Title: The Backpassages of Spitalfields.
Client: Spitalfields Music Festival / Bishopsgate Institute / Spitalfields Crypt Trust / Brick lane Book Shop / Rich Mix / Shoreditch Town Hall – and more.
Years: 2004 – present.
About: I’ve written and performed a lot of work for Alan Gilbey’s site-specific comedy history shows. I’ve created loads of stuff (including magic lantern slides, photo-stories and quite a few animations and live-action sequences).
Me and a regular group of Eastenders, (don’t tell Alan that I’m from Nottingham), have put on a lot of low/no budget shows in a variety of venues: (crypts, derelict houses, Waterstones Piccadilly, Shoreditch Town Hall, Rough Trade and more).
I also illustrated this popular book – which means that I can claim my work is in The Tate Modern and Whitechapel Gallery, (bookshop).
“Backpassage Walks are a hilarious alternative to the normal blue badge tours around East London, whilst remaining historically accurate and extremely informative.
Alan Gilbey is the real thing, a genuine Eastender who knows his material intimately and an extraordinary performer and writer. I cannot recommend his walks too highly.”
– Rachel Lichtenstein, author of ‘Diamond Street’, ‘On Brick Lane’ ‘Estuary’ and ‘Rodinski’s Room’ with Iain Sinclair.
“A tour de farce…would make any music hall audience groan with laughter…the cool alternative option.” – The Independent
“Sharp and informative…unique.” – The Guardian
- Kate Sullivan