Sir Keir, who is the local MP for the Chalk Farm venue, toured the new building and spoke to some of the young people who have been trained and mentored by the Roundhouse over the past 20 years.
Built out of 100-year-old railway sleepers in homage to the venue’s past as a Victorian engine shed, Roundhouse Works will enable them to double the number of 11-30-year-olds on their programmes to 15,000 a year.
Sir Keir said it was “a proud day” to be the local MP representing such an “inspirational venue” which had allowed young people “who might otherwise frankly have been on the streets of Camden…to unleash their skills, find their light, and let it shine”.
“It’s tough anyway to get into the creative industries but it’s really tough if you don’t have any money, and the cost of living crisis has made that 10 times worse,” he said.
“I have been blown away to walk into this building at the thought that’s gone into it. The idea of a place for young pepole to develop their creative skills that’s such an incredible environment, sends a really powerful message that ‘you are worth it, we have given you the best, we are investing in you.'”
Local MP Sir Keir Starmer launched the new centre which will nurture the next generation of creative talent by offering affordable space, mentoring and workshops (Image: John Williams)
Sir Keir said it’s “not understood enough by politicians that the creative industries make a massive contribution to our economy” and pledged if Labour could form a Government to support creative development and industries.
Roundhouse artistic director Marcus Davey said over the years, The Roundhouse Studios has provided training in radio, music, and podcast production, and circus, theatre and spoken word.
Alumni include Daniel Kaluuya, Little Simz, and comedy writer Jack Rooke alongside those working in media roles from Apple to the BBC.
“We can’t take the credit for their success but they tell us the Roundhouse gave them confidence space to create and grow,” he said.
The new centre, which includes a music studio, triple height space for circus work, a podcast studio, and workshop space has been funded by private trusts and corporate donations. Roundhouse Works will offer financial assistance, mentoring and workshops to help 18-30 year olds develop creative careers and business ideas.
“This idea started with a conversation with a young creative who said they needed a safe, affordable space to create, develop their business, and build a network,” said Davey.
“There is a reservoir of talent out there but we still hear from people that there is a damn blocking the way. The cost of living crisis is making entering the creative industries even harder, we need to reverse the perception that a career in the arts is unviable.”
Raymond Tannor joined a drop in at the age of 23, and is now a podcast producer for Spotify and Audible.
Young people using the new Inflexion Workspace in Roundhouse Works (Image: Patrick Dempsey)
“I saw classes for £2 a session and thought ‘this can’t be real’ but over the course of an eight week programme I learned production skills, found a space to learn, and met an amazing group of individuals. It’s been an incredible journey and I am so happy to see this space has extended the magic.”
Bhaskar, who lives in Highgate, and is a Roundhouse Patron, said he had always been “drawn to the idea of a hand up rather than a hand out.”
“Hand outs are essential sometimes, but it’s about building something for the future. The legacy of this extension will not be the building but the fact that all sorts of young people will have been inspired to create and the whole ripple effect that has on their family friends and community.”
For him, diversity was “not just racial, but about background, age and gender.”
“The part of the Roundhouse project that appealed to me was to make it accessible and affordable. Any of the young people who come through this building are as capable of a great idea as I am, what they don’t have is access or experience.”
Bhaskar is fresh from the successful Unforgotten season 5, after Nicola Walker’s much loved character Cassie Stuart was killed off, and replaced by actor Sinead Keenan.
“Nicola is such a close friend, I absolutely missed seeing her as Nicola, but Sinead, who came in and who I think had the hardest job of anybody, made it her own and was very easy and great fun to be with.
“The show has the same writer, and unuusally for TV, the same director. Chris Lang writes in such an emotionaly honest way, and unlike detective shows where you believe the world is full of serial killers, a lot of the time it’s very ordinary people who have done one terrible thing.”
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