Wings over Rowley Way

In Camden we’re proud of our diversity – it’s what makes Camden special. Our borough has a long history of coming together to stand up against injustice and bring about change. We want to make Camden a place where everyone has a chance to succeed and where nobody gets left behind. One of our ambitions for the future of the borough is for it to be a place where we actively tackle injustice and inequality, creating safe, strong and open communities where everyone can contribute. As part of this, we are a ‘borough of sanctuary’, a place where everyone is welcome and where we acknowledge that new arrivals enrich Camden and the UK. Together we are creating a place that works for everyone and where everyone has a voice.

MATTHEW XIA is the award-winning Artistic Director of ATC (Actors Touring Company). He was previously Associate Artistic Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, (where he established OPEN EXCHANGE, an artist development scheme for over 400 next generation theatre-makers); Director-in-Residence at The Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse; and Associate Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East. He was Associate Artist at the Nottingham Playhouse alongside James Graham and Amanda Whittington.

Matthew has directed some of the UK’s most talented actors, including Daniel Kaluuya, Cynthia Erivo, Maxine Peake, David Haig, Samuel Barnett, Matt Henry, Karl Collins, Martina Laird, Christopher Colquhoun, Malachi Kirby, David Moorst, Natasha J Barnes, Yolanda Kettle, Erin Doherty, and Joseph Quinn.

Directing includes: HEY DUGGEE – THE LIVE THEATRE SHOW (Kenny Wax Family Entertainment/Cuffe & Taylor); the Fringe First award winning FEELING AFRAID AS IF SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN (FMP/Roundabout); RICE (ATC/Orange Tree); THE WIZ (Ameena Hamid Productions/Hope Mill/BBC Big Night of Musicals), FAMILY TREE (GDIF/ATC); 846 LIVE (Theatre Royal Stratford East/GDIF); AMSTERDAM (ATC/Orange Tree/Plymouth Theatre Royal); BLOOD KNOT (Orange Tree); EDEN (Hampstead Theatre); ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… (Nottingham Playhouse/Bristol Old Vic/HOME); INTO THE WOODS & FRANKENSTEIN (Royal Exchange Theatre); WISH LIST (Royal Exchange Theatre/Royal Court); SHEBEEN (Nottingham Playhouse/Theatre Royal Stratford East); SLEEPING BEAUTY (Theatre Royal Stratford East); DUBLIN CAROL (Sherman Theatre); BLUE/ORANGE, THE SOUND OF YELLOW (Young Vic); SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD (Genesis Future Director Award Winner – Young Vic/Eclipse); THE BLACKS (Co-Director, Theatre Royal Stratford East); I WAS LOOKING AT THE CEILING AND THEN I SAW THE SKY (Co-Director, Theatre Royal Stratford East/The Barbican); SUCKERPUNCH BOOM SUITE (The Barbican/NitroBEAT).

Matthew has worked with an array of renowned writers as a director and a dramaturg, including; Joe Penhall, Vikki Stone, Arinze Kene, April D’Angelis, Katherine Soper, David Levi-Addai, Yasmin Joseph, Mojisola Adebayo, and Nessah Murty. He has been a respected panellist for the Evening Standard Future Fund, Yale Drama Series, the Alfred Fagon Award, BEAM, the Bruntwood Prize and most recently the Eurovision Song Contest!

DJ/Composing/Sound Design includes: Award winning Hip-Hop show on BBC 1XTRA (DJ); LONDON PARALYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY (DJ); THE PEOPLE ARE SINGING (Royal Exchange); FREE RUN (Underbelly); THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT (TimeWontWait); PASS THE BATON and BOLERO REMIXED (New London Orchestra); DA BOYZ, FAMILY MAN, THE SNOW QUEEN, HANSEL & GRETEL, MEDEA, and SQUID (Theatre Royal Stratford East).

Matthew is a founding member of Act for Change. In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts London for his efforts to make theatre universally accessible by working to promote minority groups as theatre leaders, makers and consumers.

JW3 – Jewish Community Centre London is the UK’s flagship Jewish Community Centre, the only such public venue for Jewish arts, culture, learning and community of its kind in the country – open to all, regardless of race, religion, belief, gender, sexuality, ability or age.

In 2022 over 100,000 people have come to JW3 for more than 100 different activities each week, with many more accessing the programmes online. The diverse programme includes adult education, language classes, theatre and musical performances, youth activities, film, family events and social impact programmes.

JW3’s Vision: A vibrant, diverse, unified British-Jewish community, inspired by and engaged with Jewish arts, culture, learning and life.

JW3’s Mission: To increase the quality, variety and volume of Jewish conversation in London and beyond.

London Borough Faiths Network is an active network of local religious and intercultural practitioners working across London.

Often big cities present personal challenges; loneliness, lack of sense of community or logistical hurdles can make if difficult to know where to go or who to turn to. Ireland is regularly referred to as the land of a thousand welcomes, and here at the London Irish Centre we aim to bring that welcoming spirit to everything we do.

The London Irish Centre has served the Irish community in London since it was first established in 1954 and we continue to offer a range of services to people within the Irish community, some of whom have attended the Centre for many years. Our heritage is important to us, but we are also focused on present and future needs.

Aligned to our core values, the London Irish Centre is sensitive and responsive to the needs of all people, and we want to extend our services to other communities as part of an inclusive, multicultural approach with the aim of building resilient and cohesive neighbourhoods.

The 3 founders of Steel Pan Music met through their shared passion and wanted to make a bigger impact working together. They reached out to musicians and community and everyone agreed more work was needed to develop and support pan. Our team is collaborating widely to grow the genre’s UK profile, improve access for everyone, increase understanding and create opportunities.

Collaborating also means our CIC is sustainable and well managed making us a credible partner with long term plans. Vitally, two directors are long-time musicians and well connected with the international steel pan community. As musicians, tutors and band leaders they fully understand the needs and challenges of musicians. And through working in education and community all three directors see the positive impact of music-making and participation on health and wellbeing and as an opportunity for skills development, forming friendships and new social connections and as a powerful creative outlet.