celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness How our early lives can shape the people we go on to become Page 7
inside issue 124
Cody Dock Frost Fair
Cockpit Arts - Crosswords
Sophie Goddard - Sudoku
Santa Stair Climb - Pinocchio
The Pirates Of Penzance Soma - @homepizza Wharf Life Hacks
Where?
Everyman
Canary Wharf Crossrail Place
After a mere two decades, Paul Mescal picks up the baton from Russell Crowe as Maximus’ son, forced to ght in the Colosseum by Ridley Scott or something... From Nov 15, times vary, £21.90, everymancinema.com
Where?
London
Museum
Docklands West India Quay
KIDS | Big Fish Little Fish Snowball Family Rave Celebrate the snowy season with plenty of dancing and balloons, confetti, bubbles, tunes and a licensed bar (for the responsible adults). Suitable for families. Nov 23, 2pm-4.30pm, £13, londonmuseum.org.uk
| Roland Gift
Where?
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place
Welcome to issue 124 of Wharf Life. As we’re into planning, this paper is packed with ideas on festive shows and events to attend locally, whether it’s pantos in Greenwich and Stratford, the Santa Stair Climb in Canary Wharf or an early Frost Fair at Cody Dock. Get those diaries out and pencil-in...
The boys are back in town as Wilton’s Music Hall welcomes an all-male performance of Gilbert And Sullivan’s classic operetta, The Pirates Of Penzance
Catch the Fine Young Cannibals singer as he performs the likes of Good Thing, Suspicious Minds and She Drives Me Crazy at the Canary Wharf venue. Nov 13, 8.30pm, from £39, boisdale.co.uk
interview with Sir Tim Smit of the Eden Project and Sophie Goddard of CWG
We catch up with panto writer and veteran villain Anthony Spargo
Theatre Royal Stratford East is gearing up to stage Pinocchio 26 30
on the radar
Eggslut has o cially arrived on the Canary Wharf estate, opening a branch at Market Halls earlier this month. Expect plenty of gooey llings in its sandwiches, just maybe avoid if you’re wearing a crisp white shirt. Find it o Adams Plaza eggslut.uk
The silver building in Middle Dock is set to become a 65,000sq ft hospitality venue with entertainment investor Imbiba set to deliver a House Of Gods hotel plus and an Amazing Grace music venue. We’ll keep you posted as more project details emerge canarywharf.com need to know
Cockpit Arts in Deptford is gearing up to welcome visitors to its workshops
How The Space’s Bethany Sharp is leading a revival of JM Barrie’s A Kiss For Cinderella as the Isle Of Dogs venue prepares to host a festive production
REVIEW @homepizza 1-5 Bank Street, Canary Wharf athomepizza.co.uk
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from @homepizza. A relative newcomer to Canary Wharf, it’s mostly hidden from the estate –facing away from the centre overlooking the western end of South Dock on the ground oor of 1-5 Bank Street (Société Générale).
I’m generally suspicious of places with extensive menus and 70+ topping options aas well as the possibility to build-your-own, if those proved insu cient, didn’t exactly ll me with giddy anticipation.
The shock then is that –pizza purism aside – @home is very good at what it does. Speci cally, that’s crispy New
York-style bases with a wide variety of decent, generous ingredients on top. Some are silly, some less-so.
Channeling my inner Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, I opted for Go Bananas – sweet fruit paired with halloumi, red onion, black pepper, cheese and tomato. The banana slices are pre-cooked for a mellower avour and, set against the zing of the onion and the salt of the cheese, this £17 pizza turned out to be far more than the gimmick it could so easily have been. It went especially well with a glass of Toast And Honey pinot noir from the US. Cowabunga... Jon Massey ★★★★
doing the deals
get more for less on and around the Wharf
Get a glass of house wine and a little tapas topper at Iberica in Cabot Square. There are four kinds to choose from, each costing £5 on their own ibericarestaurants.com
20%
Charles Tyrwhitt is o ering customers donating old suits 20% o a new one. Those donating shirts or polos can get £5 o a purchase. Clothes go to BHF charlestyrwhitt.com
out Cody Dock’s Frost Fair as the weather turns colder
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me words you don’t know you need
noun, fake, from US English
A political candidate who promises pretty much the same nonsense during a comeback campaign as they did the rst time round if a little more unhinged. It’s enough to make America grate again. Surely not...
adjective, real, from Old English
A descriptive word for someone who is eccentrically silly, giddy or inane. It is of course very unlikely that a weird, wifty kinda guy might nd themselves back in charge of the USA. It happened once, could it happen again?
CHATTING UP Wharf Talks 40 Bank Street canarywharf.com
Wharf Talks is set to return with a session on November 13 where High Performance Podcast hosts Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes will chat to broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle about his achievements. Tickets are free for the 40 Bank Street event, which starts at 6pm. The session is held in partnership with The Felix Project
Tucked away behind recently opened parent restaurant Kricket, Soma is exceptional.
The bar, which opens at 5pm and stays that way until midnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and until 1am from Thursday to Saturday, is minimal, subtle and seductive. The kind of place it always feels just a little bit naughty to visit. Its interior features low, delicate lighting, a pinstripe zinc bar with panels exquisitely welded into place, exposed breeze blocks, a single wooden column and recessed lighting in rich yellow and red hues.
For those seeking further removal from the grind of the everyday there’s the comfort of a padded red playroom up a narrow ight of stairs to sink into.
In the end though, this spare canvas is simply staging for the main event, a team of bartenders happy to muse on any topic as they mix some of the most interesting drinks on the estate.
Minimal in name, they are complex in avour and very reasonably priced, starting at £12 with alcohol and £10 without.
My favourite, the Pomegranate is a punch blend of Haku vodka, chai, pomegranate and coconut rice foam that results in a luxurious cup that plays the potency of the spirit o neatly against the sweeter ingredients. Like the bar itself, it’s perfectly balanced – a destination for curious, adventurous Wharfers.
