Now a seasoned wayfarer, Moana receives an unexpected call from her ancestors and embarks on a quest. Kids tickets cost £16.35 for Disney’s latest. From Nov 29, times vary, £21.40, everymancinema.com
Where? London
Quay
KIDS | Frozen Festivals: Baby Sessions
Explore the wonder of the frost fair through songs, stories and play in these musical sessions suitable for babies 8 weeks to crawling. Booking essential. Dec 7, 10.15am, 11.15am, free, londonmuseum.org.uk
Where?
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place
GIG | The West End Jerseys Not a set of autumnal fashion must-haves, but a tribute group to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Marvel at the unmistakeable Motown falsetto. Dec 11, 8.30pm, from £29, boisdale.co.uk
Felix Project’s Santa Stair Climb is back, with
challenged to scale 48
of One Canada Square to
for the charity. Held on December 8, there are still slots available to take part santastairclimb.com
Will
Welcome to issue 125 of Wharf Life. Open these pages and nd cutting-edge tech from Bombe, expressive art from
Emily Jo Gibbs, health and tness at Club Pilates and a once-in-a-century opening from the V&A as Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London continue to evolve...
Club Pilates has opened its doors at London Dock in Wapping o ering class packages and membership for those who enjoy the Circle and Reformer
Following the light at Viola’s Room as its
festive shows arrive
How artist Emily Jo Gibbs aims to use fabric to capture Trinity Buoy Wharf
on the radar
need to know
The dates have been unveiled for Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights 2025. Installations will be placed across the estate from January 21 until February 5 next year. Expect the estate to be busier than usual, so get those restaurant bookings in early... canarywharf.com
Canary Wharf continues to change and evolve with Tower Hamlets Council set to make a decision on the introduction of student housing to Wood Wharf. If approved, as recommended, the plans would see accommodation for 900+ canarywharf.com
A Crunchbox from The Salad Kitchen - cost £9.75
There’s been a boom in freshly doled out salads in Canary Wharf, with the likes of Atis and Urban Greens arriving to challenge the pre-packed players such as Pure, Pret and the supermarkets.
Being tucked down on the lower level of Jubilee Place has done nothing to dim Wharfers’ inquisitive zeal to nd a decent lunch for a decent price – even though it’s early, there’s a line at The Salad Kitchen when I visit.
Listed at £5.60 for the regular size, the Crunchbox looks like unbeatable value with competitors often north of £10. However, there is a slight sense that you get what you pay for. While the
base price covers a medley of six daily salads, you’ll likely want to boost these with add-ons such as halloumi or avocado at a cost. While the nished price of my selection is still just under £10, points get knocked o for taste. The potency of the pickled red cabbage in my bowl – one of the medley salads – dominates even the Siracha mayo on the tongue. This is a shame as there are obvious ashes of ne avour beyond the glare of the vinegar. Maybe the threat of thuggy ingredients simply demands ne-tuning when ordering... Jon Massey
love a happy hour and Electric Shu e has tons of drinks deals from 3pm-7pm on weekdays including pints of Amstel for a ver and a cocktail of the month for £8 electricshu e.com
subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
write me words you don’t know you need unwelby
noun, fake, from Old English
A person who fails to take account of the national mood to the extent that they are determined to remain in a position they are obviously unsuited for – but then again, doing the right thing for this kind is a big ask...
whelve
verb, real, from Germanic
To turn something upside down, usually to cover something up –in more recent times this has also come to mean burying something deep down or to surge over something. Ideal when covering up for others’ misdeeds...
Immigration Solicitors
Wreath Making
MMy Wood Wharf, George Street @mercatometropolitano on Insta
Get in the festive spirit with this Wreath Making workshop. Running from 6pm-7.30pm on November 28, all materials and guidance is included in the price of £50 per person. While there, of course, participants are free to indulge in the various street food o erings or the drinks on o er from the venue’s various bars
FREE Island Poké Crossrail Place islandpoke.com
In celebration of Island Poké’s collaboration with chef and content creator, Jesse Jenkins, the brand is set to give away more than 500 bowls across its UK 14 restaurants on November
pumpkin, ginger, creamy avocado, cucumber and jalapeño. Each bowl also includes sushi rice, topped with crunchy pieces of tempura shallots, sweet and salty eel sauce and Siracha mayo. Jesse said: “I wanted the Pumpkin Crunch bowl to hit all those notes with layers of savoury, sweet, tangy, a little spice and a lot of crunch.”
With you from the start
Our immigration team has earned its strong reputation for providing expert legal
and practical support on a wide range of immigration issues. Trust us to help you make the right application.
FESTIVE CRAFTS
Putting the nishing touches to a Pumpkin Crunch Bowl
virtual viewpoint by
Chris Ezekiel
Running a global technology business means that I’m fortunate to travel around the world quite regularly. On my travels, I enjoy the diverse cultures, customs and languages I encounter – as well as the opportunity to see how the new trends in customer experience (CX) are being delivered by organisations to the people who purchase their goods and services.
Creative Virtual operates in the eld of Conversational AI – delivering arti cial intelligence-driven chatbots and voicebots to organisations to allow their customers to selfserve in an e cient and personalised way.
Although there are regional di erences in terms of language, compliance, legislation and even technology vendor preferences, there is universal agreement that serving customers is the top priority for organisations in their drive for competitive advantage.
Today, CX- rst strategies transcend international borders and industry sectors. Technology and AI are becoming increasingly commoditised, making it more di cult for companies to di erentiate their online services in ways that resonate and deliver rewards.
Many AI chatbots are not as clever or personalised as the customer expects, which can immediately undermine an overall brand experience.
