Interview: Chloe Uppington on launch of daring new multi-arts venue Colours
We caught up with Head of Events at Mothership Group Chloe Uppington to talk about Colours the new multi-arts bar and club putting the colour back into Shoreditch.
Colours | 2-4 Hoxton Square
Tell us about your new venue Colours? What makes it different?
A one trick pony Colours is not. Colourful by name and nature, we’re a multi-arts venue, so you can come to us for a daytime workspace and lunch, a body-positive life-drawing session or live podcast in the evening, followed by a live gig or clubnight until late at night.
We’re basically a hub for all things and people creative, colourful and fun in East London. There’s an increasing amount of chain bars and restaurants in Shoreditch, so we’re hoping to provide young people with an island of realness in the midst of this homogenisation.
What would be the events highlights at Colours we should save the date for?
There are so many it’s hard to pick! But if I had to, our first Saturday night open (14 Sept) will be with Hungama, a Queer Bollywood dance party. Meaning ‘Chaos’ and described as an Indian Studio 54, HUNGAMA is East London’s Queer Bollywood Hip Hop. Fusing Bollywood, Hip Hop, R&B and club bangers all over London. Hungama provides a space for Queer South Asians to come together through club culture and express and cultivate their creativity throughout all aspects of their life.
An easy one for your diaries – every Friday night from 13 Sept will host our ‘New Age’ clubnight with a pop-up gospel chorus singing live hip-hop and RnB covers during the night – something totally different for the east London club scene! For something more chill, Tuesday 17 September will be the first of our sober PJ parties, with free retro snacks – capri suns, curly fries and more, plus unicorn onesies to dress up in. The first film screening will be 10 Things I Hate About You.
Who or what inspires you to program for venues like Colours?
We’re inspired by anything and everything. Our creative team is constantly on the lookout at festivals in the UK and abroad for new event partners artists or musicians.
From Primavera to Boomtown and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, they’re often great melting pots of creative people.
What advice would you give to promoters wanting to work with your venues?
Send us snacks! (joking). Come to us with a fully formed pitch and strong concept of who you are. The more unique the better!
What are your favourite London haunts? (to party, to eat, to be entertained)
To party, we love Moth Club, Corsica Studios, The Chateau in Camberwell, and Queen of Hoxton and The Book Club in Shoreditch.
For dinner we’re obsessed with Gloria the new fabulous yellow Italian restaurant in Shoreditch, and you can’t beat VFD for amazing queer performance entertainment.
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