Jon Massey
issues. Trust us to help you make the right application.
Setting boundaries, being authentic with your feelings and having di cult conversations is hard. But it’s easier in the long run than blaming other people for the choices you make
David Lefebre Sell
take a breath by
David Lefebvre Sell
We’ve all heard someone talk about nature vs nurture at some point – it’s the question of whether we are formed more by our individual inclinations or external requirements. If you have a lot of siblings, you’ll know how each child will tend to have a particular role in the family structure. It’s a bit of a cliché, but there is an anecdote about middle children being more starved for attention and that they might need to fall back on certain adaptations to get the recognition they crave.
Paradoxically, some kids learn to get attention by not needing it. They might be forced into that position through having to look after incapable parents, or because they have siblings who take up all of the parents’ time.
Such children may be predisposed to this role because of their capacity for empathy or just because they are better at suppressing their own needs, but that suppression usually builds into feelings of resentment.
Fast forward a few decades, and you might have an adult that is constantly doing things for other people while inwardly feeling under appreciated and hard done by. In more extreme examples, this might be called a martyr complex.
The role of having to be the good kid, the helpful kid when we’re little becomes an adaptation that is hard to shed in adulthood. We’ve all known people who are passive aggressive, all sweet and helpful at rst sight, but full of snide comments and quietly undermining behaviour for people they don’t like.
So children who are not allowed to express their needs and feelings grow into adults that believe they cannot express their needs and feelings. But in reality, they just aren’t taking responsibility for themselves. If this sounds like you, one of the most important things is learning to say no.
Setting boundaries, being authentic with your feelings and having di cult conversations is hard. But it’s easier in the long run than blaming other people for the choices you make.
David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third Space in Canary Wharf
Follow @davetheyogi on X and Instagram and @DavidLefebvreSellYogaAndPsychotherapy on FB
Scan this code for information about David’s work as a transpersonal counsellor and psychotherapist
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how Wharfers can sign up to the Santa Stair Climb and help The Felix Project save food and feed hungry Londoners
by Jon Massey
Having filled the stairwells of One Canada Square with a sea of green last year, Wharfers are once again being invited to take on the tower to raise money for charity.
The Felix Project’s Santa Stair Climb is set to return to the heart of Canary Wharf on December 8, with participants challenged to scale 48 storeys of the building on foot. The reward? A spectacular view across the capital and the knowledge that the cash you’ve raised will help save surplus food from the bin and be redirected to feed Londoners in need.
“We’ve experienced a real surge in need this year, and we know that winter is going to be really tough for many people across London,” said Will Savage, head of corporate partnerships at The Felix Project.
“We are London’s largest food re-distribution charity. We rescue high-quality surplus food that can’t be sold and would therefore go to waste and deliver it to about 1,000 community organisations, such as food banks, homeless shelters and primary schools – all working on the front line to feed people who are experiencing hunger in the capital.
“A lot of that work is done locally in Tower Hamlets where we deliver to more than 100 organisations and dozens of primary schools.
“We know that more than half of working families are having to turn to food banks to put food on their tables. Unfortunately it is a problem that’s getting worse.
“We’ve moved from a pandemic straight into a cost-of-living crisis and we know that’s having a devastating effect on communities across London.
“We also found in our survey that one in four working families are struggling to feed themselves, and for one in seven that’s a daily struggle.
“This demand means many food services are buckling under increased pressure and that’s why The Felix Project wants to save more food and feed more people.”
To do that, like any organisation, it needs both cash and volunteers. After launching last year, the Santa Stair Climb is the charity’s flagship fundraising event with capacity for 1,000
Stairs in One Canada Square participants will climb during the challenge on December 8 1,031
participants. In addition to an entry fee, climbers commit to raising £300 each for the charity –a sum that could provide 825,000 meals for Londoners in need should the maximum number of people take part.
“It’s a really great way for people to support our work and help feed Londoners in need,” said Will. “I went up last year and it was amazing. When you’re at the bottom, 1,031 steps feels like a lot but it was great to get to the top and to see the support that was there.
“It’s Santa-themed, so we provide a Felix green Santa outfit for everyone in the spirit of Christmas, which also recalls the fact that Santa was green originally.
“There’s a fantastic atmosphere at the top and beautiful views. Participants’ families can even come along for the celebration. We’re hoping as many people as possible sign up this year because it really will have a huge impact on what we can do.
“The climb takes about half an hour to complete although that will vary by who’s taking part.”
Last year saw hundreds of participants take on the challenge – a mixture of corporate supporters and individuals.
“The Santa Stair Climb is both challenging and rewarding and Morgan Stanley is looking forward to taking part again this year as we continue to support The Felix Project,” said Anish Shah, Morgan Stanley’s managing director, global capital markets.
The Santa Stair Climb is part of Canary Wharf Group’s ongoing collaboration with The Felix Project, which kicked off in 2023 with the launch of the partners’ Green Scheme.
Will said: “We know CWG aims to achieve net zero by 2030 and one way is to help reduce food waste.
“In the first year of the Canary Wharf Green Scheme, we got seven restaurants signed up. In practice, teams of people pick up food from retailers and outlets based on the estate and they take it by bike or electric van directly to organisations who are feeding people in the vicinity.
“In that first year we saw 118 individuals volunteer with us, which equates to 26,000 hours of work and this meant that over
Participants take about half an hour to reach the top of the tower
>> The housing association provides homes to people based in Tower Hamlets. In early 2020 it started o ering a food service to just a handful of residents but now supports around 225 households a week.
EastendHomes’ community engagement manager, Paul Wilson, said: “We get new people each week. The hardest thing for us and our volunteers, is when we have to send people away. That is always dispiriting, but at least we are doing what we can.
“The service we provide could not happen without the ongoing support of The Felix Project.
“We would not be able to a ord to give people this food – if each bag is just £10 worth, it would cost thousands of pounds a week to fund.