Chatbots allow customers to interact with companies all day, every day, so should be tailored to re ect a brand’s values
A one-size- ts-all approach to CX should be avoided at all costs if the company is to remain competitive
The way in which the chatbots are delivered has also become very similar and vanilla, which means that the personality, values and voice of an organisation are often communicated poorly. But that brand is an extremely valuable asset and the chatbot should be designed to best represent it in terms of language and personality.
A one-size- ts-all approach to the customer experience should be avoided at all costs if that company wants to remain competitive and, with AI becoming ubiquitous, there’s a real risk here.
Organisations need powerful and agile orchestration platforms that allows them to ne-tune how they are interacting with customers to perfectly align with their brand values and also meet the expectations of those buying goods or services from them.
Those platforms should combine the human touch with the machine in a seamless way that is e ortless and personalised for every consumer. They must also enable organisations to execute extremely successful CX di erentiation strategies so they stand out from their competitors.
Creative Virtual’s V-Studio platform has been designed to enable organisations to create their own bespoke customer experience on any channel – combining personalised information with AI and human-curated content alongside various media such as carousels and videos.
Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual or follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on X
Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at Canary Wharf’s Cabot Square
Chris Ezekiel, Creative Virtual
harnessing the
by Jon Massey how Mike Joslin and the team at Bombe believe they can use data to boost sales for their clients
Mike Joslin is a man of clarity. “The success of our company is down to the success of our customers – if they don’t succeed, we don’t succeed,” said the CEO and co-founder of Bombe.
For Mike, delivering that success means using data. Having spent much of his career crunching numbers and utilising tech to help boost political campaigns for the likes of Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan –inspired by Moneyball, a book by Michael Lewis and later a film that highlighted the importance of using metrics to drive a run of wins on the baseball field.
After working at the National Education Union for several years and running its campaign to improve teachers’ pay, he saw a commercial niche for the techniques and tech he’d developed to deliver results in the political sphere.
Bombe, named for Alan Turing’s codebreaking Second World War machine that deciphered Enigma messages, was born and Mike quit his job in March this year to run it full-time.
“Our thesis is that there is a lot of data out there which tells you what people are doing, but it’s not that interesting for a lot of businesses because you want to know why people are doing what they’re doing,” said Mike, who is based at Level39 in Canary Wharf’s One Canada Square with his rapidly growing team.
“That’s the basis of our company. This kind of machinelearning approach has been absent from products I’ve experienced in my career in marketing.
“I’ve been using machine learning for well over a decade –people think AI is ChatGPT but that’s just a powerful iteration of it. The technology has been around for a long time.
“When setting up Bombe, which is strictly non-political, we looked at the market, did an analysis of where we would fit, then developed our data proposition, continued on Page 8
Mike Joslin co-founded Bombe to help firms increase sales and is based at Level39 in Canary Wharf
Image by Jon Massey
A KISS FOR CINDERELLA
1916, London’s East End, where royal balls are hard to find, and even the Fairy Godmothers have joined the Red Cross
Adapted from JM Barrie’s lesser known classic
A festive play for ages 8+
from Page 6
working with our polling partner Deltapoll.
“A lot of people are obsessed with technology, but it’s not about technology, it’s what you use it for. Our tag line is that we’re trying to build the best audience and data targeting model in the world and I think we’ve done that – so do our clients and that’s why they’ve chosen to use us.
“If you’re a business we can tell you for every postcode in the country the likelihood someone will purchase from you and the price they’ll pay for your product.
“Companies may have huge amounts of data, but they don’t necessarily know who is purchasing goods or services from them. That is a necessity.
“We’ve built a number of persona sets to reveal what is actually driving people’s decisions using machine learning.
“Those groups have been battletested with our clients and that has propelled our success.”
The idea in some senses is simple. Bombe’s service tells businesses where best to concentrate their marketing to deliver the best return on their investment.
“What our clients are buying from us are models,” said Mike. “We make our own data – we’re not buying it. It comes from interviews, from machinelearning models, from statistical techniques, from battle-testing and then spending hours making sure it all works.
“However, how we’re doing it is less relevant than whether it works for our customers. What matters is what’s driving their sales, their top line, whether you’re going up or down and how you can change that.
“What we do is tell our customers why their revenue is where it is. Some of our clients are seeing results that are 85% better with Bombe.”
Initially the startup is working with medium and large-scale businesses, but plans to launch products for smaller companies next year.
“If you are selling to consumers, come and talk to us,” said Mike. “Our mission is to help everyone who wants to engage with their audience to be doing it through us. We take great enjoyment and pride in doing that.
“We have a team of about 20 people, and we’re growing strategically, which is very important to us. We don’t want to grow too quickly, but we are offering something unique and different.
“We’ve seen the market reaction to that and that’s helping us to make sure our product is the best. We have to have the best data
Bombe says it can help businesses understand who their clients are, where they are based and why they are buying their products
and we think we do, but we can’t rest on our laurels – the market is changing so quickly and we want to make sure that our customers continue to come to us.
“We think we’ve got an incredible team and Bombe would be nothing without the people working for it.
“Starting the business was a leap of faith. It’s hard, it’s tough, there’s always a challenge, always something to solve and always something more to do.
“You’ve got to be level-headed, have a strategy and a team to deliver it and I think we do. That’s really where our success has come from. Our clients need to see that they’re getting value, seeing an increase in their revenues from our product and that’s when we succeed.
“That’s what drives me to make sure that’s happening. I work extremely hard and don’t do much apart from that and look after my young son at the moment. If you want to start a business, you’ve got to be all-in.
“Your staff, your investors and your customers need that. If you’re not prepared to do that, don’t start a company.
“I don’t think there’s been a learning curve with Bombe, it’s just hard work. Success is 1% idea and 99% hard work. We want the best for our customers, so we’ve got to keep pushing. I like my work so I have no problem with that.”
Bombe has attracted clients through the reputation of Mike and his team as well as press exposure. The company also hosts webinars to showcase its data.
