The Sadler’s Wells East Garden
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023

The Sadler’s Wells East Garden celebrated the next generation of dancers and appreciators of dance at the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It provided a platform to raise awareness of Sadler’s Wells East: a new theatre, Hip Hop Theatre Academy and Choreographic School, opening at East Bank, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2024.

The plants were the stars of the show. Characterful trees and shrubs cut beautiful figures while colourful perennials and annuals echoed layers, patterns and shapes of dance, scrambling, rippling and seeding about. The manufacturing heritage of East London inspired the garden’s materials: reclaimed or sustainably sourced brick, timber and metal.

A bent steel sculpture curves around the garden, framing different views of the planting. Its profile hints at the saw-tooth rooflines of local warehouses and factories of the industrial revolution - and of Sadler’s Wells East. A mural at the back features Jonzi D, foremost advocate of hip hop theatre and Director of the new Hip Hop Theatre Academy at Sadler’s Wells East, dancer Patience J and a member of Iron Skulls, a dance company based in Barcelona.

After the show, the plants and materials moved to School 21, an associate school of Sadler’s Wells and just 15 minutes’ walk from Sadler’s Wells East.

Funded by Project Giving Back - Built by Big Fish Landscapes - Design consultancy by Mim Studios - Trees by Majestic Trees - Perennials and annuals by How Green - Shrubs by New Wood Trees - Hedge by Big Hedge Co - Art by Bro Ben - Furniture by Daniel Higgins Making - Reclaimed timber sourced by Ashwells - Reclaimed brick sourced by The Old Slate Yard - Metal sculpture by Fish Fabrications - Photos by Alister Thorpe