“That’s why it’s so important that Felix gets more support and funding, because it means we can do this and fewer people get turned away.
“This service is helping. We supplement people’s budget and that might give a family a bit of slack in the autumn to buy their kids school uniform, a pair of shoes or a treat for a child. All parents want to do that whenever they can and Felix is permitting that, it’s wholly positive.”
We’ve experienced a real surge in need this year and we know that winter is going to be really tough for many people across London
Will Savage, The Felix Project
6,900kg of food was redistributed. That’s about 16,500 meals that we’ve been able to rescue and save from going in the bin.
“The mission to tackle the twin problems of food waste and hunger really resonated with me – it’s why I wanted to join the charity.
“Seeing what it does, it’s not difficult to understand it’s very valuable. I remember going to our Park Royal depot at the time to meet the team and see what it was about. Seeing the volumes of really high quality food that would have otherwise gone to waste made me think how insane it was that this resource was available but could have gone to landfill, even though people are hungry.
“Having been here for four years and seeing the need is still growing, I know there’s still much more that we need to do. I’m really proud to play a small part in that mission.
“You never quite get used to the idea that food would have been thrown away if it wasn’t with us. It’s great that The Felix Project is there to redistribute it and make such a difference to people’s lives at the same time.”
Slots are still available for the Santa Stair Climb so Wharfers can play their part in supporting the charity’s work. The Felix Project is also looking for volunteers on an ongoing basis to support its activities. Find out more at thefelixproject.org.
The Santa Stair Climb is set to take place at One Canada Square on December 8 with half-hourly waves of climbers starting at 10am. The final wave will set off at 2pm.
Individuals can participate for £30 each, while groups of four can book in for £100 (£25 per head). The fundraising target for each person taking part is £300. Go to santastairclimb.com for more information or to book
Scan this for more about the Santa Stair Climb 2024
getting greener by Sophie Goddard
Hopefully you will have spotted that Eden Dock is now open –our latest addition to Canary Wharf. Within our evolving neighbourhood, we are always excited to share the stories behind the innovative projects that make our spaces unique.
For this column, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my Canary Wharf Group colleagues, Jon Picksley, associate director, construction and Saima Nahar, project manager – structural, to discuss Eden Dock’s construction.
how did you both get involved with this project?
Jon >> I had just completed the Tribe Hotel when the opportunity came up. They needed someone to deliver the Eden Dock project from initiation through to completion, and I was thrilled to take on the challenge.
Saima >> For me, it was a bit di erent. I’m new to the company and my background is in structural engineering.
Initially, I applied to work on Canary Wharf Group’s North Quay Life Sciences project, but was selected to work on Eden Dock. Working on this project has been an incredible experience, especially collaborating with Jon and the rest of the team.
how does it di er to typical projects?
Jon >> My previous experience was mostly with buildings, so creating a oating concrete structure populated with soft landscaping was entirely new to me.
We had 78 di erent species of plants and trees to consider and we worked closely with our consultants to ensure everything would thrive. It was a small team, more like a little family, which made the collaboration very special.
Saima >> The design process was particularly challenging. Every element of the pontoon had to be meticulously planned before construction.
We had to account for every live and dead load, and each of the 57 concrete pontoons was bespoke and individually designed. It was a unique experience, especially with the concept of something oating.
Having been born and raised in Tower Hamlets, I am proud of playing a part in having a direct impact on connecting the community with Canary Wharf in a positive, sustainable way Saima Nahar, Canary Wharf Group
were there any memorable challenges?
Jon >> De nitely. The design phase was intense and, once the construction was complete, we had to ensure that the pontoons wouldn’t move so we tested them by creating arti cial live loads.
what was your favourite part of the project? Jon >> Honestly, it’s the positive feedback from the public. Hearing their appreciation and seeing the nal product match the plans perfectly was incredibly rewarding. The press coverage has been fantastic too.
Saima >> I agree. Having been born and raised in Tower Hamlets, I am proud of playing a part in having a direct impact on connecting the community with Canary Wharf in a positive, sustainable way – it’s been a personal journey for me.
what’s next?
Jon across Eden Dock. We’re currently installing the pile foundations and fabrication of the structure has begun o site before the bridge is transported here. It’s been designed to match the timber nish of the oating pontoons and we are very excited about it.
Sophie Goddard is director of environment, social and governance at Canary Wharf Group – emails to sustainability@canarywharf.com
Go to canarywharf.com for more information
Scan this code to nd our more about Eden Dock in Canary Wharf
Starting price for tickets to see A Kiss For Cinderella at The Space this Christmas £10
Bethany Sharp was fascinated by the plays of JM Barrie growing up and has adapted A Kiss For Cinderella as The Space’s festive production for 2024
by Jon Massey how A Kiss For Cinderella brings fantasy, delusion and kindness together in a festive production
Perhaps, if a weighty tome hadn’t fallen off a shelf onto the head of Bethany Sharp’s mother in a bookshop in Frinton-On-Sea, her daughter would never have discovered A Kiss For Cinderella
“When I was 12, I was into old weird plays and I was given this very big book of JM Barrie’s plays, which I found fascinating,” said the interim deputy artistic director at The Space on the Isle Of Dogs.
“He wrote so many fantastic pieces, although you wouldn’t perform a lot of them today because they’re too strange.
“Very few of his works have survived with such fame as Peter Pan, but many were very popular.
Quality Street, for example, gave its name to the chocolates, despite there being no chocolate in the play at all. It’s a romance and they borrowed the costuming and put it on the tin.
“But I thought A Kiss For Cinderella could actually work as a festive show at The Space. It’s kind of an anti-Peter Pan because there’s no magic in it – although we won’t be telling that explicitly to the children who come to see it.
“It’s not a pantomime, but it is very funny and very snowy. The play has the elements of something like It’s A Wonderful Life – being grateful for things in the best possible way. The festive season can be a time for gathering round and traditional storytelling.
