all of them, that in their own time they have found their own voice and way of writing dance.
“I like people inventing a vocabulary and, with dance, it’s very exciting because it’s always using the same medium – the body. You can invent a lot of languages for that and as a curator it’s a practice I want to support and intensify.
“I think our history with Sadler’s Wells goes back to 2007 when we supported them to present Jewels for its 40th anniversary so there’s that connection.
“For this festival, of the nine performances that will take place across its three venues, it’s very continued on Page 54
Image by Stephan Floss
Sadler’s Wells East will host Join by Ioannis Mandafounis and Dresden Dance Company as part of Dance Re ections on March 22 and 23
Starting price for tickets to see Dance Re ections shows at Sadler’s Wells East
LA(HORDE) and Ballet
National De Marseille are set to present Age Of Content at Sadler’s Wells East as part of the festival
from Page 53
important that two of the artists ill e presenting their first work and that audiences can understand their connection to the history of dance.
“It’s very important to make people understand that dance is an art form that can happen anywhere – that’s why we’re working with Tate Modern, for example.
“That’s what I like about it –you can present dance on a stage, in a public space, on the streets, in an art gallery, everywhere. It’s also about the art of space and that notion is key.
“This is one of the reasons I really appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Sadler’s Wells East because upstairs in their new building they opened studios and a school. While the festival is on we also organise workshops for amateurs and professionals alike and it’s perfect for that.
“It’s commensurate with our three values – creation, transmission and education.”
This lineage from past to present is clearly visible in Serge’s programming of nine performances across Sadler’s Wells’ venues – its main auditorium and
the Lilian Bayliss Studio theatre in Islington and Sadler’s Wells East at East Bank on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
“For example, I’m very excited about the opening days of the festival,” said Serge. “For this I al a s tr to com ine ifferent approaches ith a specific approach.
“We start in Islington on March 12 and 13 with a very intimate dance piece for the Lilian Bayliss Studio – Sakinan Göze Çöp Batar (An over-protected eye always gets sand in it) by Christian Rizzo at 6.30pm before moving to the main theatre at 8pm.
“There we see a piece called Working Title by the Trisha Brown Dance Company from 1985, which is very New York. It’s also a story of transmission because after the interval, we present In The Fall, created by young French choreographer Noé Soulier – only the second commission by the company.
“It’s wonderful that this dance company still exists after Trisha passed away and that it maintains her approach. This notion of continuation after a choreographer has died is very important.
“Then, connected by the same history, we have (LA)HORDE and Ballet National De Marseille,
presenting Age Of Content at Sadler’s Wells East on March 14 and 16. While this is the new approach, it is still connected and I hope audiences will see that.”
Beyond that, it’s also Serge’s aim to join the work of the jewellers to the dancers on the stage.
“I’m just a go-between, in fact,” he said. “I have a tool in my hands to me iate et een t o ifferent worlds, and that’s what interests me the most. It’s my job to teach the associates of the maison about dance and explain to our clients why we are so committed to it.”
key details
Dance Reflections is set to run at Sadler’s Wells, the Royal Opera House, Tate Modern and the Southbank Centre with performances from March 12 to April 8.
Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford will host performances on March 14-16, March 22-23 and March 27-28 as part of the festival. For more information go to ancereflections ancleefarpels co or sa lerswells co
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Age Of Content sees dancers trapped in an alternative metaverse
diary dates
Dance Re ections at Sadler’s Wells East
>> It would be impossible to list the full multitude of performances taking place across London for the festival here, but readers may wish to mark their dance cards with the shows in Stratford...
Age Of Content
March 14-16, times vary LA(HORDE) and Ballet National De Marseille promises a spectacle pulsating with sexuality and lines are blurred between virtual bodies and reality. Billed as “a dopamine hit of carnal energy in the high tech era”, the show sees 18 ballet dancers trapped in an alternative metaverse where they come face-to-face with their avatars.
Join March 22-23, times vary Two groups of dancers join forces at di erent stages of their personal and professional careers. In each city this work is performed Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company reimagines this work with a di erent group
of dance students. In London they come together with Rambert School to explore what connections are possible under the guidance of choreographer Ioannis Mandafounis.
Crow / Pigeons
March 27-28, 7.30pm These two pieces are connected by the composers and performers Julius Eastman and Pauline Oliveros, both working from the 1960s onwards. Each of their works touches on themes of queerness and their experiences of marginalisation based on race, sexuality and mental illness. Presented by Julie Cunningham And Company and Jules Cunningham, Crow is a reimagining of a performance that happened nearly 50 years ago in New York, while Pigeons sees dancers explore ways of being alone and together –disruption and distraction.
Go to sadlerswells.com for more information or to book tickets
Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
Where?
Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford
STAGE | The Women Of Llanrumney Set in 18th century colonial Jamaica, Azuka Oforka’s new play explores the experience of women during slavery, illuminating a hidden history Mar 19-Apr 12, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com
Where?
Cart And Horses Stratford
GIG | Sons Of Liberty
Expect plenty of hard rock from this UK southern rock out t. Just to confuse everyone, they’ve booked the Thieves Of Liberty in support. Mar 13, 7pm, from £12, cartandhorses.london
EDUCATION | Open Evening
Where?
Loughborough University London Here East
Discover what’s on o er at the east London campus of Loughborough University and how its extensive range of courses equip people for their careers. Mar 6, 5.30pm-8pm, free, lborolondon.ac.uk
more equal
Running at Theatre Royal Stratford East until March 8, Animal Farm o ers a fresh take on George Orwell’s satirical classic in which the beasts take over the means of production. Tickets from £10 stratfordeast.com
Scan this code to nd out more about Theatre Royal Stratford East’s production of Animal Farm
Image by Blandine Soulage
Image by Gaëlle Astier-Perret
Sudoku
Take a break from that phone
How to play
To complete Sudoku, ll the board by entering numbers one to nine such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
More to play
You can nd more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca
Notes
beating
crossword
whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Cryptic Quick
Across 6. Bronzed man at an angle? (7)
7. Larger key? (5) . im to finish
. o n s li e off ilter burial place (9) . lorio s pigment . everse is ain is in pieces at the forge . nar rightness to accompany polka ots . tin ith potential . reat places for ater t’s a mi p . n inc rsion a of carriage a s
Down
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