two years of success for London Bites theatre business

The Hackney-based company London Bites, which brings writers, actors, and theatre directors together for informal public performances of new work every month, has a lot to celebrate on its second birthday, including a pat on the back from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a grant to help build the business over the year ahead, and a new franchise in South Wales.

A glitzy anniversary party was hosted by comedian Shazia Mirza – who has been described as the “Lenny Bruce of female stand-up” - at the Top Floor Bar @Turnmills in Clerkenwell. Talented actors performing new work on the night included Martin Miller, Esther McAuley, Karen Osenton and Andrew McGillan.

For the last two years London Bites has been helping scriptwriters to secure commissions, actors to get work, and London’s theatre directors to book the best new talent in the capital.

For one evening every month, up to twelve performers - who have been selected by audition - perform five minute sets of new drama and comedy onstage in front of directors, industry professionals and the public.

Organiser Claire-Louise English has exactly the right background and connections to make the gatherings succeed. The Hoxton-based manager of London Bytes is the daughter of the actor and comedian Arthur English, probably best known for his role as Mr Harman the maintenance man in the TV series Are You Being Served?

“We are always looking for new talent for our show,” she says. “We audition every month and we’re looking for five minute monologues and ten minute duologues. We welcome new writing. If you have a script that you would like to see performed, this is the place to do it.”

“I am doing great since my appearance in Superhero at London Bites,” says actor Dylan MacDonough. “I got a show from it, which led to an agent, which led to a job in television. It’s an approach that works.”

“London is a world centre for performance and composition, but the opportunities for professionals to meet and perform with other actors and writers are actually few and far between,” says the founder of London Bytes, Melissa Leigh. “We provide an informal atmosphere in which performers and writers can demonstrate their work, free from the normal constraints and pressures of a conventional showcase.”

The theatre world has begun to sit up and take notice. A report from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival recently praised London Bites for “introducing excellent new theatrical acting and writing talent to audiences and the media via high quality and compelling shows.”

London Bite’s networking and performance events have also won sponsorship by Spotlight, the main casting directory for stage and screen.

Work is now underway to franchise the pioneering arts business out to theatre professionals in other cities in the United Kingdom, with the support of a grant from the Hackney Enterprise Network.

The first of these new ventures, Cardiff Bites, is already up and running in South Wales, and holding auditions. Its first shows will be held in November.

“It is notoriously difficult for new writers and actors from east London to get onto the radar of the theatre establishment,” says Patrick Nicholson of the Hackney Enterprise Network. “London Bites opens doors and makes introductions that matter, as well as laying on a very good night out for everyone involved. It is a theatrical innovation that has begun in Hackney and I will believe it will be replicated across the country.”

To contact London Bites, email clare@standupdrama.com or call 02079232295.

hackney hairdresser goes to broadgate for growth

Opera star Jordene Soprano swapped the Royal Festival Hall for Hackney last week to serenade VIPs from the beauty business at the glitzy opening party of high fashion hairdresser IDENTITY UK's brand new salon close to the foot of the new Broadgate Tower in the south of the borough.

IDENTITY UK, which was recently awarded five stars in The Good Salon Guide, has trebled its workforce and increased its overheads as a result of the move from Kingsland Road to Shoreditch High Street, but award-winning stylist Tony Hegarty and his business partner Mikey Varellas are both confident that their business will grow rapidly in its new location.

The thirty five storey Broadgate Tower, just a few steps from IDENTITY UK’s front door, is still under construction but once it is completed in the summer of 2008 it will be the workplace of up to 15,000 people.

Currently the tallest building under construction in the capital, the fast-rising tower already blocks Hackney’s old view of the Gherkin in St Mary’s Axe just behind it.

Fashion and beauty professionals from L’Oréal, IZANI and KMS packed the two storey salon for the launch party to hear singer Jordene Soprano, who was drafted in from the South Bank where she is currently performing in the musical Carmen Jones.

They were also treated to a spectacular live show in which models sporting innovative modern European, Afro and mixed race hairstyles paraded in front of champagne-sipping guests.

“After outgrowing our original premises in Kingsland Road, where we were based for six years, it took a long time for us to find a larger location with new opportunities to reach more customers,” says Mikey Varellas. “But now we’re in our new home, business is booming.”

Architects, managers and builders working on Broadgate have been among the first customers visiting the Shoreditch High Street venue.

The ultra modern salon has ten styling stations, a L’Oréal Colour Lab, a MIZANI consultation area and two beauty rooms offering a wide range of beauty treatments, manicure, massage, reflexology, thermostraightening and AromaSteam.

"This place is a sanctuary, giving the best haircuts in London,” says customer Hope Harriott.

“Our stylists are highly skilled professionals who have won many awards,” says Tony Hegarty. “But every client leaves our salon with a first class haircut that hasn’t broken the bank.”

“The relocation of IDENTITY UK is part of a clear trend for successful retailers, restaurateurs, software developers and providers of professional and personal services to move to the south of the borough, where more affluent customers and business clients can be found in larger numbers,” says Kevin Davey, the senior business advisor at the Innovatory on Old Street.

“Hackney’s most ambitious entrepreneurs are prepared to take the risk of the higher rents charged on the fringe of the City, and the cost of providing higher quality goods and services to clients in the area, because the rewards are much higher too. For this reason the push towards the south is likely to continue even after the tube line is extended to Hackney.”

The change of premises and expansion of IDENTITY UK was assisted by a grant from the Hackney Enterprise Network which helped to pay for the salon’s new shopfront.