“Most of our work has come from people coming to us,” said Mike. “We’ve got a growth strategy team who have significant commercial experience and they’re doing a really good job.
“We’re doing a number of webinars over the coming months to showcase what we do via LinkedIn. The first will be on November 19 at 11am with Joe Twyman, co-founder of Deltapoll and will reveal key insights into the shifting patterns of Londoners’ transport habits, using the latest data from TfL. It should be really interesting for readers.”
Transport links played a part in Mike’s decision to join the tech community at Level39 in Canary Wharf too. It’s a really buzzy area,” he said. “I came to Level39 a few times before I took space here and they’ve done a great job with it. It’s a really interesting environment, with so many events and the view is fantastic.
“The wider area is also great –the shopping is amazing and the food offering here is the best in
Perhaps people reading this will be sceptical. There are thousands of data companies in this country. Come and talk to us...
Mike Joslin, Bombe
London. It’s incredibly accessible, too with the Elizabeth Line.
“It has changed the way a lot of people behave in the capital and between it and the Jubilee Line, pretty much anyone can get here, so that makes Canary Wharf good for recruitment, good for the company and good for clients.”
It’s also not a bad environment from which to target fast growth – former Level39 startup Revolut is set to put its name atop YY London in Reuters Plaza in the not too distant future.
“Our objective is to be the best in the world,” said Mike. “We believe we have the best data, and we think that means the market will respond to it.
“Our ambition is to grow rapidly as a business, if that happens and we have the investors backing us and the team to do that. We want to be a name that rings out alongside the other market leaders in the space, and we think we’ll do that.
“Perhaps people reading this will be sceptical. There are thousands of data companies in this country. What I would say is come and talk to us to understand how we are different.”
key details
Bombe is based at Level39’s One Canada Square offices in Canary Wharf. It currently offers a one-off Targeting Package for businesses priced at £5,000 aimed at telling clients where and what they should be saying and who it should be directed at to best reach their audience.
The firm’s £25,000 yearly package includes monthly reports specific to the client’s industry and access to its platform and AI dashboard on an ongoing basis.
At £5,000 per month, clients also get a strategy manager to run campaigns on behalf of their business. Those interested in its services should email contact@bombe.io for more details or visit its website. Go to bombe.io or level39.co for more
Scan this for more about Bombe and its services
Levi’s Canada Place Canyon Quarter-zip Fleece, £80 levi.com
Reiss
Jubilee Place Wade Patch-pocket Checked Overshirt, £168 reiss.com
£130 thewhitecompany.com
as the mercury drops, Jess Maddison scours the Canary Wharf malls for autumnal warmth
Mango Canada Place Heel Suede Ankle Boot, £59.99 mango.com
The White Company Jubilee Place Fairisle Jumper with Alpaca,
BOSS Cabot Place Regular- t Jacket In Herringbone Jersey, £429 hugoboss.com
how Club Pilates in Wapping o ers a full complement of equipment and classes
for cuttingedge tness
by Jon Massey
It would be nice to think that those living in the prosperous capital of a G7 country would have access to pretty much the best stuff in the world. But it’s clear London is lagging behind in some areas. A recent visit to Tokyo left me agog at its bullet trains, spotless streets and high quality cuisine. Its urban planning makes the City look like a rather unambitious provincial backwater.
Then there’s the astonishing level of hygiene facilities – plentiful and mostly free – in a culture that really wasn’t content for the evolution of the toilet to essentially stop with the invention of the manual flush in .
A trip to Wapping made something else plain – that the UK is also behind on certain health and fitness trends. ilates is clearly starting to have a moment in London. Visit Third Space in anary Wharf and you’ll find its Reformer Pilates classes consistently oversubscribed.
t’s really the e tra kit that makes the difference. Mat based Pilates sessions are not so rare in community centres across the country. But studios that allow groups of people to stretch and strengthen their bodies on equipment such as the spring-loaded reformers, Pilates chairs and springboards are far less common.
It’s a niche Club Pilates is looking to fill. ounded in an Diego in 2007, the business has e panded to more than , loca tions globally via a franchising model.
With a target of clubs for its initial UK roll out, it recently opened its third location in the capital at London Dock in Wapping.
ffering classes for up to participants, the Gaughing Square facility is packed with Pilates paraphernalia and offers locals a range of classes to cater for all fitness levels and ages.
“It’s an all-inclusive, one-stop shop for all your Pilates needs,” said master Pilates instructor and director of sales, marketing and education at Club Pilates, Jada-Rae Poku.
“We’re an American company, founded in California by Allison
Maximum number of participants in a Club Pilates class at its 2,000sq ft facility in Wapping
Wapping - Limehouse - Whitechapel - Tower Hill
12 opening up a reformer
Club Pilates opened its doors in Wapping in September, o ering classes and instructor training sessions at its London Dock site
Beardsley whose mission was to bring Pilates to the masses.
“Historically, it wasn’t accessible to many people, so, by having more equipment, she could have more people at one time and that brought the price point slightly lower.
“It’s about community and bringing people, who might not otherwise take part, into the practice.”
Jada-Rae is currently splitting her time between the States and the UK, having been with the business for seven years.
“At school did track and field, and my first e perience of ilates was in rehab from an injury – I was a high jumper,” she said.
“I was planning to become a physical therapist, but found Club Pilates along the way, and now I’m involved in the management of the business as well as teaching the practice.
Club Pilates is an allinclusive, one-stop-shop for all your Pilates needs. It’s about community and bringing people into the practice
Jada-Rae Poku, Club Pilates
“I started on the sales team, working to open up branches on the coast of New Jersey, then in Irvine, California.
“ also run a certification course at Wapping for people wishing to become instructors themselves. We offer a fully comprehensive lub ilates certification for everything you can see in our continued on Page 21
from Page 12
studios and those who complete a course can take those skills wherever they like.”
