Appointment builds on six years at the venue with the man at the helm keen to welcome east Londoners into the Isle Of Dogs arts centre
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Opened in 1996, The Space has spent nearly three decades hosting theatre and arts performances on the Isle Of Dogs.
Born of a dream dreamt by the late Robert Richardson – who also had a hand in creating the Roundhouse in Camden – the venue spent 19 years under the care of Adam Hemming who took over the reins in 2005.
Now a new era has officially dawned.
Matthew Jameson has been named permanent artistic director and co-CEO of The Space, after a year as interim director following Adam’s departure.
With nearly six years at the venue, he brings with him a wealth of experience as deputy director.
Now he’s looking ahead.
a dream realised
“It’s always been a pipe dream of mine to run my own venue, but I never thought I would actually become attached to one,” he said.
“It’s the distance between a long-standing fantasy and reality.
“While getting to where I am hasn’t been like writing a goal down on paper and saying it would happen, looking back, I can see it’s the path I was going to take.
“It’s got me here and I’m really glad about that.
“My background is as an actor and performer who then fell into writing because there were things I wanted to see on stage that weren’t being written.
“Then I got into directing because people weren’t directing my work, so I thought I would give it a try.
“I came to The Space because it’s a wonderful place to be and I wanted to help others to work and make the opportunities for them that I’d had.
“I stayed with the venue and learnt all the things on the job which have got me to this position.
“I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity, it’s been like a lengthy apprenticeship.
“While I remain the custodian of The Space and the wonderful things that happen in this beautiful venue, there is a sense I’m no longer holding the fort.
“There’s a feeling of freedom and liberation – it’s great to take control and see what we can do in the future.
“There’s a certain giddiness in having the title of artistic director which goes beyond my functional role.
“I’m responsible for directing the art in this building and that’s a job that mingles with the the ghosts, the shadows and the memories of all the things I’ve seen in this room over the years.”
embracing the roots
Among Matthew’s ambitions for the venue are two key pillars, ensuring its programme is accessible, enjoyable and relevant to a local audience and also a focus on presenting a varied offering.
“People are likely to see a return to the original roots of The Space,” he said.
“It was established as a multi-form arts centre that had room for all forms of expression with a particular focus on music.
“We already have a series of recitals and we’ll be looking to make greater use of our Steinway baby grand in future.
“We’d never want to lose our identity as a theatre, but looking at regional venues you see a depth and breadth of programming that’s pretty inspirational.
“There’s room for all sorts of things under this roof – cinema nights, our regular symphonic metal goth nights and things we’ve never tried before.
“Now seems like a fantastic time to try them.
“I think it’s interesting people yearn for communal activities – I don’t know what subcultures we’ll be welcoming but, in a place like London, if you build it, then audiences will come to you.
“Our patron, Sir Ian McKellen has called this one of his favourite performance spaces in the world and I agree with him.
“Even after three decades we’re still finding new ways to use the building. It’s grand enough to be epic and do the big things, and small enough to share profound intimacies.
“At The Space you’re never more than 10 metres from the performers, you get that connection with someone who is baring their soul in their performance and giving you something wonderful.
“I think the immediate thing for me is making sure we’re listening to the communities, to the people of the Isle Of Dogs and east London – ensuring we know what it is they want to see on our stage, and that we’re representing them.
“I’m very conscious that a lot of people at the moment, who may be sceptical or hesitant to come to the theatre, should see it as an art form that can be daft, silly, wonderful and cheerful as well as gloomy, dark and highfalutin.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t present the more serious work, but there is a duty to remember the light, the hope and the positivity we can bring.
“I’m going to tease the word ‘panto’ – something we haven’t previously embraced, but traditionally its a genre that’s all about making local jokes and engaging people who live in the area.
“We’re going to do something bright, something fun.
“There might be something to think about too, especially for the parents, but it will be something joyful whether you’re a regular theatregoer or watching a show on stage for the first time.”
summer season at The Space
Right now, Matthew and the rest of the team at the venue are simply looking forward to The Space’s summer programme.
He said: “I keep looking at it and thinking it’s a really wonderful mixture.
“There are things which are about the state of the nation and the world, plus stories I wasn’t aware of dealing with things like religious mania and indoctrination.
“The jewel in the crown of our artistic vision for this season is going to be The Yourspace Festival, which we’re hoping to turn into a regular fixture.
“We’re starting off with a weekend in July, turning The Space over to local community groups – people we’ve worked with before – and inviting them back to do whatever they want.
“One of my first acts as artistic director will be to give control of the stage to the people.
“Other highlights include Lobster Pot, which is a play about domestic terrorism that’s also a comedy and a show called Lavvies featuring cast members from Grange Hill who recently got back in touch and have collaborated on a piece set in a ladies’ loo.
“Then there’s Snoligoster, a folktale from the Florida swamps, captured and shipped to east London and so very many more.”
key details: The Space
The Space is located on Westferry Road and is easily accessed from Canary Wharf via D7, 135 and 277 buses, which stop right outside the venue. It’s a 10-minute walk from Mudchute DLR.
The performance hub features a packed programme throughout the year while The Space Bar to the rear of the venue serves up food and drinks daily to all-comers.
It’s currently open 5pm-11pm, Monday to Thursday, noon-midnight on Fridays, 10am-midnight on Saturdays and 10am-10pm on Sundays, with plentiful brunch options at the weekend.
Find out more about the venue, including listings here
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