Our humble home the Matchstick Piehouse, and my new role in it's future!
HELP TURN DEPTFORD VENUE INTO A WORKERS COOP
Hey besties, enemies, ex’s, and etcs.
I come to you with exciting news! As you know, HTCAP and myself have found a home in Matchstick Piehouse. I rehearsed my very first play there in 2019 after hanging out there since it opened in 2018, and since have used it as my go to venue both due to their politics, faith in radical work, and its accessibility. I was obviously heartbroken when I saw the venue was at threat of being closed down due to their landlords and issues around rent. It seemed that even if the debt was raised, the Piehouse needed some changes happening to it that reflected the staff and the community that frequents it.
Previously, you might remember seeing me fundraise for a community owned venue in Lewisham, Sister Midnight - I hosted a bunch of shows at the Fox and Firkin you might of come to! So, Sister Midnight is in part run by someone called Lenny Watson - a friend of mine. After discussing at length with the staff what their visions for Piehouse were, and what our vision was, we made a proposal to co manage the venue in 2024!
Lenny will be leading the staff towards a workers co-op, and I will be stepping in to bring my creative and political knowledge to the space and the team, securing funding for new creative projects, help develop new outreach programmes, maintain relationships with existing regular artists, and hopefully bring in a load of new faces to the stage too - all with the intention of staying involved with the workers co-op once it exists. I am hoping to be able to contribute to the programming, as well as use my experience as a political organiser to create exciting and radical ways for staff and community to interact.
I am unbelievably excited to be stepping in to this role - running a venue has been a dream of mine for a long time, and whilst this will be super collaborative and more of a guidance than a management role, I’m so happy to be having my first venue management experience at a place I care so much about. Working with Lenny has already been a joy, our specialisms compliment each other in such a way that I feel super positive about the future. The staff team at the Piehouse are an incredibly talented crew - everyone does about 10 things and has a great underlying political vision for the venue. I am gassed to be playing a part in making that a reality!
Here’s where you come in! The team need your help to tie us over for the first few months! There is so much to do, so much to buy, so many wages to cover until we can be up and comfortably running again. It would mean the world to me if you could donate to our fundraiser below. If you previously donated to the old fundraiser, that money will be refunded to you, and hopefully you can pass it on to the new fundraiser.
Without the Piehouse, I truly believe HTCAP would of never been allowed to happen (I know, in fact, with other supposedly radical venues turning us away!). Without the Piehouse we lose a wheelchair accessible queer friendly community focused venue - something we have barely any of.
If you’re able to - please do donate to this project!
Controversial in queer circles perhaps but - I am a Christmas lover! I look forward to it all year, and I adore the lights and love in the air! Those who know me will know that underneath the face tattoos, there is a hopeless romantic who cries at films and goes WOW at lights.
This year, we have watched in real time as the birth place of Jesus has been decimated. We have watched a genocide against the Palestinian people rage on, as Israel proves time and time again its lack of humanity. There can be no true joy and love, because to have either means to ignore the reality of what is happening. The moments of bliss are grounded by the endless destruction.
For me, solidarity actions in the UK are at a time where they must continue to escalate. If we are unable to convince parliament to act on our demands, then it is the role of the people to consider other means. To prevent war machines from being built, to boycott businesses that fund Israel’s apartheid, and if we are unable to do those things, it is our responsibility to support those who can.
Follow Workers for a Free Palestine for news on the next picket line, follower Sisters Uncut for information on demonstrations, follow Palestine Solidarity Campaign for information on marches. Follow accounts such as Lets Talk Palestine, and Eye on Palestine to stay informed, follow BDS to know which brands to boycott.
Whatever you do, don’t lose the energy, carve time for organising for a free Palestine, mark out time in your diary if it makes you take it seriously. The revolution will not come unless we make it so.