“People often ask if we have shows for families and we do a lot of that kind of thing at the Crossrail Place Roof Garden in Canary Wharf. But I think there should be a festive play here at The Space. It’s a building where lots of people feel at home.”
Suitable for ages eight and up, Bethany has adapted A Kiss For Cinderella for the 21st century and is directing the production.
“It was written in 1916 and is set in that year in a poorer part of London,” she said. “We’ve put it in the East End and it’s about a girl who has been made to think she’s Cinderella by her employer, a posh, patronising sculptor.
“She takes this to extremes continued on Page 21
from Page 12
because she doesn’t have much hope in life and convinces herself that a fairy godmother will come, grant her a wish and that she’ll marry the Prince Of Wales. She’s slightly deluded, slightly unwell and indulging in a fantasy.
“The magic stuff does happen, but it’s all in her mind. Then it turns into her convalescing and discovering she’s not the real Cinderella.”
Set against a backdrop of the First World War – with Zeppelins bombing London from the skies – the fear of death from above proves a key plot point in the piece.
“Cinderella is actually harbouring illegal immigrants – she shouldn’t have a set of children she’s looking after in war time, but she’s desperate to help people,” said Bethany, whose love of the performing arts began with a trip to see a panto at the age of three.
“She’s very good-hearted, but she’s incredibly poor and can barely feed herself let alone the children she’s taken on. Then a policeman turns up to investigate the sculptor who has a light on in his apartment, fearing it might attract the bombing.
“He is very suspicious of Cinderella but eventually falls in love with her.
“Not all the best aspects of the police are in this person – he’s very gruff – so it’s also a transformative story for him as he changes a lot of his opinions along the way.”
In similar fashion to The Snowman and A Christmas Carol the play contains darker elements, but nevertheless promises audiences much more than misery.
“The main thing to say about it, is that it’s very funny,” said Bethany. “JM Barrie is very underrated as a comic playwright.
“The jokes in it are fantastic and we’re having a physical comedy director to bring out a lot of the more visual material out.
“There’s a ball scene, for example, which happens in Cinderella’s brain – it’s her idea of what such an occasion might be like.
“George V is handing out party bags with sandwiches in them and she’s been to see a horse show so she imagines the women are lined up to have their teeth examined.
“It’s all a bit confused because they are the best things she can imagine.
“There’s also a lot of class criticism. It’s clear that the posh sculptor has set up a lot of the problems, although he is redeemed by helping Cinderella out. It’s not an angry class comedy, though – it’s all very
subtle. It is ridiculously layered and detailed – I’m hoping it will come together as a lovely Christmas entertainment.
“We’ll be performing it in the round and the atmosphere changes when that happens. There’s a scene where the policeman meets the children and they all sit down together – it’s really nice and I hope people will feel that.”
Bethany, who is also a stand-up comedian, writer and actor, said she hoped the production would leave people with a sense of warmth.
“I would like people to feel very comforted, which is not often a very popular thing to say with theatre,” she said.
“I come from comedy and I think everyone should be happy by the end.
“Obviously, it’s great, if they’re crying and emotional, but I also want them to be comforted as well by the end.
“I would like people to have laughed and appreciated the darker bits too.
“There is a strong message of love, comfort and hope, even if
Scan this code to nd out more about A Kiss For Cinderella
A Kiss For Cinderella is a festive show for ages eight and up, written by JM Barrie
The main thing to say about A Kiss For Cinderella, is that it’s very funny. JM Barries is very underrated as a comic playwright
Bethany Sharp, The Space
we know what the ending is going to be.”
A Kiss For Cinderella is a co-production between Bethany’s company On Point and Space Productions and is set to play for two weeks on various dates at the start of December.
Tickets have just gone on sale, with purchases contributing to the work of The Space, which supports and champions new writing in theatre.
key details
A Kiss For Cinderella is set to run at The Space on the Isle Of Dogs from December 3-15 with shows on various days at 7.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm.
Audiences can pay either £10, £16 or £25 for tickets to support the production. Go to space.org.uk for more information
how director Sasha Regan has revived classic comedic operetta The Pirates Of Penzance with an all-male cast
by Laura En eld
Close your eyes in the darkened auditorium of Wilton’s Music Hall this autumn and you will truly believe there are virginal Victorian women on stage,” said Sasha Regan. But, once you open them, you will actually see young men dashing about as swarthy swashbucklers one minute, then uttering across the stage as petticoated ladies, the next.
We’re talking about Sasha’s all-male version of The Pirates Of Penzance, a reimagining of the beloved Gilbert and Sullivan operetta that debuted as a concept some 15 years ago.
Her new production is set to run at the Wapping venue until November 23 and challenges its cast to sing everything from falsetto to bass.
“When they become girls, there’s no drag, wigs or fake boobs,” she said. “They have these little white corsets and skirts and it’s about trying to keep it very innocent and fresh.
“You have to steer them away from the RuPaul idea of what a woman is – really sexualised and quite overt. These women are good girls and when they meet these sexy pirates for the first time, that clashing with the innocence is a really lovely moment.
“We had to teach them to walk with books on their heads, like the old days of etiquette and be very dainty, which is where the humour comes from.”
She got the idea for the show as a 20-something running The Union Theatre in Southwark, a venue she set up in 1998 using a Prince’s Trust loan and that still exists today.
“I think it came from the fact I’d done an all-female version of HMS Pinafore at school when I was about eight,” said Sasha. “I was trying to find interesting
Back when we started it was a bit bonkers. Boys were wearing pearls and earrings because that was their idea of what a woman should be
Sasha Regan, director
things to do and the beauty of Gilbert and Sullivan is there’s no rights to it any more, so you have freedom.
“I was thinking about how to take something a little bit dusty and refresh it, to bring out the humour. I imagined what it would be like if a boys school put on a production.”
That inaugural show, first performed to an audience of 50, drew gasps of horror from the traditionalists.