Of course, with a further 47 branches of Club Pilates expected to create some 900 jobs across the UK, those 500-hour programmes could well be a route to employment with the company as it grows.
That interest in this country is increasing feels especially apt given the exercise system’s roots. Born in Germany, Joseph Pilates had overcome childhood asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever thanks to a passion for exercise and martial arts.
Having become a gymnast and bodybuilder, he moved to England in 1912 and earned a living as a circus performer and a self-defence instructor for the police. However, when the First World War broke out he and many other German citizens were imprisoned through the Government’s policy of internment, first at Lancaster Castle and then on the Isle Of Man.
It was during these periods of incarceration, teaching his fellow inmates wrestling and self-defence, that he developed the fitness regimen of mat e ercises that evolved into Contrology, the basis of modern Pilates. He taught thousands of men his methods during these years.
While the evidence is inconclusive, the spring systems used to create resistance in his Reformer machines may have been inspired by those in the frames of the hospital beds he helped to rehabilitate injured prisoners of war on.
He returned to Germany after the war but decided to emigrate to the USA, meeting his future wife on the crossing and dedicating his life to teaching his method and spreading its benefits from their base in New York.
Club Pilates shares that mission as it expands to the country where the exercises it teaches had their genesis.
“People can expect superfriendly, smiling faces, here to make sure they have the best experience,” said Jada-Rae.
“There is a lot of equipment and it can be overwhelming, but we’ll make sure you have a full-body workout – that you move your spine, feel good and get stronger – in every class.
“You’ll always be working on the stabilisation of muscles, mobility and fle ibility, which are all needed for proper functional movement.
“I go to a gym as well and, when I have a solid Pilates practice, I’m not getting injured as frequently and I’m getting
stronger more quickly, because I’m rehabbing my muscles in the Pilates classes.
“You’re able to push more if your muscles are more limber, so it’s great for any movement practice.
“Pilates is life-changing. It’s great for rehabilitation, it’s low-impact, so literally everyone can do it. The method is a very controlled and precise way of moving your body – we’re very focussed on the mind-body connection.
“The more you do it, the better you get. It’s about engaging every single muscle, so there’s a lot to take in when you start, but it becomes easier and easier.”
key details
Club Pilates is located in Gaughing Square at Wapping’s London Dock development.
New clients can take advantage of an early Black riday offer and purchase three classes for £30 via the link below.
Membership options are also available with prices ranging from £150 to £299 for unlimited classes. One-to-one training options are also available.
Go to clubpilates.uk for more information
Scan this code for more about Club Pilates’ Black Friday o er
Promising dangerous pop, this band fronted by singer Jasmine and lead guitarist Poppy bring a ton of energy and plenty of attitude to the stage. Dec 10, 7pm, £7, thegeorgetavern.london
Where?
Half Moon Theatre Limehouse
Suitable for ages 4-9, this is a chance to kick back and watch as Abi and Grandad tell each other folk tales in this uplifting tale of love, courage and letting go. Dec 7, 3.15pm, £8, halfmoon.org.uk
for
GIG | Hot Stamp
EVENT | Buttmitzvah: Chrismukkah 2024 Yiddish Yuletide returns with plenty of festive stockings, pickles and shballs. Expect tickets to sell faster than hot bagels
this end of term party. Dec 7, 9pm, from £24.96, troxy.co.uk Where? The George Tavern Whitechapel Where? Troxy Limehouse
SCREEN | Cinema Chill: Grandad Anansi
Jada-Rae Poku is both sales, marketing and education director at Club Pilates and a master Pilates instructor
Below, Jada-Rae leads a Reformer Pilates class at the Wapping studio
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Christmas Party
Where?
Poplar Union Poplar
Aponghor Bengali LGBTQIA+ is set to host a festive celebration with refreshments, dance, poetry and cultural performances in Poplar. Dec 10, 6pm-10pm, £15, poplarunion.com
Where?
The Space Isle Of Dogs
STAGE | Henry V Spaceworks reveal a di erent side to one of Shakespeare’s best-known characters as his lust for power and riches exerts its corrosive in uence. Nov 28-30, times vary, from £12, space.org.uk
Where?
Theatreship Isle Of Dogs
FILM | Art Of Action: Terminator 2 This screening of probably the best sci- sequel to a mainstream movie ever made comes with an electronic performance and a talk. Nov 28, 7pm-11pm, from £9.96, theatreship.co.uk
The Space is all set to host Cinderella as its family-friendly festive show this year. JM Barrie’s play is lled with comfort, hope and darkness for those aged 8 and up. Shows Dec 3-15, tickets from £10 space.org.uk
Scan this code
Months Emily Jo Gibbs will be artist in residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf in Leamouth
Emily Jo Gibbs’ career has seen her go from making high-end handbags to delicate pictures using silk and embroidery
ash back
to read our interview with the show’s director, Bethany Sharp, pictured above
Image by Jon Massey
how artist Emily Jo Gibbs is set to capture Trinity Buoy Wharf through silk and stitches
by Jon Massey
There’s a clear sense you get when talking to Emily Jo Gibbs that making work is simply a natural response to the world around her. For the next six months, she will be artist in residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf and aims to capture something of the place and those who call the Leamouth creative hub home.
“I’m hoping to meet other people, see the things that are going on here, hear stories and make work about them,” said the Forest Hill resident. “I’ve already met the guys who are restoring the SS Robin and heard about their backgrounds in blacksmithing, cabinet-making and carpentry.
“That research will evolve into finished pieces and there will be an exhibition of those. Part of the project is also to run workshops too, although those are still being arranged. What is certain is that I’ll be hosting Stitch And Talk sessions at The Orchard Cafe.
“It’s about being here, meeting people, drawing, stitching and seeing what comes out of that.”
