London Plays Itself

We design regenerative events rooted in London. We believe that gatherings in real life should happen in real life.

The case for place

We love bringing people together.

For years, we have helped groups learn, form friendships, find allies, celebrate milestones, and make commitments.

And here’s the thing. A lot of people focus on what events achieve for the people in the room. We think that they can be more.

What if the way we gathered could make us more connected - not just with each other, but with the communities and ecosystems around us? What if we saw the setting for our events as more than a passive, stylised backdrop for the main plot? What if London played itself?

Here’s what we are trying to do:

  • Connect mission-driven venues and caterers, social enterprises and local artists to audiences and revenue streams that can help expand their impact

  • Help event organisers create inspiring experiences while building relationships with and investing in local communities

  • Make it easier for small businesses and charities to host without the infrastructure or marketing capacities of the big players

  • Bring attention to under-represented neighbourhoods, issues, and perspectives

  • Leave hosts and guests alike feeling more connected, energised and inspired

OUR NETWORK OF HOSTS

OUR NETWORK OF HOSTS

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 @weareuglyduck – 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱
We see events as what they can achieve for both people inside and outside the room – ensuring a connection to the communities and ecosystems around us. Our name is an homage to the 2003 Thom Andersen film #LosAngelesPlaysItself, which explores
𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 - 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 @migratefuluk! 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹? Migrateful is an award-winning charity which supp
After the disturbing events of recent weeks, it is more important than ever to learn about the role that #migration has played in London's past and present. What if stories of migration, of far-flung roots and new beginnings, could unite rather than
🏅𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 - 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 @blackculturemarket 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲
Some great highlights from the #LondonPlaysItself launch event last week! A beautiful evening of storytelling, new connections and shared learning. We’re so excited to be on this journey with a community that shares our belief that gatherings c

Our name

Our name is an homage to the 2003 Thom Andersen film Los Angeles Plays Itself, which explores how easily we caricature, flatten and misrepresent cities, and in doing so further alienate citizens from any shared idea of their home. More recently, “to play yourself” has also come to mean “to work against your conscious intentions and interests”. Does London all too often fall into these traps? We think so, and we believe our gatherings can bring a more plural and purposeful London to the spotlight.

Let’s work together.

Are you working at the neighbourhood scale to build a sustainable, just and joyful London? Do you have a space or a service to offer? Would you like to co-host events with us?

Are you planning a gathering or experience in London, and interested in discovering a new side of the city while supporting local, independent, mission-driven organisations?