“We had Gilbert And Sullivan Society members coming in sitting with scores on their laps and there was a bit of an uproar,” said Sasha. “But we won them all over and now we’re in their newsletter.
“I think if you respect something and do it well, people can’t complain too much.”
Acclaimed all-male productions of HMS Pinafore and The Mikado have followed and the 52-year-old was recently awarded the Special Achievement Award at the Off West End Awards for her contribution to musical theatre.
Pirates, the show that started it all, still has a special place in her heart and cast members have returned again and again over the years to return it to the stage.
However, this new version by Regan De Wynter Williams Productions – the company Sasha has co-run since 2008 – will feature a line-up of fresh blood, including many recent graduates.
“This is the first cast with only one person that’s been in it before – David McKechnie who plays the Major General – so it’s a whole bunch of newbies,” said Sasha.
“We always do availability checks on previous cast members because it’s a bit of a family but they’re all working right now.
“It wasn’t a choice but it’s really refreshing, because we have almost started from the beginning and brought new ideas in.”
Finding actors who were up to the challenge was no easy task.
“They need to be able to play multiple characters – the pirates, the policemen and the sisters- and be able to sing in falsetto and bass and dance, because we treat it like a musical rather than an old fashioned operetta,” said Sasha.
“It means we have to search a little bit harder but casting director Adam Brown did the rounds of the performing arts schools and he had a list of agents it was advertised through.
“When we did the workshops we had them do quite simple things like: ‘You’re these Victorian girls and there’s a muddy puddle
and you’ve got to get over from that side of the room to this one’.
“It was quite funny because they were all so high-pitched and I had to tell them we’re not all like that as woman.
“Falsetto was a lot less common when we started, but now it’s part of the voice that people do at drama school, probably for things like Jersey Boys. It is getting easier to find men who can do it.
“Sam Kipling, who played Mabel last time and is now in Les Mis, has been popping in and helping this cast and handing down his tools of the trade to the next generation.”
In these days of equality and equity and women fighting for more time on stage, why not stage an all-female version?
“With all-male we can get the full vocal range,” said Sasha. “If you close your eyes, you wouldn’t know that they’re not girls, which is quite stunning. They are singing top Bs.
“Most of our creative team has been female and mums. We’ve got Lizzy Gee as a choreographer. Her baby was about six weeks old when we first created the show and the designer – Robyn
bringing on the
Owen – is now a children’s illustrator and has got children. My little one was three when we started.
“So it is a female team looking after their own kids and dealing with childcare at the same time as creating something with a room full of men. It is a fun dynamic.”
Sasha said the show had definitely evolved over the years and, this time around, Lee Greenaway from the original cast was working as associate choreographer to help avoid stereotypes.
“Back when we started it was just all a bit bonkers.” she said.
“Some of the boys were wearing pearls and earrings because that was their idea of what a woman should be.
“Now it’s much more refined and less ridiculous. This show is already physically funny and then if you’re a male identify person in a white corset, long dress and ballet shoes, that is funny in itself.
“So then you don’t really have to pretend to be that gender or it becomes like Carry On and actually not funny.”
The set is also pared back, using just wooden blocks and imagination to create a pirate ship, with the auditorium as the passageway the sisters take through the Rocky Moutains into the spotlight –Sasha’s favourite moment of the show.
“You can hear them before you can see them,” she said. “When they all arrive on the stage sometimes we have to stop for a moment to let the laughter finish because the vision of all these boys in skirts is so magical.”
How does she imagine the late great writers themselves would react if they were in the audience?
“I think they would laugh,” she said. “We totally respect their score and script and they were satirical and poked fun at the government and went against the norm. I’ve definitely gone against their norm and I think they would respect that and enjoy it.”
This is by no means her first time at Wiltons having toured there almost every year since 2010.
But Sasha hopes to attract a
The show has always tried to avoid female stereotypes or slipping into drag territory
new generation to the “magical” theatre with this production.
“I would love to think that when people watch it, they don’t realize they’re watching a really old fashioned piece of theatre written in 1879 because it’s so fast-moving and physical,” she said. “We do get a lot of return customers. People bring their kids or grandkids, because it’s very innocent, old fashioned fun.
“That, for me, is an achievement of knowing these shows aren’t going to die out. I haven’t become bored with them yet and our audiences haven’t either so I’m hoping this time we get more young people coming in because we have this younger cast and we can introduce them to Gilbert and Sullivan’s work.”
key details
The Pirates Of Penzance will be at Wiltons Music Hall until November 2 , with shows at 2. 0pm and . 0pm. Tickets start at £10.50. Go to wiltons.org.uk for more information
Kirsty
and
are set to bring screaming into brass instruments and improvisation to the pub’s stage. Nov 15, 7pm, £17.16, thegeorgetavern.london
Where?
Those aged four and up are invited to enjoy a
tale of hope and opportunity told under the shimmer of the Northern Lights. Expect lots of winter sparkle. Nov 21-23, times vary, £8, halfmoon.org.uk
Nikos and his 24-strong band of musicians are set to travel from Greece for this showcase of his singing talents. Smooth and resoundingly popular. Nov 17, 7pm, from £64.37, troxy.co.uk
Fields At The Tower is set to ood the walls of the iconic fortress with images of remembrance from November 8-16. Tickets cost £19.50 for the evening showings with slots running from 5pm hrp.org.uk
by Laura En eld
Cockpit Arts in Deptford is set to throw open its doors this winter, to showcase the work of its makers. Its Open Studios event
offers visitors the chance to meet resident creatives, hear the stories behind the objects they have made and perhaps to do some shopping.
This year, Cockpit will extend its opening hours, with sessions running from 4pm-8pm on November 29 and from noon-6pm on November 30 and December 1. Visitors will be able to explore the studios where Cockpit – the UK’s only incubator for craft businesses – nurtures makers at the early stages of their careers.