The stitching is key to Emily’s practice as she uses appliqué embroidery and silk organza to create her pieces. Taught to sew by her mother, it’s a style that’s emerged from her background as a crafter.
“I grew up in a family of makers and designers and I was passionate about art and making growing up,” she said.
“I actually went to study wood, metals and plastics at Wolverhampton University and it was only in the third year of that course that I started making fashion accessories in textiles and metal.”
Unsure what direction she wanted to pursue, she dabbled in leather work and shoe-making but ultimately found the processes restrictive after the comparative artistic freedom of her university
It’s about being here, meeting people, drawing, stitching and seeing what comes out of that
course. Building on the success of her degree show she managed to secure funding to start a small business making high-end handbags in London.
“ hat really took off and it was very exciting,” she said. “It was ironic because I’d been quite intimidated by fashion students when I was doing my degree.
“But I did well because I was interested in materials. My bags were featured in Vogue and other magazines, travelling to Paris and Japan.”
After a decade of making, Emily changed direction when she had children, taking a “convenient” admin job. While the handbag trade was unpredictable, she realised how important having a creative outlet was to her and began making work about her family.
“I used silk organza that I had from making the bags, initially for my own pleasure – portraits in what call flat work because they weren’t three dimensional like the accessories,” she said.
“That evolved as well. I went on to do portraits of kids who lived in our street.
“Through Craft Central in Clerkenwell I reconnected with Bridget Bailey who had been on the fashion scene making hats and was repositioning herself as an artist too.
“We got chatting about doing a collaborative project and I wanted to make a portrait of her, but she was quite shy about that.
“That got us thinking about other ways you could depict an artist, so I made a self portrait of her and me by depicting our pin cushions.
“I then did a whole project with seven contemporary makers, meeting them, talking to them and making portraits of them through their tools.”
Emily uses appliqué and silk organza to created her artworks
“There I took photographs of the people and talked to them, and made work about them.
combination of delicate stitches – each done by hand – with the
Emily’s practice involves the combination of delicate stitches – each done by hand – with the translucent, ethereal finery of her chosen fabric.
“It feels really good to say that I’m an artist – I’ve now been doing it longer than the time I spent making the bags,” she said.
“It’s lovely to meet other makers and make work about them. There are a lot of artists in the world who may not be working in contemporary craft, who may be quite hidden, and I’m interested in those people.
“I did a nice project with a boatyard in Lymington because it had a really interesting apprenticeship scheme.
“Since doing that, I’ve been trying to get a project where I’m embedded and get to know the people better, and see how the work evolves.
“That’s how I came to apply to Trinity Buoy Wharf – they really liked my work and the projects I’ve been doing and selected me for this residency.
“Here I feel there’s lots going on behind closed doors, and I’d like to know what that is.
trying to get a project where I’m embedded and get to know the people better, and see how the work evolves. on behind closed doors, and I’d like to know what that is.
Wharf for the next six months, culminating with a display of her work during London Craft Week in May. Dates are yet to be confirmed.
“The really exciting bit is not knowing exactly what’s to come and what I’m going
“The really exciting bit is not knowing exactly what’s to come and what I’m going to make while I’m here, engaged in this project.”
key details
Emily Jo Gibbs is artist in residence at Trinity Buoy
Emily will be hosting drop-in Stitch And Talk sessions from 10amnoon on Tuesdays in November 19 and 26 at The Orchard Cafe in Trinity Buoy Wharf. These are for anyone interested in creating some art or finding out more about her practice and are free to attend. Materials and ideas provided. Go to trinitybuoywharf.com or emilyjogibbs.co.uk for more information about what’s on at the Leamouth hub or Emily’s art
Scan this code to nd out more about Trinity Buoy Wharf
Emily Jo Gibbs, artist
Below, some of Emily’s portraits through the tools of makers
Sudoku
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
Cryptic
Take a break from that phone Across 1, 7dn. Even pitches make a fair start (5,7,6) 4. Luggage carrier jumps at ringing sound (7) 8. Number cruncher against servery (7) 9. Get in touch with mother for short pause (5) 10. Sounds like uncle’s wife is against it, sort of (4)
11. Cream’s prime Gears? (8)
13. Intensive search to smooth things over (4)
14. A regretful Miss? So the song says (4)
16. Tricksters sound very unforthcoming (8)
17. Unattractive fruit? (4)
20. Critical like a feline? (5)
21. Mass communication is all about words, we hear (7)
22. Sounds like inferior positioning (7)
23. Eye infections for resident pigs? (5)
Down
. Missing a flower is just sloppy (13)
2. Jump over a low chamber? (5)
3. Untimely death? (4)
4. Outdoor eating for dolls? (6)
. ost of fine sewing is tearing (8)
6. Baskets that get in the way? (7)
7. See 1 acc.
12. They master confused gem at the start (8)
13. Clock sound is hidden in underground room (7)
15. Sounds like a thuggish Roman? (6)
18. College celebration is in poor taste (5)
19. Very central cutting tools? (4)
whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Metres of wooden walkway has been installed across the south-east London former dock
Asif Khan’s boardwalk is now open to the public at Canada Dock
treading the
how Asif Khan’s timber bridge o ers pedestrians
a fresh way to negotiate the waters of Canada Dock with curves
by Jon Massey
British Land and Australian Super’s 170mlong wooden boardwalk across Canada Dock has opened to the public.
Designed by architect Asif Khan as part of the developer’s efforts to regenerate some 53 acres of south-east London, the bright red installation offers a slightly more direct route for pedestrians heading to Surrey Quays Shopping Centre from the Tube station.
While a new food hall at the retail hub is still in the pipeline and Printworks is shut as work continues to upgrade the cultural
venue, the new bridge over the former dock will doubtless help ease demand on pathways around the water once both are up and running.
