Damage Control, an interactive sculpture exhibition first developed and presented at The Playground Theatre in 2018, is soon moving to Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.

It explores the language of emergency through events in London’s history, from The Great Plague to Covid and asks whether the lives of the poor are worth less than the property of the rich.

Josie Spencer’s sculptures evoke a sense of both vulnerability and resilience. Are they broken or breaking free? After this last difficult year, which are we?

By placing the words amidst the sculptures and directly into an audience’s ears, we aim to create an immersive experience through voices, thoughts and emotions of people caught up in disaster and ultimately, celebrate the resilience of London and Londoners.

Polly Wiseman - Writer and Director

Polly Wiseman’s plays have been produced by the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs, Soho Theatre, National Theatre Studio and Home Manchester, among others. With her company, Fireraisers, she has made site-responsive shows for woodlands, stately homes,
Selfridges’ window on Oxford Street and an oil rig off Brighton beach in front of 30,000 people.

Josie Spencer - Sculptor

The spur for the work in Damage Control was the politics and consequences of greed. It is my hope that the sculptures convey the beauty and resilience of the human spirit in the face of hardship and unrestrained capitalism’s threat to social equilibrium. Recent Shows: Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich June to August 2021. The Playground Theatre, London June 2018. Golden Square, London, at the invitation of Westminster City Council. 2014 – 2017. At the invitation of Westminster City Council, Hoxton Arches, Arch 402 Gallery, London 2013. SW1 Gallery, London 2009. Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham Music Festival 2009. Castle Hill Gardens, North Devon 2009. Wotton House, Aylesbury 2009. www.josiespencer.com.

William Marsey - Composer

William Marsey is a UK-based composer. He has worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Arts, the Royal Northern Sinfonia and his collaborations with visual artists have been exhibited in Europe and the US. His music for Damage Control is a part of a practice of setting spoken voices to music, as in his radio piece Be Nice to See You which can be found on BBC Sounds. Upcoming projects include an on-line binaural audio/video experience with Shadwell Opera, an album of piano works to be released in the autumn and a series of works composed for music boxes. Hear more at wmarsey.com.

Edward Lewis - Sound Designer

Edward Lewis studied music at Oxford University and then trained as a composer and sound designer at Bournemouth Media School. He works in theatre, film, television and radio. He has been nominated for several Off-West End Theatre Awards. Films he has worked on have won several awards at the LA International Film Festival and Filmstock International Film Festival. www.soundslikeedlewis.com.

Ian Fincher - Lighting Designer

After a degree in Music and Theatre Studies at Liverpool Hope, Ian went to RADA to complete a Specialist Diploma in Stage Electrics and lighting. Ian is currently Deputy Head of Electrics at Ambassadors Theatre London. Theatre lighting designs include Ronnie Wood I Feel Like Playing, National Youth Theatre Rep Season - at Ambassadors Theatre. Sweet Charity, Godspell, A Little Night Music, Kiss Me Kate for Arts Ed, London. Street Cries at Camden People’s Theatre. Chess at Neptune Theatre.