“The Space is special. It’s intimate, it’s friendly, it can be cosy and I should think, if you were watching the right thing, you could be terrified out of your wits.”- Sir Ian Mckellan, The Wharf
The Space is celebrating its 20th 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 ’20 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.
Keri Chesser Pictured above(right) with Centre Director Adam Hemming and Theatre Manager Isabel Dixon
What is there to say about Keri that hasn’t already been said? Probably a great deal because she tends to stay quietly out of the spotlight while making sure everyone who wants to be actually is and that they can be heard adequately.
Keri began in the box office as a volunteer, progressed to Duty Manager and eventually Theatre Manager. In addition to her tireless work assisting with the running of the Space she is a passionate and skilled sound designer creating both for the Space and other companies. Her artistic work has been recognised by an Off-West End Award nomination for the Space’s production of The Grand Guignol and her dedication and support made her a central contributor to The Lighthouse Research and Development project and final production.
Keri has been a key member of the team working on the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, supporting both guest performers and the Bloom community arts festivals.
Sound bites for Keri include:
Odinn Hilmarsson – Composer : Keri is an incredibly dedicated member of the Space team whose standard of quality in both running the theatre and providing music for its shows is of a very high regard. She is a very helpful and supportive colleague who approaches each new sound project with adventure and exploration.
Adam Hemming – Centre Director: Keri’s common sense and can do attitude are highly valued. Whether it’s putting together slide shows for launch nights, meticulously handling our book-keeping or baking gingerbread versions of the Space, she always delivers the goods.
Guleranna Mir – Space Youth tutor, director: Keri is just a joy to work with! I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside her for 4 Bloom Festivals and couldn’t have picked a more committed individual to take care of sound (and light) for Buster Keaton at the Hollywood Canteen. She knows what she’s doing, is incredibly professional and always happy to pitch in.
Isabel Dixon Pictured above(left) with Centre Director Adam Hemming and Theatre Manager Keri Chesser
After joining the Space in 2013 as Centre Administrator, Isabel’s worth to the Space became quickly apparent and the job title upgraded to Theatre Manager.
Her work in assisting our visiting companies and ensuring them a positive and enriching experience is just as invaluable as the effort she dedicates to the general running of the Space and its creative endeavours. In 2014 she assisted with the Script6 project which was a unique programme developing playwrights and has had her own writing performed on our stage; most recently, the provocative and relevant monologue Troll in our 2016 One Festival.
As a producer she produced Vernon God Little in a joint project with the Space and Burn Bright Theatre and co-produced The Lighthouse for The Space.
Don’t just take my word for it – this is what others have to say about Isabel:
Adam Hemming, Centre Director: Working at the Space requires a wide range of skills. Very few people have all of them when they start but Isabel impressed at interview with her range of experience and abilities. Whether it’s holding marketing meetings with visiting companies, writing funding applications, co-ordinating our team of volunteers or welcoming audience members at the box office, she excels at them all and quite often all in the same day.
Pradeep Jeyaratnam-Joyner, Chairman: From the outset Isabel has exemplified the St Paul’s Arts’ Trust’s values and ethos in her work and demeanour. She’s a fantastic Manager, an accomplished Producer and a joy to work with. What strikes me most is her passion for the Space’s twin aims – supporting newer artists and bringing the arts to the local community. Vernon God Little is a crowning achievement for me – creatively brilliant, it broke box office and fundraising records for us. Most importantly it was a collaboration with a young and vibrant company – just the kind of work we aim to foster.
Danielle Mcilven
Danielle first dipped her toe into the Space when she became a tutor for the Space Youth Drama group in 2009 before adding the WorkSpace, adult community group, to her roster. As tutor of the adult group she directed Macbeth in the Blitz which lead to the formation of WorkSpace Productions. Danielle has continued to work with the WorkSpace group over the years and added the role of Project Manager for Gulliver’s Travels, an intergenerational community play involving a cast of over 40 local people.
Her impressive list of credits as an Associate Director for Space Productions include The Man who Found his Freedom, The Lighthouse and the highly regarded Festen. In addition to her educational and artistic input Danielle is also a member of the Space Arts Committee providing an injection of her peerless enthusiasm and insight to the production of theatre at the Space.
Some of those fortunate enough to have worked with her have the following to say:
Jodie Botha SAC member, Lady Macbeth : I have had the pleasure to be directed by Danielle, you find yourself half way through the rehearsal process wondering what on earth is going on but then opening night arrives and you understand you’ve been part of something special, perhaps a little bit magic. Her creative intuition is incredibly rare and, more difficult to pull off, she leaves an indelible mark that is truly Danielle without overshadowing the flavour of her colleagues.
Alex Crampton former SpaceWorks Company Manager, Director: I remember interviewing Danielle for the leader of the youth drama group. She stood out at as a keenly intelligent mind, a practitioner committed to personal development through drama, and a collaborative and creative approach to drama making. Not only does Danielle produce high quality work, but I’m always blown away by the amount of heart and passion she puts into her projects and the confidence she inspires in those she works with. A tireless professional, an artist and a major influence on local engagement with the Space.
To read about the other fifteen people who have shaped the Space click here