Photo credit: Rahel Weiss

Mention the name Lara Clifton in certain circles and you’ll get all manner of reactions - from a theatrical medley of dramatic gasp / pout / flirtatious, wide-eyed gaze, to the wised-up, knowing-nod accompanied by a smile of respect.

This all begins to add up when you learn how London born Clifton has worked with a passion for the last 10-years producing performances within theatre, club, live-art, festival and cabaret settings. It all took off for her when she co-founded the seminal ‘Whoopee Club’, responsible for events that ‘redefined the cabaret and party scene in London’ (think wild, arty burlesque parties in the most decadent of locations - which have since been mimicked by many a savvy promoter) - working with designers, artists and performers including Paloma Faith, Immodesty Blaize, Imelda May and Gemma Whelan to name but a few.

She’s since set herself up as an Independent Creative Producer - curating and producing events for the Barbican, Southbank Centre and the London Word Festival. She’s now producing the international artist Marisa Carnesky as well as ‘the artistic love child of William Blake and Penny Arcade’ - La JohnJoseph. More about them later!

On top of that, Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re delighted to say she’s kept a finger in the ole arty alt-cabaret scene - supporting newcomers and established acts alike. We’re talking about Hashtag. With the next night coming up on Friday 10th April, downstairs at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club - we just had to find out more!

Run-Riot: Hashtag - what’s it all about?
Lara Clifton: Hashtag is a really good party for people who might not necessarily be massive clubbers - it mixes short performances, projected artworks and films with brilliant DJs. We take the curation very seriously, mixing acts that are established with those that are emerging. It’s a collaboration between me and Lisa Lee, who is a shit hot director. Hashtag feeds into Lisa’s night UnderConstruction and benefits from Carnesky’s Cabaret School - often giving new performers their first ever professional booking. Lisa was programming the performance nights at the Bistrotheque at the same time I was running Whoopee and also Hip Hip at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. It was a time when East London was re-imagining its drag identity and it was really exciting. Through attending Lisa Lee’s UnderConstruction a night dedicated to supporting and platforming new performance work I was introduced to the likes of Jonny Woo, Fabulous Russella, Scottee and Dickie Beau. We met through a mutual friend (Mr Teds) and I did what I always do when I meet someone new and exciting - I suggested we run something together!

Run-Riot: The next one is on Friday 10th April - what can we expect?
Lara: Lisa Lee and I have a penchant for music and performance which is subversive, celebratory and downright dirty so expect Friday 10th downstairs in the ‘Old Boys’ bar at The Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club to be all of that with bells on. We  have some old friends in the room, heavy weights like Fabulous Russella, Fancy Chance, and DJ MIss Pink alongside our new host Steve Nice virgin Hashtaggers like Susie Swallower and DJ Bristol Pete. The Hashtag crowd is a mixed bunch of people who like their art/clubs to be fun, unpredictable & unpretentious.

Run-Riot: Why the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club?
Lara: Where else? Part of the reason hashtag exists is that I was missing running a night there! I have been running nights at the BGWMC on and off for 10-years and had an office there for 5. What Warren Dent has achieved with that venue is outstanding. He is always willing to give new people and new ideas a chance, and it’s one of the only places I know that will support you whilst you grow. They have a really keen eye for emerging talent and have given many acts their first leg up- including You Me Bum Bum Train, 1927, Bryony Kimmings and Sink the Pink. There is always something great going on - sometimes 3 things at once! BGWMC and all the people making it tick, are like family. A pretty weird family, admittedly. There’s nowhere else like it, and that’s a massive shame and a wonderful thing at the same time.

Run-Riot: Is it true they’ve got a nice new carpet downstairs?
Lara: No, I hope not. I am a traditionalist in some ways!

Run-Riot: You’re also the Creative Producer of international artist Marisa Carnesky - can you spill the juice about her work in progress ‘Carnesky’s Incredible Bleeding Woman’ - and anything else coming up?
Lara: I am not sure how much I am allowed to say! Stemming from Marisa’s own academic research this project seeks to reinvent menstrual rituals for the modern day. The R&D phase is already under way and  involves a collaboration between Marisa and 6-artists and arts professionals including H Plewis, Rhiannon Styles, Fancy Chance and MiSsa Blue. Carnesky and her gang of menstruants will be seeking to uncover strange revelations about the taboo of menstruation. This is a work which is set to be irreverent and deeply serious, rigorous and chaotic; seeking to expose our inherited misogynist menstrual shame and release the untapped power of human cyclical renewal. Marisa will be presenting her findings, discussions and the rituals themselves at Duckie over every Saturday in July as the artist in residence.

We are also rolling out more of the increasingly popular Carnesky’s Cabaret School week long courses and investigating ways of getting evening classes up and running. These are week long intensives where people of all ages from a range of disciplines are encouraged to come up with and perform a new solo work under the maverick tutelage of Marisa Carnesky. Appliaction forms can be downloaded for the next Summer School August (10th-14th) on the Carnesky Productions shiny new website carnesky.com

Carnesky’s Cabaret is the graduate show that runs at the end of each workshop and is becoming a stand-alone event in its own right - we are taking a best of Carnesky Graduates show to Bestival in September and are currently busy composing a school song and designing an emblem and prospectus for the next show in August.

Run-Riot: We hear you’re also Producing ’the artistic love child of William Blake and Penny Arcade’ - no other than La JohnJoseph! What have you both been up to?
Lara: Ah yes, it is an honour indeed to have been approached by my old mucker La JohnJoseph to produce the creation and first presentation of a new play. This is a break away from previous work which has had an autobiographical focus - La JohnJoseph is a brilliant writer and has penned a film noir style voyage into celebrity, memory, and gender identity. Set to star LJJ’s identical twin, disco-pop sensation Alexander Geist, this show is going to be causing quite a stir around London this Summer.

Run-Riot: What’s your tip for a successful collaboration?
Lara: As a producer working within live performance the collaborative relationship is key to everything I do. I cannot make work without partnering with artists, performers, venue managers, programmers or presenters. Good collaborations are based on trust - you need to believe that you are all artistically committed to whatever the project is and you have to allow creative scope for each contributor. I have been lucky in that I have a great nose for who, what and where will work well together.

Run-Riot: The Art of politics - General Election coming up - any comment?
Lara: Yes. Vote.

Run-Riot: Can you treat us to a Lara Clifton London anecdote?
Lara: About 8 years ago I was very late for a meeting and very, very lost. I asked a homeless man for directions, and seeing how stressed I was, he took pity on me. Rather than give me directions, he gave me a piggy back all the way there. I still don’t know how I feel about this.

Lara Clifton
Creative Producer
laraclifton.com

Hashtag
#downstairsanddirty
Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club
42-46 Pollard Row
London E2 6NB
workersplaytime.net