It has more than 175 residents spread over sites in Deptford and Bloomsbury, working in disciplines from fine jewellery and ceramics to woodworking, fashion, textiles and even antiques restoration.
I sat down with Ashley Gerling, Cockpit’s head of marketing and digital, to find out more:
what’s the history of Open Studios?
It’s been running for nearly 15 years, providing collectors and lovers of fine art and crafts the opportunity to visit makers in the studios where they create their incredible work.
what’s new this year?
We’ll be welcoming back several Cockpit alumni who will be exhibiting and selling their work.
We’re also planning a cross-site exhibition of some of our makers’ most exciting new work and are offering half-price admission for local residents.
what can visitors expect to see?
An authentic look behind the scenes of a working makers’ studio – seeing the spaces where craftspeople work.
They’ll be able to discover pieces in progress and, in Deptford, visit our shared leather, weaving and woodworking hubs where makers have access to specialist equipment and the chance to work at scale and collaborate on new projects.
Open Studios is also a shopping destination, where you can buy pieces direct from makers while learning the stories behind each one.
why is the event important?
Open Studios is important as it not only provides our makers with a chance to connect with collectors, curators, buyers, students, other craftspeople and the public – it’s also a chance for Cockpit to share its work.
Cockpit is the only remaining specialist craft studios in London. Despite having helped launch the careers of some of the biggest names in contemporary craft, it remains a hidden gem.
are there any new makers?
Ten new makers have joined Cockpit since our last Open Studios, including leatherworkers, weavers, textile designers, basket makers, jewellers and a sculptor specialising in mould making and casting.
who’s your longest-standing maker?
Sally Lees, a jewellery designer and enameller has had a studio at Cockpit for more than 20 years. Several of our Bloomsbury makers are coming up on their 30-year anniversaries.
which makers are creating a buzz?
Wood sculptor Eleanor Lakelin – a Loewe Craft rize finalist, whose studio is at Cockpit Arts in Deptford – opened her first solo exhibition in London this summer and was commissioned by The Fine Art Society to create a series of vessels for its Extinction Collection using 875,000 year old wood found at Happisburgh beach.
One of sustainable fashion designer Phoebe English’s dresses was acquired by The Metropolitan Museum Of Art’s Costume Institute this year. In other news, she recently showed her latest collection, entitled Cloud Cover, at London Fashion Week.
key details
Open Studios is set to run at Cockpit Deptford on November 29 from 4pm-8m and on November 30 and December 1 from noon-6pm.
Despite having helped to launch the careers of some of the biggest names in contemporary craft, Cockpit remains a hidden gem
Gerling, Cockpit Arts
A three-day pass for the event costs £25. General admission is £10, while visitors can get on the Friday for £5. Children, 16 and under, go free. Go to cockpitstudios.org for more information or to book tickets for the event
Scan this code to nd out more about Open Studios
craftspeople across Cockpit’s two sites will open their studios for the event to show o their works
makers showcasing the this season’s Cockpit Arts Open Studios offers a chance to discover its stellar roster of makers as well as its newly transformed Deptford building
regenerated facility a fresh
Cockpit Arts Deptford has undergone a £3.42million project this year to revitalise the former 1960s council o ce next to a railway viaduct on Creekside.
It came about after the site was under threat in 2015 from a mixed-use development plan.
Cockpit commissioned Cooke Fawcett to unlock the potential of the premises and the project won the support of Lewisham Council and the Mayor Of London’s Good Growth Fund.
Completed in June, it includes London’s rst Craft Garden, a new public entrance and a café.
The garden was designed by Sebastian Cox and features furniture from his rst outdoor dining range embedded into a textured landscape intended to emulate Deptford Creekside’s environment. Plants have been selected for their use in craft processes, including willow, used in basketry, and madder, used in natural dyes.
The new entrance includes artwork Head, Heart, Hand created by Cockpit-based artist and designer Amber Khokhar, in collaboration with the local community. It celebrates stories and characters from the local area across 1,300 hand-glazed tiles featuring nearly 100 hand-drawn illustrations as well as a series of tiles showcasing more than 40 locally spoken languages.
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Jazz Saturdays
Where? The Albany Deptford
Enjoy free, drop-in live jazz at Ca A, played by students from Trinity Laban Conservatoire Of Music And Dance. Get those serious grooves on. Nov 16, 1pm-2pm, free, thealbany.org.uk
KIDS | Boxville
Where? The Pen Theatre South Bermondsey Where? The Albany Deptford
Join Designer Sam Wilde and Director Ian Nicholson on a fresh cardboard adventure where audiences can get in on the crafting. Suitable for ages 4-8. Nov 17, 1pm, 3pm, £9.50, thealbany.org.uk
COMEDY | The Hat Of Many Hats Join Anna Sharpe-Jones for an absurdist fusion of clowning, physical comedy and poetic storytelling that all revolves around a piece of headgear. Nov 23, 7.30pm, £9.92, thepentheatre.com
ghting on
Radical Rediscovery: Feminist Theatre In Britain 1969-1992 is set to run at the London Performance Studios from Nov 8 to Dec 1 in celebration of alternative stage creations. Entry is free and it’s open from noon-5pm londonperformancestudios.com
Scan this code to read our interview with exhbition curator Dr Susan Croft online at wharf-life.com
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | The Corrs
Where?
