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Large, old brick building, with two people for scale
The Diorama on Peto Place
Brick parking area of the same building
Rear of 18 Park Square East (formerly the Diorama) in Peto Street, London

Diorama Arts Cooperative (DAC) was a mixture of actors, artists, dancers, designers, journalists, musicians and therapists who used the Diorama theatre in Regent's Park between 1976 and 1992.[1] In September 1981, DAC was incorporated as the charity Diorama Arts Centre.[2]

According to the Theatres Trust, "In the 1970s, the arts collective created a small theatre within a lively arts centre, widely known as a place for arts, craft, theatre, concerts and more."[3] The book The Diorama Arts Project said, "Diorama arts is a community arts group particularly concerned with the handicapped and under-privileged, which plans to convert the Regents Park Diorama building for use as its headquarters."[4]

At Christmas 1992, Diorama Arts Centre left the building; its landlords, the Crown Estate Commissioners and Camden Council relocated the organisation to a new development nearby in Osnaburgh Street.[1][3] The Old Diorama Arts Centre, now at the Regent's Place campus, continues the charity.[5]

Timeline

Building

The building taken over by the DAC c. 1976 was originally used by Louis Daguerre, a pioneer of photography.[6] Designed by John Arrowsmith and built by Morgan & Pugin, the Diorama exhibited paintings by Daguerre and Bouton.[3] The brick building was polygonal in shape, and its frontage is visible in a long row of Regency-era buildings designed by John Nash.[7] The popular, short-lived form of visual entertainment consisted of painted scenes dramatised with lighting and other effects.[7] Artist John Constable, who attended the first showing in September 1823, wrote to his friend Archdeacon Fisher: "It is in part a transparency, the spectator is in a dark chamber, and it is very pleasing and has great illusion..."[8] Daguerre's diorama closed in 1848 due to falling income, and by 1854 had been converted into a Baptist chapel.[3] The chapel closed in 1922 and was taken over by the Red Cross, who joined with Middlesex Hospital. During the 1920s, Thomas Pole designed the Octagon in the Diorama; a rheumatism-treatment hydrotherapy pool was installed, and the hospital left the building by 1964.[3][7] In 1965, Bedford College moved in their Geography, Zoology and Social Research Departments; the college left c. 1974.[3] The Octagon's internal shape was used by the DAC, and a resident cafe was later named after it.[7][9]

1976 to 1981

By c.1976, an arts cooperative had taken over the Diorama.[1][10] According to a New Statesman article, "The Crown granted annual leases to some dyslexia therapists who used music and drama; gradually the building filled with artists and therapy groups who paid small rents (to cover the cost of the upkeep) to the collective which became Diorama Arts."[11] Poet and drama therapist Larry Butler remembered his involvement: "Before coming to Glasgow in 1981, I was the founder and warden of the Diorama Arts Co-operative, director of PlaySpace Trust and Matchbox Theatre."[10][12][13]

Former Matchbox Theatre member Hazel Carey wrote in her book, Ubuntu: my life in other people,

"Around the end of the 1970s and into the '80s, people who were culturally and creatively progressive were springing up with ideas and propositions that were helping to produce an alternative lifestyle. Larry Butler was one of those people ... We had our base in the Diorama, the first cinematic house in London, in Regent's Park, where Larry worked as the caretaker. He was a good carer, and a pioneer in the field of communication, where his leadership was streaked with the marks of a wild genius."[13]

The website My Camden said, "In the late seventies artists and performers took up residence in the Diorama building by Regent's Park, developing a co-operative approach to the arts, education, therapy, and disability arts."[14]

1981 to 1992

After a Crown Estate Commissioners (CEC) request, Diorama Arts Centre was incorporated as a charity and company on 15 September 1981; in 1982, a rental agreement was formalised.[1][15][16] Until then, it had a peppercorn rent of about £25 per year.

