Draft:The Performance Studio

The Performance Studio

The Performance Studio was a production and rehearsal space established by independent curator David Thorp. It served as a creative hub, offering a free space for invited artists to experiment with and cultivate live art-related activities over an extended period. Operating from December 2011 to December 2016, the studio focused on supporting experimental projects in theatre, live art, and moving image without commercial pressures.

History and Locations

The Performance Studio began in December 2011 at V22 Workspace in Bermondsey, South East London, a light-industrial warehouse that had previously served as a biscuit factory. This location provided a spacious environment that included artist studios, workshops, exhibition areas, and communal spaces.

In subsequent years, the studio moved to 11 New Quebec Street, London, W1H 7RW, and later to The NINES Peckham, Copeland Place, SE15 3SN. Each location maintained the studio's core ethos of fostering independent, process-led creative exploration.

One notable project during its time at V22 was "COMBINE: V22", a site-specific performance by artist Terry Smith. Commissioned by the V22 Collection, this piece utilised a space approximately half the size of Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, showcasing capacity for large-scale, ambitious projects.

Concept and Operation

The Performance Studio was conceived in response to David Thorp's long-standing commitment to performance art and the increasing prominence of live art as a discipline. The studio operated on a low-cost, process-driven model that emphasised skill-sharing and bartering over traditional funding mechanisms. This approach allowed for artistic freedom, enabling practitioners from experimental theatre, live art, and moving image to explore early-stage ideas without commercial constraints.

Challenging conventional funding models and commercial art market systems, The Performance Studio provided a sustainable alternative to sponsorship and public funding bodies. Its flexible and idealistic framework fostered an open-ended environment in which performance art was at the core of its ethos.

Artists

Numerous artists and collectives developed their work at The Performance Studio, contributing to its reputation as a significant incubator for experimental art. Notable participants included:

• Alt Går Bra – A Norwegian collective blending visual arts, performance, and critical theory to address sociopolitical themes.
• Pavel Sterec – A Czech conceptual artist exploring the intersections between society, technology, and knowledge systems.
• Sandra Johnston – An Irish artist specializing in site-responsive performance, memory, and trauma.
• Ilona Sagar – A British artist focusing on human interaction with technology and architectural spaces.
• Marita Isobel Solberg – A Norwegian artist integrating Sami cultural elements with sound and visual art.
• Arianne Foks – A French performance artist investigating identity through playful, poetic interactions.
• John Costi – A British artist combining personal narrative with social commentary in various media.
• Pil & Galia Kollectiv – A London-based duo examining the relationship between art, politics, and ideology.

• Margarita Gluzberg – An artist examining consumer culture and personal narrative.
• Eva Jiřička – Known for social and participatory performance art.
• Aaron Williamson and Rainham Sheds – Exploring disability and identity through performance.
• Bob Dickinson – A writer and sound/media artist.
• Klio Krajewska – Addressing cultural memory through performance and visual art.
• Richard Sides and Theo Burt – Multimedia installation and performance collaborators.
• Malcolm McLaren – Musician and cultural provocateur influential in punk music and performance.
• Neil Luck & Adam de la Cour – Experimental musicians and performance artists.
• Boyle and Shaw – Creators of surreal, immersive performance works.
• Alice Theobald – A performance, video, and sound artist investigating human behavior.
• Terry Smith - An artist known for site-specific performance and large-scale installations, including "COMBINE: V22".

Legacy

Although The Performance Studio ceased operations in 2016, the studio’s commitment to fostering independent, sustainable creative exploration contributed to a model for future art spaces prioritising artistic freedom and collaboration over commercial interests. Its emphasis on low-cost operations and skill-sharing is left as an example for similar initiatives.