The O2 Peninsula
With support from Natalie Imbruglia, attendees at this gig could well be forgiven for thinking the clock had shot back nearly 30 years to Talk On Corners. Nov 20, 6.30pm, from £112, theo2.co.uk
Where? Firepit Gallery Peninsula
TRY | Yoga, Art And Indian Cuisine Day
Throw some poses, eat some food, paint a mandala and a mug. Spend the day enjoying all things mindful on Greenwich Peninsula at Firepit. Nov 24, 11.30am-5.30pm, £74.38, repit.art
Where? Woolwich Works Woolwich
ART | Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair
The showcase returns for its ninth year, featuring more than 1,000 artists and galleries at the Woolwich venue. Expect plenty of accessible work. Nov 21-24, times vary, £15, woolwich.works
do this
There’s not long to go, but here’s a picture to jog your memory that Greenwich Peninsula is hosting a day of events in celebration of Diwali on November 2. The mostly free programme runs noon-9pm greenwichpeninsula.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about activities on the day or to book any sessions via the website
how Dick Whittington And His Cat at Greenwich Theatre is set to invert and twist a tale of golden fortune
by Jon Massey
Even before his final, rousing performance as the Evil Queen last Christmas, Anthony Spargo had begun grappling with Dick. The veteran villain will, this year, be in his 11th season as the baddie at Greenwich Theatre’s annual pantomime, having also taken over writing the shows in 2022.
It’s a daunting task, with work beginning on the panto of Christmas future even before the curtain has fallen on the current offering.
“I was writing bits and coming up with ideas for Dick Whittington And His Cat, while we were doing Snow White last year,” said Anthony.
“What’s great about that is you’re in the right mindset and the physical space – you can start thinking about what we might do with next year’s story and then ideas spring to mind.
“Uncle Steve is in the dressing room with me and, between shows, we’re able to discuss those ideas and start work.”
Steve Markwick (the aforementioned ‘Uncle’) has been musical director for the annual pantos for the past 19 years and returns, alongside artistic director James Haddrell who, well, directs.
“Every year, the three of us sit down for a tete-a-tete and go through which pantos we’d like to do,” said Anthony. “I’m already thinking tentatively about what we might do in 2025 and we haven’t even started this one.
“I just love it – creating the shows from the beginning. It’s great fun and it beats working for a living or doing a proper job.
“We get to escape into it for two or three months every year. It’s knackering, but it’s so enjoyable. We all have to look after each other and it becomes like a family.
The audiences we get in are amazing because, no matter how mad we thought it might be when we’re making the show, they go with it
Anthony Spargo, Greenwich Theatre
“Acting in one of the longest festive runs does take a physical and mental toll. We have to make sure we take our vitamins, not have too many drinks and get our sleep. But you get into a routine and it’s lovely.”
While Anthony – who plays supervillain King Rat in the show – is remaining traditionally tight-lipped, audiences can expect a “mind-blowing” cliff hanger at the end of act one that takes the show in a completely different direction in the second half.
“When you start writing a panto, there’s the moral – what it teaches us and all that,” he said.
“Dick Whittington is a rags-toriches story. Our hero comes to London with his cat to seek his fortune, because he’s penniless.
“Usually things go well and, after a bit of an adventure, he does do well. But I’ve always thought that telling kids everything will be OK if you can become rich and famous, isn’t quite right.
“So, I’ve mixed things up a bit. Act One is traditional, setting up all the characters and, while Dick does come to London to seek his fame and fortune, he realises that’s not the most important thing in life. It’s friendship and love. A person with a handful of friends is rich indeed.
“Instead, in our show, it’s King Rat who goes on the journey to find fame and fortune, but discovers it doesn’t really lead him anywhere – we’ve inverted things a bit.
“It wouldn’t be a Greenwich panto without a twist – last year it was the Seven Dwarves using a B-52 Bomber to melt the Evil Queen’s ice palace with salt from their mine. No-one remembers that from the original story.
“Fortunately, James is really cool and when I ask him whether we can do things that are weird and whacky, he usually says: ‘Great, we should do it.’.
“The audiences we get are amazing because no matter how mad we thought it might be when we’re making the show, they go with it, revel in it and that’s just so lovely. That gives you so much confidence to be silly and stupid.”
Anthony has also relished writing for some familiar faces, who will return to Greenwich’s stage for the production.
“One of the characters is Tommie The Cat, who’s played by Inés Ruiz, fresh from her role in Beauty And The Beast at the theatre over the summer,” said Anthony.
Anthony Spargo is in his third year as writer and 11th season as the baddie at Greenwich Theatre
“She’s Spanish and, while it wasn’t my original intention to have that as the character’s nationallity, we’ve incorporated it.
“So now Tommie is Spanish, she’s got castanets and it adds another level to things.
“Louise Cielecki is also back as King Rat’s sidekick Muffy Mouse. I know her well now, as she played jester Muddles in Snow White and Mutley in Robin Hood, and it’s lovely to write when you can hear the words in an actor’s voice. I’m really looking forward to working with her again.
“I’m also looking forward to my scenes with the dame. I can’t tell you the name of the character because it would give too much of what we’re doing today, but we’ve cast a guy called Phil Yarrow in the part, who Uncle Steve knew from another production.
“He’s really good – an affable guy – and, rather than feeling the need to do a stand-up routine in the audition, he was all about the script and the character.
“That fits perfectly with what we do here – first and foremost we’re about story. King Rat has quite a few scenes with him and I’m really looking forward to those too.
“It’s such an intense thing to do, it’s important that we all get on whether it’s the musicians, the cast or the crew.
“Having had such a weird time over the Covid years when we had to pull back on set design and the cast, it’s wonderful to properly be back, following on from last year.
“We’ll be having the revolving stage back again, which we had last year – and that helps really make the show. We always get a lovely response from the audience and that was especially true last year for Snow White
“As for next year, I can’t reveal which show we’ll be doing but we’ve been talking about Peter Pan. I’d also love to have a go at Jack And The Beanstalk, which would be great fun and nothing is set in stone. Until then, I can’t wait to take on King Rat.”
key details
Dick Whittington And His Cat is set to run at Greenwich Theatre from November 22 until January 5. Matinee and evening performances are available.
Tickets start at £15.50 with restricted view. Standard tickets start at £32.
Go to greenwichtheatre.org.uk for more information or to book tickets
Scan for more about this year’s Greenwich Theatre panto
European forests, which provide wood for making paper, paper packaging and many other products, have been growing by 1,500 football pitches every day!
coming soon need to know
For those who like to plan ahead, Cody Dock is gearing up for an afternoon of workshops, festive stalls, mulled wine and much more as the temperature drops.
