CDS Launches ‘Scratch Renaissance’ |

At Chisenhale Dance Space (CDS), we believe that every artist deserves a platform to experiment, take creative risks, and test new work. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce ‘Scratch Renaissance’—a year-long initiative aimed at reigniting the culture of scratch and work-in-progress evenings within the grassroots dance and performance sector.

The Need for a Scratch Renaissance

The pandemic has hit the creative sector hard, particularly in London, where rising costs and the loss of key platforms like Vault Festival have made it increasingly difficult for emerging artists to find performance slots and funding. For artists who simply need a space to experiment with their ideas, many of these vital stepping stones have disappeared.

In response to this crisis, CDS, in collaboration with our 230-strong artist community and the wider sector, is launching this initiative to bring back the much-needed opportunities for experimentation, development, and creative growth.

What to Expect

The ‘Scratch Renaissance’ is set to be a yearlong adrenaline shot for the grassroots dance and performance sector. From May 2025 to July 2026, CDS will host a series of monthly scratch nights at our East London venue. In line with our artist-led ethos, we will work closely with six small artist-led collectives to create six new scratch night models. These models will explore what a scratch night can be while supporting marginalised artists in showcasing their work for the first time.

Meet the Scratch Renaissance Consortium

The Scratch Renaissance consortium comprises artists from across the performing arts spectrum, including dance, theatre, performance, drag, cabaret, and improvisation. With support from CDS, this collaborative network will share knowledge and best practices around Scratch culture. Here are the exciting new scratch night models you can look forward to:

Devil’s Advocate by Elevate East: A night to rigorously test new ideas: where artists present two contrasting short extracts from a work, engaging audiences through structured, constructive conversation to help shape the next steps.
Past Works Recycling Plant by Emergency Chorus: A night for ‘recycled’ performance: for reworked and remixed material, whirlwind retrospectives, rehearsal room B-sides, or the very first work an artist ever made.
Cross Pollination by Ensemble Not Found & Halfpace Theatre: A night for artists who have never worked together to collaborate and create interdisciplinary and experimental work.
a process by identity. ideas. industry. (iii): A scratch of an artist; focusing on giving artists the opportunity to talk about their work, themes, and practice. In addition, they will share a short extract of a work in development.
THIS IS A THREAT by Midgitte Bardot: A night for durational, crip-focused and led work that interrogates risk and failure (of the state).
Open Night by Mind the Gap: A part curated, part lottery ‘open mic’ night for improvised and spontaneously created acts, across mediums and styles.

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CDS Director, Reece McMahon says: “Scratch nights have long been essential spaces for artists to take risks, test ideas, and push boundaries—but they are rapidly disappearing, especially in London. Opportunities for emerging artists have dwindled, with fewer being programmed as venues become more risk-averse and are sidelining artist development. The Scratch Renaissance is a call to action, led by artists, to rebuild the grassroots platforms that enable bold and necessary work. We urge artists and venues to support this movement and help sustain the next generation of scratch nights—and the vital work they foster. The sector needs this now more than ever.”

Ben Kulvichit & Clara Potter-Sweet, Emergency Chorus say: ‘We started hosting Past Works Recycling Plant nights because we were weary of waiting for resources in a sector of scarcity, and wanted to make space for ourselves and other artists to just try some things — better imperfectly than not at all. So it’s so very heartening that CDS is investing in artist-led initiatives, because grassroots, DIY culture is all-important. It’s where risks are taken, new ground is broken and communities are built. This Scratch Renaissance is an opportunity for a burst of invigorating DIY (or DIT — do it together!) energy on the London performance scene, and we can’t wait to see what comes of it’

Get Involved…

Applications for artists wanting to take part in the first three evenings will open on 20th March 2025. Further guidance will be provided soon.

Additionally, in the coming weeks CDS will launch the “On a Shoestring” workshop series, offering paid workshops to help artists navigate the challenges of creating work with limited resources. Proposals are now open for artists across the UK to share their strategies.

We’ll also introduce “DIY Nights,” providing a low-cost, low-stakes platform for artists to showcase work with minimal gatekeeping, fostering experimentation and creative risk-taking.

Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t miss your chance to be part of the Scratch Renaissance. Let’s reignite the spirit of scratch culture together!