The renowned London based company VAULT Creative Arts, former producers of the VAULT Festival, have just opened their doors to a newly refurbished venue. Named Lower Marsh Arts Club (or LowMAC), this venue promises a bright future for all sorts, from scrappy fringe shows to showcases and other events. We were invited along to the launch event and (whether it was the new space, the delightful company, or the Vaudeville-esque entertainment) it was certainly an exciting evening.
LowMAC is a delightful new space, made all the more delightful by the evening’s proceedings. Guests were welcomed with an artist and poet ready to create something unique just for you, as well as a magician, live music, video games downstairs, free drinks and a goody bag for the road. Evidently, the space and individuals running it are an extremely welcoming bunch. The efforts the event organisers went to in order to create a stimulating yet comfortable environment reflects an attitude towards Theatre at large that VAULT consistently demonstrates.
Those attending the launch event ranged from loyal patrons and newcomers. We spoke with many individuals that night, including Alexandria Turner, whose show The Many Lives of Joanna King sounds extremely exciting, and is indeed a project one should keep a keen eye on. We also spoke with Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller, whose writing and performances this particular critic cannot recommend enough. Be sure to look out for where his new show, The Time Has Passed, goes next.
The evening’s highlight came when Artistic Director Oli Savage announced some exciting new key elements to do with LowMAC. Firstly, in Autumn 2027 VAULT will begin an £8,000 Guarantee model for artists to create a show for a four-week run at the Lower Marsh Arts Club. Aiming to increase stability in a risky landscape – which funding new writing indeed is – it’ll be extremely intriguing to see what sort of work this experimental programme produces. In the very least, these programmes are few and far between, so be sure to watch their space.
Secondly, an announcement that created palpable buzz was that of the Lower Marsh Arts Festival, coming Spring 2027. Much about this news excited attendees, not least of which was that the festival will be free for artists, with no venue fee and 100% of ticket revenue being kept by the artist. As any London based artist will tell you, this sort of coordination from a venue is rare. Savage himself attested to this, saying:
“Unfortunately, far too many venues silo risk away from themselves and on to artists. With these two programmes, we’re putting our money where our mouths are. We’re creating an unparalleled quality and quantity of opportunities for early career artists.”
With the sad closure of the VAULT Festival in 2024, a festival that often personified the beating heart of London Theatre, this news could not have been better received. While Lower Marsh Arts Festival may be a physically downscaled version, it is clear that the quality of the arts and artists in the room has not downscaled an inch.
Outside of these headlines, the Lower Marsh Arts Club is already bustling with shows. Autumn 2026 at LowMAC looks a treat, with fantastic queer theatre like CVNTCLAVE and Spin Cycles, as well as the Pass It On Takeover, a takeover festival that will celebrate over 100 emerging creatives from marginalised genders.
Our takeaway from the evening was clear; your patronage at LowMAC will not only be entertaining, greatly-welcoming and thought-provoking, it may well also be a rudimentary step toward properly empowering artists.
Find further information on the Lower Marsh Arts Club here.