citylikeyou — National Theatre — London by Emilie Chen

London / Theatre

Just above the Dorfman Theatre lobby at the National Theatre, is the entrance to the high-level walkway, a public walkway that overlooks the National Theatre props and scenic workshop. It’s free and is a unique chance to get a glimpse of what happens backstage. I love popping in when I’m on the south bank, as you get a completely different sight each time, depending on which production the workshops are working on at the time.

Website
nationaltheatre.org.uk

Address
National Theatre, undefined Upper Ground, London, United Kingdom

Art Director Graphic Designer

Current city: London

Other cities: Paris

emiliechen.com

Emilie is a London-based graphic designer and art director from Paris. She has worked on branding projects and retail campaigns for Kickers, Speedo and Ted Baker, created campaign images, trailers, posters and programmes for the National Theatre and currently design book covers for Penguin Books. She is also one of the Ladies Wine Design London organisers. The group is part of an international community of creative women started by Jessica Walsh in New York, and runs monthly events including talks, workshops, portfolio review sessions and informal discussions.

More Places in London 471

London / Bar

A friend took me to this bar on Greek Street, I’m unsure of what it’s called or if it should be there, but it feels pretty authentic and makes you dream of the Soho of the 60s.

London / Gallery

Ever since visiting the exhibition space, a few years ago, I don’t think I have ever missed one single show. It is one of the best exhibition spaces for contemporary art in London, in my opinion. The scale and the light feel right. The environment is not too overwhelming and not too small. In addition, the bookshop has a good selection of catalogues, art books and magazines.

London / Place

I often stop when passing this artery of city traffic. The dwarfing structure casts shapes and shadows which can easily be missed when speeding in/out of the city.

London / Shop

Mei Leaf is a lovely little tea/health shop based in Camden with a friendly staff that are always happy to assist and give advice. I love exploring the many different teas and some of my personal favourites are the: Silk Oolong, Duck Sh*t Oolong, Amber Mountain and Silver Needle. Mei Leaf was established in London in 2006 to represent true tea culture. Don and his team tirelessly explore the mountains of the East to find the most delicious teas on the planet. These are pinnacle teas made by masters from the perfect terroirs and picked at the perfect season.

London / Gallery

At the end of the Victoria line at the Walthomstow station, and then a 15 minute walk through some suburban streets with some lefts and at other times rights is an industrial estate. Through the gate and buried at the very end of the units where you are convinced you are lost and doubting it's existence at all is God's Own Junkyard. It's a worthy pilgrimage and actually sort of where you expect God would put a junkyard. The warehouse is a monument to neon and the life works of the late Mr Neon, Chris Bracey. It's littered to the rooftop with cables, plug sockets and choice words with neon epigrams, the whole collection is stacked, I suppose how a junkyard of the sort would be. Full of sex, religion, americana, sci-fi and nostalgia that all blend together surprisingly well, It's a visual feast that you can take in with a coffee and an open mouth. It is a gem of a place. It is really great.