In 1983, the group faced eviction; Greycoats Estates, acting for the CEC, sought to redevelop the Diorama into offices. DAC fought the attempted eviction, and won the case in 1984 after a public inquiry by the Department of the Environment.[1]

Helped by URBED's (Urbanism, Environment and Design Ltd.) 'Re-use of Industrial Buildings Service' by February 1984, the Diorama Arts Trust was formed to propose a scheme which resulted in a £4 million fundraising effort through and beyond 1984.[1][17][18]

Long, three-story, light-coloured building
Numbers 13-24 and attached railings of the Diorama, Bedford College Annexe (2007)

CAST (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre, led by Roland Muldoon) agreed to become members of Diorama Arts in June and July 1984.[19][20] In August 1984, the CEC began an appeal to reverse Camden Council's (CC) failure to allow renovation of the Diorama.[21] CC's director of planning and communications refused a planning application submitted by Hunter & Partners on behalf of the CEC in August 1986.[22]

The National Archives has a catalogue "The Diorama, Regent's Park" covering the dates 1 December 1985 to 31 December 1988.[23] The website Library of Book refers to "Diorama Arts Trust Correspondence May 1986 To October 1990": "Correspondence from the Diorama Arts Trust (of which Denys Lasdun was a patron) over the future of the historic Diorama building in Regents Park."[24]

On 25 January 1990, the Diorama Arts Trust held a press conference which included a press release, a list of trust members and reactions to the trust's plans to preserve the Diorama.[25] According to the Old Diorama website, "... Diorama Arts Centre Ltd. combines a wide range of artistic activities organised in such a way as to provide a self-funding public building dedicated to the arts. Only after several years of campaigning through the courts and in the community have we been able to rescue the building from neglect, obscurity and demolition."[7] At Christmas 1992, Diorama Arts Centre left the building as the CEC and CC relocated the organisation to a new development in nearby Osnaburgh Street.[1][3]

Music

Elvis Costello wrote in his song, "London's Brilliant Parade", "The lovely Diorama is really part of the drama, I'd say".[26] Percussionist Jon Keliehor of Matchbox Theatre began a music studio around 1976, which continued until 1984 and was later called the Diorama Percussion Music Research Unit.[1][13] During his time at the Diorama, Keliehor continued writing music for dance, drama and theatre. Through his involvement with the London Contemporary Dance Theatre, early support came from co-founder and CEO Robin Howard.[27][28] The 1977 Many Ways of Moving conference resulted in the Diorama becoming a centre of the alternative dance movement network.[29]

Between 1976 and 1992, musicians who played at the Diorama included:

  • Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds played on 30 October 1984.[30] It was Cave's third appearance. Other performers included Lydia Lunch and Jessamy Calkin.[30]
  • The Bow Gamelan Ensemble performed in the summer of 1985, and was reviewed in Performance Magazine.[31]
  • Billy Bragg, as part of the Red Wedge tour, played on 11 January 1986.[32] The benefit performance included Skint Video.[33]
  • Rave and dance-music events were held in 1989 and 1990, which included Arc, Crazy Feet, Karma, Menace, Project 679 and TomTom Club.[34][35][36][37][38][39]
  • Towering Inferno recorded their album, Kaddish, at the Diorama in 1991: "We knew we had to get a mythic, religious sound and we knew from playing there that the Diorama has a five or six second reverb."[40]
  • The Manic Street Preachers played in December 1991.[41]
  • The Pogues: "'You gotta see the Pogues', recalls Chevron. 'They are the happening band in London at the moment.' On 22 June, Elvis dutifully went along to the Diorama in Euston ..."[42]
  • The London Musician's Collective operated from the Diorama at the end of the 1980s: "The organisation camped out in Simon's office in the Diorama, Regents Park, and contemplated its venue-less future. Events were organised at the Diorama, Red Rose, Air Gallery and Tom Allen Centre in Stratford, but a proper home proved hard to find."[43]

Art

Artists who have exhibited at the Diorama include:

Drama, video and film

Graeae Theatre Company began using the building as rehearsal space in February 1980 before performances at the University of Guildford in May of that year and a tour of the United States shortly thereafter:[50] Quoting: "It was going to take two or three months to get the show together. Some of the cast members were working, with full time 9 to 5 jobs, 5 days a week. Secondly, one was a full time mother and thirdly we were from various parts of Britain."[51] Videographers and filmmakers included Gaynor O'Flynn, Richard Layzell and Katharine Meynell.[52][53][54] In 1982, Cosey Fanni Tutti recorded "Diorama - live action by Cosey at the Diorama."[55]

Art in Danger, in 1985 and 1986, included the Bow Gamelan Ensemble, Richard Layzell, Anne Seagrave and the Wild Wigglers.[56] The East London Theatre Archive has CAST New Variety at the Diorama flyer images dating from 1984.[57][58][59][60] A number of items on the Diorama during the 1980s and 1990s are part of the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum collection, including item numbers: 97928, 97933, 97934, 97939, 97944, 97945, 97947 and 97949 from 1982 to 1992.[61]