British Land’s joint head of Canada Water, Emma Cariaga, said: “Asif Khan is a world-class architectural talent and he has created a striking new centrepiece that will be used every day by the local community and visitors to Canada Water.
“The design is a fantastic tribute to the area’s rich history and the boardwalk will connect people to both nature and the surrounding area. Canada Water is progressing at pace with the first phase of homes, workspace and retail completing in the coming months.
“Canada Dock provides us with a unique opportunity to create an interesting place for people to meet and socialise, especially on the southern edge where cafés and restaurants will spill out onto the dock in the future.”
The wider project is a joint venture between British Land and pension fund Australian Super to deliver a new town centre with up to 4,000 homes as well as retail, leisure and community space. Go to canadawater.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Canada Water
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Leiyah
A party was held on November 2 to celebrate the opening
Where? The Albany Deptford
The south London singer and songwriter celebrates the release of her genre-defying breakup anthem Never Liked You Anyway with a gig in Deptford. Nov 30, 8pm, £12, thealbany.org.uk
Where?
The Albany Deptford
KIDS | Well Done, Mummy Penguin Suitable for ages 3-8, this stage adaptation of Chris Haughton’s book sees Mummy take on perilous challenges to gather sh for her chick. Dec 1-24, times vary, £14, thealbany.org.uk
Where? Brunel Museum Rotherhithe
MUSIC | Carols With St Martin’s Voices Come All Ye Faithful for anything but a Silent Night. Expect two 45-minute sets of favourites down below plus festive drinks and mince pies until 9pm. Dec 4, 6.30pm, 7.45pm, £15, thebrunelmuseum.com
ghting on
Check out makers and their creations at Cockpit Arts Open Studios as the Deptford hub throws wide its doors in the run up to Christmas. Ideal for those hunting bargains you can’t nd elsewhere. Runs Nov 29-Dec 1 cockpitstudios.org
Scan this code to read our interview with Ashley Gerling of Cockpit in the run-up to the event
£28.50
Starting price for tickets to either Viola’s Room or the festive version of the show, which is set to open on November 20
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Keshi
The Houston-born singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist is touring the world following the release of his latest album Requiem. Dec 4, 6.30pm, from £55, theo2.co.uk
Where? Firepit Gallery Peninsula
TRY | Fresh Pasta Making Workshop
Join chef Angelica for this session where participants are encouraged to get hands-on with tagliatelle, ravioli and more. Eat your creations at the end. Nov 29, 7pm-10pm, £38.62, repit.art Where? The O2 Peninsula Where? Woolwich Works Woolwich
COMEDY | Live At The Works With Phil Wang
The comedian is joined on the bill by Kerry Godliman, Michelle De Swarte, Finlay Christie and Kyra Gray – established acts and up-and-comers... Nov 30, 6.30pm, from £20, woolwich.works
Greenwich Theatre is staging Dick Whittington And His Cat as this year’s panto, kicking o on November 22. Once again it’s written by veteran villain Anthony Spargo who put a twist on the classic tale greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Scan this code to read our interview with Anthony as he and the regular team prepare to take on Whittington
how Punchdrunk packs Viola’s Room full of fairytale wonderment and awe as audiences explore the chills and thrills of a truly immersive world
a small room with six chairs gathered around a pendant light.
Preparations to enter Punchdrunk’s newest immersive theatre show at Woolwich Works – Viola’s Room – are not without moments of apprehension.
First there’s a visit to the cloakroom where all coats and bags – yes, even the small ones – are surrendered.
Clutching my phone with the precious QR code ticket, I move on to the next stage where I am guided into a dimly-lit waiting area, with an array of tables, each with six chairs.
I sit down with my companion and the other chairs are slowly taken by strangers. We exchange the odd nervous smile or titter while we are told a little about the experience.
Shoes and socks must be removed, there will be no speaking to each other but also no jump scares.
We then progress to the nal stage where shoes are removed and headphones donned and our party waits nervously for the red light to turn on – an invitation to enter the experience.
Through the door we enter
We sit and a voice in my headphones tells me there will be periods of total darkness as we make our way through Viola’s Room
To test our resilience, the light goes out. It’s pitch black and my body’s reaction is primal as my other senses and imagination attempt to ll the void.
The hairs on the back of the neck stand up, con rming the stereotype. The bulb comes back on and we’re told to make our way into the experience, to follow the light.
What happens next is like stepping into a fairytale. The story – narrated by Helena Bonham Carter – plays out in front me as I wander through a series of di erent scenes.
The world is surreal and wondrous and while the plot isn’t complicated, it’s interesting enough emotionally to engage me.
This lack of complexity is especially welcome on the occasions when I’m awed by what’s happening around me and miss a couple of sentences.
The set itself is huge. I nd myself at the head of our group, wandering through the laby-
rinth of walls made of sheets, waiting for lights to appear and guide me to the next location.
Sometimes I am too quick and hover at a crossroads in darkness, waiting for illumination.
At one point, I imagine this is how Lucy must have felt, pushing her way through fur coats in a wardrobe, then r trees beyond as she entered the land of Narnia.
The darkness provides both a slightly unnerving atmosphere and serves to exaggerate the tingling feelings and emotions created by the story and the startling sets.
The lack of shoes, similarly, creates a certain vulnerability while giving another dimension to the experience.
When, even in the context of immersive theatre, do you ever reach down and touch the oor?
What’s fun about Viola’s Room is that while I know, logically that I am in a warehouse in Woolwich, part of my brain thinks I really have stepped into another world. I know I’m basically enjoying theatre performance, but it feels like I’m in a ghost story.