The regeneration project’s Frost Fair is set to take place on November 30 from noon-5pm, recalling a time when the Thames would regularly freeze over and Londoners would make use of the surface for trading, revelry and celebration.
Visitors can expect plenty of games, exhibitions and live music during the event, which is free to enter for all.
Go to codydock.org.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about the Frost Fair
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | London Climate Technology Show Stakeholders from around the world gather over two days in east London for an exhibition and conference focused on green solutions as the crisis deepens. Nov 27-28, 9am-5pm, registration, excel.london
EVENT | The Business Show UK Celebrating its 50th edition, attendees can expect a host of seminars and more than 750 exhibitors o ering a vast array of services to rms. Nov 13-14, 10am, free, greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk
for a long evening of
and electro beats that should make your heart pulse... Nov 16, 11pm-7am, from £22.25,
Royal Albert Wharf is home to Cafe Spice Namaste by chef Cyrus Todiwala, a varied and welcoming restaurant with views over the Royal Docks. Especially good is the Goan prawn curry for £19, pictured cafespice.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Cafe Spice Namaste or to book a table try this
Oh, and there’s going to be some bloomin’ good tunes and more participation than
ever.
You have been warned
how Pinocchio is set for a full-on, fresh, funky adaptation as Theatre Royal Stratford East preps for panto
by Jon Massey
ABlue Rinse Fairy?
Krik Krak? A Sly Fox? It can only be Theatre Royal Stratford East’s reimagining of Pinocchio
The venue, which is celebrating its 140th season this year, has long been a reliable source of pantomimes that o er a fresh take on well-worn tales and 2024’s festive show will be no di erent.
Audiences can expect original music, comedy and sets with an east London twist all intended to transport those watching to lonely Geppetto’s workshop.
“It’s been seven years since I wrote my last panto – Rapunzel – for Stratford East, and I’m thrilled to be back in Stratford to celebrate the theatre’s 140th year,” said Trish Cooke, responsible for both the script and co-writing the lyrics for the songs.
“It’s been so much fun writing for Pinocchio – it’s going to be a blast. Come along and join the party.”
Also returning is veteran co-writer and composer, Robert Hyman, who said: “I am utterly thrilled to be writing with the amazing Trish Cooke again after so many years.
“Stratford audiences have always enjoyed what we create, and this year is going to be no exception. With the ever-stylish Omar Okai directing and the thrilling return of Stratford favourite – the anarchic Michael Bertenshaw – I know this year is going to be funny, funky, fast, fabulous and fun for all the family.
“If the audience experience half as much joy as we’re going
to have in the rehearsal room, they’re going to have the best night out ever – I ’nose’ it (see what I did there?).
“Oh, and there’s going to be some bloomin’ good tunes and more participation than ever. You have been warned.”
Bertenshaw is set to play Blue Rinse Fairy, the dame, while Rushand Chambers performs as Sly Fox, Dylan Collymore takes the titular role of Pinocchio and Nicole Louise-Lewis appears in support as Krik Krak the cricket. Jiminy, presumably, was otherwise engaged.
Director Omar Okai said: “My journey with Stratford East is 35 years in the making. To be part of its rich inclusive history is a privilege.
“I’ve worked under various artistic directors – Philip Hedley as a performer and Kerry Michael, as a choreographer and director. Now, under Nadia Fall, I’m directing a fantastic pantomime this Christmas.
rapper and player of the MiMU Midi controller gloves perform along with his live band. Support comes from Amea’s Scandi pop out t. Nov 21, 8.30pm, £12, cartandhorses.london
“This year’s show has a historic signi cance, and the most talented performers and creatives are going to bring the house down with a fresh, funky, full-on adaptation of a timeless classic. Come and celebrate.”
key details
Christmas. school
Pinocchio is set to run at Theatre Royal Stratford East from November 23 to January 4. Tickets, starting at £10, are currently available for all dates excluding school performances, which have sold out.
Go to stratfordeast.com for
Scan this code for more about the show and bookings
|
musical powerhouse comes to London for four nights. Expect a fusion of soul, jazz and r’n’b to delight from the Chester, Pennsylvania, native. Nov 21-24, 6.30pm, from £40.81, soulmama.co.uk
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
Take a break from that phone Across
3. Sound of expialidocious! (9)
8. Confused about payment for tablet? (4)
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10. The dish to come in by (6)
11. Mess up piles of paper? It’s an insult! (5)
1 . An affectionate but cheesy dish? (5)
15. US city confused with Roman emperor (4)
16. See 24 acc.
18. Does this to sate hunger? (4)
20. A month for me to recall? (5)
21. Drooping spinach in curry, say (5)
2 , 1 . A date to be cautious of, Julius ( ,2,5)
25. Deception for urban repair? (9)
2 . Just a lake ( )
27. Whether he’s insects (or not), they’re monstrous! (9)
1, . Fourth dimension pursues repeatedly ( ,5, )
2. Sounds like Spanish dancers go fishing, sort of (9)
4. See 1 dn.
5. Simply borrow his for a shave (5)
6. Chilly chap’s on the way ( )
7. They’re not recognised as craft (4)
9. Wondered at mixed up plant (5)
11. The Cutty’s ironically witty, we hear (5)
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13. Has that Flanders woman calmed down (9)
17. Convenient blues composer? (5)
19. Encumber with this seat (6)
22. GEC knocked out by a lizard? (5)
2 . Look at this small dog ( )
2 . Irritated by screwed up note (4)
beating the whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
3. Short articles (9) 8. Small particle (4) 9. NCOs (9)
10. Adds up (6) 11. Excessive (5) 14. Trump in 2020? (5) 15. Problem (5) 16. Posh dad? (5)
Identical (4)
Divine uid (5)
Additional (5)
Rim (6)
In a while, (9)
Cambs river (4)
Roll over, (9)
Tease