The London Disabilities Forum (LDF) held their first annual general meeting at the Diorama in April 1988; that month, a cabaret (later to become the Workhorse) was launched.[62] The LDF staged "Out of Ourselves", a visual-arts exhibition, in February 1990.[63] In June of that year, Shape Arts staged the "No Excuses Theatre Cabaret" by a Liverpool-based company of disabled actors.[64] Drama collective The Mombasa Roadshow drama collective performed "The White Devil" in March 1989 and "The Bacchae" in April 1990.[65]

Other activities

The Philadelphia Association (PA) had an office and, later, a consulting room in the Diorama by 1981; the PA's Hilary Randall and Paul Zeal became directors of the DACL.[2][66][67] Collusion magazine was based at the Diorama in 1982 and 1983.[68] The magazine was founded by Steve Beresford, Sue Steward and David Toop in 1981, and its musical content included experimental, global, popular and world. After five issues, the magazine ceased publication in September 1983.[69]

Performance magazine was based at the Diorama from 1982 to 1987:[70] "Between 1979-1992 Performance Magazine documented an extraordinary period in the development of art in the UK. With its maverick and punk ethos Performance Magazine embodied an immensely active community of artists, writers and publics that crossed disciplines throughout the late 70s, 80s and the start of the 90s."[68][71][72] The fashion company Slag had a studio at the Diorama from 1984 until its 1992 closure: "They're 25ish, have no admitted names other than Andy (him) and Adie (her) - collectively Slag ... They perch in a workroom in a run-down peculiarity of a building - the Diorama - and their place looks like a carnival novelties store, or a backstage attic prior to final closure. But then, they belong to that generation which grew up in playspace cluttered with encouragements to creativity ..."[73] Studio Upstairs had a studio at the Diorama from 1989: "At Studio Upstairs, people with psychiatric problems have a place to express their interests and abilities through art ... Behind its Regency facade, Diorama's interior hides a hive of activity including a cafe (The Octagon), Tai Chi classes, and musicians of all sorts".[9] The Neo Naturists body painters presented a May Day performance at the Diorama in 1990.[74]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Diorama Arts Centre Ltd". Hackney Empire collection. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Diorama Arts Centre Ltd. Governing Document". Crown Copyright. 15 September 1981. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Diorama Arts Centre". Theatres Trust. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  4. ^ The Diorama arts project. Open Library. 1983. OL 20853781M. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Old Diorama Arts Centre". Old Diorama Arts Centre. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. ^ Malcolm Daniel (October 2004). "Daguerre (1787–1851) and the Invention of Photography". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Old Diorama Arts Centre history". the Old Diorama. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  8. ^ Saunders, Ann (1981). Regent's Park: From 1086 to the Present (Second ed.). London: Bedford College. ISBN 0-900145-62-5.
  9. ^ a b Margaret Cooter (21 March 1992). "Medicine and the Media". British Medical Journal. 304 (6829): 785–786. doi:10.1136/bmj.304.6829.785. S2CID 220161688.
  10. ^ a b "Larry Butler". Holy Isle Project 2022. 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  11. ^ Jules Lubbock (2 December 1985). "One and only". New Statesman.
  12. ^ "Larry Butler". Autumn Voices. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  13. ^ a b c Hazel Carey (22 November 2016). Ubuntu: My Life in Other People. Matador. pp. 87–89. ISBN 978-1785898457.
  14. ^ "Diorama Arts Centre". My Camden. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Memorandum of Association of Diorama Arts Centre Limited". The Registrar of Companies. 18 August 1981. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Certificate of Incorporation of a Private Limited Company No. 1585918". Crown Copyright. 15 September 1981. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society". GLIAS. February 1984. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  18. ^ "The Diorama Arts Trust Company". Crown Copyright. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Membership agreements". JISC. June 1984. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Unfinished Histories - CAST". Unfinished Histories. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Photocopy of a document from the Department of the Environment dated 20 August 1984 detailing the Crown Estates's appeal to the Council of the London Borough of Camden's failure to give permission for the renovation of The Diorama, Regent's Park". The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum. 20 August 1984. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Report of the Director of Planning, London Borough of Camden". JISC. 14 August 1986. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  23. ^ "The Diorama, Regent's Park". The National Archives. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Diorama Arts Trust Correspondence May 1986 To October 1990". LibraryofBook. May 1986. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Photocopy of a series of documents relating to a press conference held by the Diorama Arts Trust on 25th January 1990 including a press release, a list of the trust's members, and some reactions to the trust's plans to preserve The Diorama, Regent's Park as an arts centre". The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum. 25 January 1990. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  26. ^ "London's Brilliant Parade". ML Genius Holdings, LLC. 11 November 1994. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  27. ^ "The Beginning Of Time". deejay.de. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Robin Howard's papers". JISC. 1964–1996. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Many Ways of Moving". JISC. 1976–1979. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Chronology". From The Archives. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  31. ^ Chrissie Iles. "Bow Gamelan Ensemble" (PDF). Performance Magazine. pp. 20–23. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Billy Bragg at Diorama, London, England". setlist.fm. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  33. ^ "CAST New Variety presents". Unfinished Histories. January 1986. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  34. ^ "Arc 1990 May". Phatmedia. 27 May 1990. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  35. ^ "Crazy Feet 1989 March". Phatmedia. 26 March 1989. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  36. ^ "Karma (Energy) Space Race". Phatmedia. 13 June 1990. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  37. ^ "Menace 1990 November Natural Life". Phatmedia. 23 November 1990. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Project 679". Phatmedia. June 1990. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  39. ^ "Tom Tom Club 1989 2nd Birthday Party". Phatmedia. 24 March 1989. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  40. ^ Peter Jones (1991). "Towering Inferno: Recording Kaddish". SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  41. ^ "The Manic Street Preachers: 4 Real, 1991-1994 Review". Repeat Fanzine. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  42. ^ Graham Thomson (7 March 2013). Complicated Shadows: The Life and Music of Elvis Costello. Canongate Books.
  43. ^ "History of the London Musician's Collective". Variant. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  44. ^ "Rafael Klein (1984)" (PDF). Rafael Klein. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  45. ^ "Tai-Shan Schierenberg Hon RP". The Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  46. ^ "Catherine Yass (1990)". Art U.K. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  47. ^ "Lucy Jones (1990)". Studylib. p. 5. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  48. ^ "Phyllida Barlow". Tate. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  49. ^ "Rob Ryan (1992)" (PDF). Tag Fine Arts. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  50. ^ "Graeae Theatre Company Poster for the Production Sideshow". National Disability Arts Collection & Archive. February 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  51. ^ Nabil Shaban (26 October 2009). "Early History of Graeae". Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 6 July 2006.
  52. ^ Gaynor O'Flynn (October 1986). "Work No. 1 - Britain's First Hip Hop Film". Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  53. ^ Richard Layzell (1985). "Clarity". Vimeo. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  54. ^ Katherine Meynell (1989). "Moonrise". Katharine Meynell. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  55. ^ "Cosi Fani Tutti Performances". Cosi Fanni Tutti. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  56. ^ "Art In Danger". Edge of an Era/Live Art Development Agency. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  57. ^ "New Variety performances January - February 1984". ITHAKA. 1984. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  58. ^ "New variety performances February - March 1984". ITHAKA. 1984. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  59. ^ "New Variety Friday nights September - November 1984". ITHAKA. 1984. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  60. ^ "New Variety performances February - March 1985". ITHAKA. 1985. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  61. ^ "Bill Douglas Cinema Museum Collection (Diorama)". University of Exeter. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  62. ^ "Disability Arts Online 1976 -1989". Dao (DisabilityArtsOnline) Ltd. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  63. ^ "Disability Arts Online 1990 - 1999". Dao (DisabilityArtsOnline) Ltd. Archived from the original on 2013-04-30. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  64. ^ "Shape Arts 1990". Shape Arts. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  65. ^ "The Mombasa Roadshow". Geoff Sample & Wildsong. 1989–1990. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  66. ^ "Income and Expenditure Statement For The Year Ended 30th September 1985". Crown copyright. 16 July 1986. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  67. ^ "Philadelphia Association archives". The Philadelphia Association. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  68. ^ a b "Performance Magazine May/June 1982" (PDF). Performance Magazine/Live Art Development Agency. May 1982. p. 34. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  69. ^ "Collusion Magazine". rock's backpages. 1981. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  70. ^ Hugo Glendinning; Alex Eisenberg. "A film about Performance Magazine". Performance Magazine/Live Art Development Agency. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  71. ^ "Performance Magazine". Performance Magazine/Live Art Development Agency. 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  72. ^ "Performance Magazine July/August 1986" (PDF). Performance Magazine/Live Art Development Agency. July 1986. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  73. ^ Vanessa Harlow (14 February 1988). "Top of The Slag Heap". The Observer Magazine. pp. 44–47.
  74. ^ "The Neo Naturists". AnOther Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
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