The experience lasts about an hour but feels much shorter
time. I emerge, blinking, back into normal life and grinning at my companions. It’s been a bonding experience, though no-one has said a word. Conveniently, Punchdrunk’s bar – The Prop Room – is right there for debriefs and cocktails. It’s a halfway point to linger just a little longer in the fantasy before rejoining the real world. Who wouldn’t want that?
Jess Maddison
key details
The last performances of Viola’s Room in its original form run until November 16.
Viola’s Room: A Christmas Tale, which features an updated festive soundtrack alongside the original plot and narration, is set to run from November 20 until December 23.
Tickets for either show start at £28.50 per person. Go to punchdrunk.com/work /violas-room more details or to make a booking
Scan this code to nd out more about Viola’s Room
Audiences explore Viola’s Room barefoot in groups of up to six, listening to the story on headphones and guided by the light
Stage Review
how Elvis Evolution is set to enter the building at Excel’s Immerse LDN in May 2025
by Jon Massey
It’s a case of one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and go cat go, as Immerse LDN at Excel in Royal Docks welcomes its third major attraction. Tickets for Elvis Evolution: The Immersive Experience are on sale now, ahead of its east London opening in May next year.
It may not be located at the end of Lonely Street, but Layered Reality’s creation does promise fans of The King “the sights, sounds and even the smells” of his career.
The British immersive entertainment provider has centred the attraction on Elvis’ ’68 Comeback Special – you know the one with the black leather outfit and Suspicious Minds
Using technology and generative AI, the company says the experience will “deliver intimate moments that offer an insight into the man behind the myth”.
The attraction has been created in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises and Authentic Brands Group – the custodians of the star’s estate – and Layered Reality has been granted access to thousands of Elvis’ personal photos and hours of home-video archive to help bring the singer back to life.
“Elvis Evolution is a next generation tribute to the musical legend,” said Andrew McGuinness, founder and CEO of Layered Reality. “Elvis maintains superstar status globally and people around the world no longer want to sit and passively receive entertainment – they want to be a part of it. It’ll be a memory-making experience that will be a bucket list item for Elvis fans and music lovers and for those who just love an uplifting night out.”
Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises added: “Elvis has always been more than just a performer – he represents an era, a cultural shift, and a connection that spans generations.
“With Elvis Evolution, we are pushing the boundaries of how his legacy is experienced. Layered Reality’s immersive approach will allow fans to truly step into Elvis’ world and feel the energy and
Starting price for a ticket to Elvis Evolution at Immerse LDN, launchingat Excel in Royal Docks next year
Elvis Evolution is gearing up to open at Excel’s Immerse LDN
a new place to
spirit of his music in an unprecedented way.
“We are excited to bring this new chapter of Elvis’ legacy to life, allowing fans to engage with his iconic music and larger-thanlife persona in a deeply personal and interactive format.”
Elvis Evolution is the third attraction to find a home at Immerse LDN, following the arrival of The Friends Experience: The One In London and F1: The Exhibition, which are already open in Royal Docks.
Damian Norman, director of immersive entertainment and events at Excel London said: “At Immerse LDN, we are proud to be developing the ’s first dedi cated immersive entertainment district.
“A cornerstone of our vision is to collaborate with world-leading content creators, which is why we are thrilled to partner with Layered Reality to bring Elvis Evolution to life.
Layered Reality has created an immersive experience that promises to bring the sights, sounds and even smells of Elvis’ legend to life for its visitors
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Intro To Drawing And Painting
Join artist John Lord to explore your imagination. The sessions are suitable for all ages and include all materials and equipment. Ideal for beginners Nov 28, 7pm-9pm, free, artinthedocks.com
EVENT | Anticipate London
A jazzier name and collective for the health and safety industry is set to take over the Royal Docks exhibition centre with delegates making things less risky. Dec 2-4, 10am, registration, anticipate-event.com
“With their well-deserved reputation as a market leader in London’s immersive scene and their track record of delivering successful, long-running IP’s Layered Reality is the ideal partner to resurrect one of the best-selling artists in history.”
key details
Tickets start at £75 for Elvis Evolution, including access to the All Shook Up After-Party. Various VIP packages are also available between and offering a range of experiences and add-ons including posters, Champagne and dedicated seating.
Go to elvisevolution.com for more information or to book tickets
Cody Dock is set to host its Frost Fair on November 30 from noon-5pm. Expect workshops, festive stalls, mulled wine and much more as the temperature drops and festive celebrations begin in earnest... codydock.org.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Cody Dock’s Frost Fair, which is free to attend diary date
CLUB | Boudica Performance artist and DJ Lewis G Burton, pictured, heads a party packed with performers including Samantha Togni, Seba, Slim Soledad and Tedesco. Nov 30, 11pm-6am, from £15.20, fold.london
Albert Wharf
Town
Royal Victoria Dock
Layered Reality has used material from the o cial Elvis archive to create the experience
how
V&A East Storehouse will o er visitors unprecedented access to the museum’s collections at Here East
by Jon Massey
Ihope it will feel welcoming, but I also really like the idea of visitors wondering if they’re really allowed access to all these space, that maybe they’re somewhere they shouldn’t be,” said Tim Reeve, deputy director and COO of the V&A and chair of the East Bank Board.
We’re talking about the first of two sites that the museum is set to open in Stratford as it expands its offering across the capital. V&A East Museum is set to launch in spring 2026 at East Bank and will celebrate making and the power of creativity to effect change in the world. V&A East Storehouse, however, goes far beyond conventional displays and promises something entirely new. Housed at Here East about a 10-minute walk across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from East Bank itself, the V&A is creating a vast publicly accessible facility where its diverse non-display collection and archives can be looked after for the next century.
Spread over some 173,000sq ft, it is set to arrive first, opening its doors to the public on May 31.
“While we were engaged in the process of working out what V&A East Museum would be – how it would be distinctive and reflect the local geography and demographic of the people around East Bank – we were also talking to the Government about the future of Blythe House,” said Tim.
