Synopsis

A black-and-white video of a collection of plays from THAP’s 1st night Big Show at the Whitechapel Gallery. The Tower Hamlets Arts Project (THAP) was formed in 1976 out of protest to the Thames Television ‘Eyesights’ scheme which commissioned professional artists to create posters for display in the borough, rather than investing in local arts projects. A crowded public meeting in February 1975 called for an alternative, bolder plan, bringing together existing and fledgling arts activities under a coordinating body to be called the Tower Hamlets Arts Project (THAP). The purpose was to create opportunities for everyone to participate in community art. THAP celebrated their achievements with a month-long ‘Big Show’ at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

The plays are all period pieces – from a comedy of errors between two star-crossed lovers, to a Victorian drama dealing with an attempted murder, to another Annie-esque musical play with children on the streets.