The Space is celebrating its 15th anniversary! From its humble origins in a derelict church the Space was transformed into a vibrant arts centre back in 1996. It is both an important creative hub, producing outstanding professional productions, and an asset for the local community. Over the years the Space has required a high level of commitment and dedication from its staff, volunteers and trustees. The incredible lengths that they have gone to in order to make the Space a success are recognised here in our feature ’15 people who shaped the Space’. Of course there are many others who have contributed, we would also like to thank all of our volunteers, artists, performers, supporters and audience members for making the Space such a great place to be.
Alex Crampton, Martin Young and Mari Rettedal-Westlake
9-12 in a series of 15 people who shaped the Space
Alex Crampton
After joining the Space initially as a volunteer and doing a shift as a barperson in Hubbub, Alex was Assistant Director on the Space’s first in-house productions. Later Alex took the directorial reins for The Gut Girls before being appointed Company Manager of SpaceWorks in May 2009. Her dedication, enthusiasm and creative energy has seen SpaceWorks go from strength to strength and become an integral part of the Space’s operations. With over 300 local people registered on the project, aged between 7 and 77, Alex manages to make sure she welcomes each individual member and over time creates an affectionate bond. Alex is much-loved and respected by all of the SpaceWorks groups, the tutors that she brings in to work with them and the volunteers she enlists to support her. Despite difficulties with funding in the last year, Alex has always continued to push SpaceWorks forwards, responding to feedback, varying the activities and improving the experience for everyone involved.
Adam Hemming recalls Alex’s first request on joining the Space:-
‘Alex wanted her own desk, somewhere amidst the chaos of the Space that she could call her own. Pretty soon it was festooned with bright photographs, maps of the Isle of Dogs and neatly organised folders. A sign also went up warning temporary users of her station what would happen if it was left untidy! Alex’s desk is a good way of describing her personality:- bright, colourful, meticulously organised with a fantastic sense of humour.’
Alex now directs regularly for Space Productions with Adam and her exquisite production of A Doll’s House became the company’s first transfer as it went on to receive critical acclaim at the Arcola. Space regulars are eagerly awaiting her next production, ‘Kid Arthur and the Knights of the Revolution’ coming this October.
Martin Young
An Isle of Dogs resident, Martin has been involved in the Space in one way or another since its very conception. In the late 1980’s when work first began on creating the Space, he was the Councillor for the local Millwall ward in which the Space is located. He acted as a champion of the Space within the council and among the local community. His assistance was invaluable in helping to smooth the way for the Space’s development. His contribution is remembered through an acknowledgement in the stained glass windows around the Space’s main performance area.
From the start, Martin has been a frequent attendee at Space performances and supporter of Space events. In 2004 he became a member of the board of trustees and since 2009, he has chaired the board.
As well as bringing his own vast experience of community organisations to the benefit of the Space, Martin has made full use of his wide range of contacts and friends to provide advice and support on subjects as diverse as planning and catering. His many contributions have helped the Space to grow as an organisation within a strong framework of good management.
Alex Crampton comments on Martin and wife Lesley who also sits on our board of trustees:-
‘Both have a great sense of humour coupled with a sincere dedication to helping community activities of all kinds around the island. I have such admiration for how much time Martin and Lesley have for others despite their heavy professional workloads.’
Mari Rettedal-Westlake
Like Alex, Mari (pictured top) joined the Space initially as a volunteer. Adam recalls, ‘I’d put out an advert for music producers for a new series of Gigs in Space. Mari responded, came for an interview and instead of music we spoke mostly about theatre. I didn’t realise then that it would be the first of many theatre conversations we would have!’ After a stint behind the bar at Hubbub, Mari found full-time employment elsewhere before a generous donation from founder Robert Richardson and a grant from the Isle of Dogs Community Foundation enabled us to recruit a Centre Manager to work alongside Adam. Mari interviewed impressively and the pair have gone on to form an excellent partnership over the past five years.
Quite often the first point of contact for a new volunteer, hirer of the hall, visiting artist or audience member, Mari’s delightful personality and cheerful disposition meant everyone was afforded a warm and open welcome to the venue. With someone else to share the workload, productivity at the Space increased dramatically, more volunteers were recruited, more events and festivals scheduled and our audience numbers rose sharply.
With an MA in Creative Producing from Central, Mari helped Adam to form Space Productions, her creative, organisational and budgetary skills leading to 10 successful productions. In addition to Space Productions, Mari formed Maddid Theatre Company with Vala Ómarsdóttir, produced two Enterprise festivals and organised a huge outdoor children’s festival in Bartlett Park. Mari’s work on the latter impressed our project partner, SPLASH arts, who laid the success of the event quite firmly at Mari’s feet, no less impressive was the fact that Mari was due to go on maternity leave a few months later!
Married to Robin Westlake in 2008 in her native Norway, Mari gave birth to Oskar on 7th January 2011 and promptly signed him up to become a Space Cadet as soon as he turns 7!
One colleague describes Mari as ‘the Duracell bunny with alternative dress sense’. A mountain of work and a vast team of volunteers, she will continue to plough through it and coordinate everyone until the job gets done. No matter how long it takes, no matter how much needs to be done, Mari never complains.