“That’s the place in West Kensington where we stored all our non-display collections – about 250,000 objects, 350,000 books and 1,000 archives.
“It was made clear to us, along with the Science Museum and British Museum – which also use it as store – that we needed to leave because the building was to be redeveloped.
“That was a pain, because you
We
know people want to see what they’ve been told they can’t see – where the magic happens. Storehouse facilitates exploration
don’t want to be moving a collection of our sort more often than you have to, due of the delicacy of the objects and the expense.
“However, it was also a clarifying moment for the V&A East project with the idea that we could find a place for our Blythe House objects, books and archives and that we could create two sites in east London.
“We just needed to find a space big enough and close enough to East Bank to make sense. Looking at the two sites together, you get a complete 360-degree view of the contemporary museum world.”
While V&A East Museum, with the dramatic angles of its purpose-built home at East Bank, will be the more visually striking, in content it will probably feel the more familiar of the two with galleries, exhibitions, a cafe and a shop. Somewhat tucked away in the former Media And Broadcast Centre built for the 2012 Olympics, V&A Storehouse is deliberately radical.
Storehouse will be a place where our objects live and where we look after them,” said Tim. “We know people want to see what they’ve been told they can’t – where the magic happens.
“So Storehouse has been created to facilitate people’s exploration of the bit of our organisation that would normally be hidden – a visitor experience that’s selfguided and free every day of the year. We have an absolutely enormous, amazing space, where we can fit everything in, with some space to spare as the collection grows.
“We’re building some of our showpiece objects into it such as architectural fragments from the Robin Hood Gardens estate and we’ve come up with a public network of spaces intertwined with the collection.
“That will be a 60 to 90-minute, self-guided tour of exploration as people burrow their way up through the building and arrive in this incredible atrium.
“From there you can keep exploring and see how far you can get – it’s been designed to allow visitors to get as far as possible. Moving all our stuff from Blythe House is incredibly expensive, so we thought we might as well create a new world with it and that’s what we’ve done at Storehouse. The idea is you will
Square footage of V&A East Storehouse at Here East on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Tim Reeve, V&A
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
V&A deputy director and COO, Tim Reeve, says Storehouse will be unlike any other museum experience in the world
exhibits including those relating to this part of the capital.
“There will be lots of east ondon influence in the way we’re displaying and interpreting the collection,” said Tim. “Our piece of obin ood ardens was the first thing we installed here because it’s so enormous. It’s one of the first things visitors will see when they climb the stairs.
breathe the same air as the objects we hold. A visit is the start of a journey and we hope people will come back when they realise they can browse as much as they like. Here East is a warehouse, an industrial building – not a marbleclad museum. It’s humble and we want as many people as possible to visit.
“It’s also a source to be mined and returned to, constantly changing as it’s also a working building with objects going out on loan or for conservation.”
Designed by architects iller, cofidio enfro, Storehouse will be home to an extensive and varied collection including creative works from The Glastonbury Festival Archive, PJ Harvey and Elton John’s costumes, vintage football shirts, Dior and Schiaparelli haute couture, oman frescos, samurai swords, mid century furniture and the iPhone.
A dedicated David Bowie Centre will showcase artefacts from the musician and performer’s archive with rotating displays set to open in September.
More than 100 miniature displays on the ends of storage systems will highlight specific
“Our collection is international and so we want to bring out its full splendour, depth and range and there are some really wonderful east London stories we want to showcase, drawing inspiration from the connections with the local community we have built.
“I think walking in on opening day will be a really emotional moment.
“Colleagues across the institution have poured so much time and energy into it, through some really tricky moments, of which we’ve had more than our fair share.
“It’s the most important thing I’ve done in my professional life, and will probably be the most important thing I ever do.
“I feel I’ve been really lucky to be involved in creating such a project since 2013.
“You have a light bulb moment and think what it would be like to see it happen – to be around from beginning to end.
“There were moments when it felt like it might never happen. But as an institutional lift, it doesn’t get any better.
“And we are here for the long term. We have a 100-year lease at Here East and 200 at East Bank. One of the biggest treats for us is seeing people who were here before the Olympics realising that these things are being created for their benefit. he interplay between the different types of organisations at East Bank make the future very interesting – a special destination.”
key details
V&A East Storehouse is set to open on May 31, 2025 at Here East on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Entry will be free. The David Bowie Centre will open on September 13.
V&A East Museum will launch in spring 2026 at East Bank in Stratford.
Go to vam.ac.uk/east for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about V&A East Storehouse
Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
COMEDY | Kool Story Bro
Join Kiell Smith-Bynoe for an evening of improv, guest performers and scenes inspired by monologues from members of the audience. Dec 13, 7.30pm, from £10, stratfordeast.com
BUY | Record Fair
Explore a mutitude of vinyl treasures from dealers, shops and labels with live DJs to set the mood. Expect chill out, hip hop, indie, funk, soul and more... Dec 8, 11am-5pm, £1, hackneybridge.org
The thrash heavyweights headline a bill that also features sounds from cinema metal troop Opensight, true believers Kardinal X and electro beats from Iman. Dec 6, 7pm, from £9, cartandhorses.london
oh yes it is
Theatre Royal Stratford East is set to stage Pinocchio as this year’s panto starring Michael Bertenshaw as the dame, from November 23 right through until January 4. Tickets are on sale now with prices starting at £10 stratfordeast.com
Scan this code to nd out more about the show or to book tickets for one of the festive performances
GIG | Toranaga
l Images by Diller Sco dio + Renfro
Image by Niall Hodson
Installing Robin Hood Gardens
The David Bowie Centre
Relocating the collections
V&A East Storehouse will look like when nished
SHOP LUXURY WATCHES IN YOUR CANARY WHARF SHOWROOM THIS CHRISTMAS
