A few months ago on The Guide to Kensington & Chelsea, we wrote about an interesting local community project taking place in Kensal Rise called Kensal Voices. Started by the S.P.I.D. Theatre Company – an award winning youth organisation – this multi-strand, multimedia project aims to rediscover and share the history of Kensal House, the historic, Grade II* listed council estate designed by Modernist architect Maxwell Fry in 1936.

This Saturday, 8th June, one of the first elements of Kensal Voices will be officially presented to the public. Kensal Voices Magazine will be launched at North Kensington Library in front of the local community, and friends and family – a magazine that’s the result of two months of hard work by the young researchers involved in Kensal Voices.

Since the Kensal Voices project was launched in April, the scheme’s young participants have undertaken research and practical workshops to discover more about Kensal House’s fascinating history. They have attended sessions on modernist architecture at the V&A; met with local historians and residents to learn more on life in and around the building throughout the decades; built models of their dream houses; created a soundtrack inspired by the building; and conducted in-depth research at Central Library.

Workshops leaders that have taken part in Kensal Voices so far include architect Gurmeet Sian of Office Sian; composer, producer and DJ Theo Krish; designer Ekaterina Solomeina; Filipa Alvesde Sousa (V&A); and Eva Branscome, expert on modern architecture (Twentieth Century Society).

Anuli Changa (14), Kensal Voices participant and elected Kensal Voices Ambassador, said about the project:

“I am proud to be an Ambassador for Kensal Voices, run by SPID Theatre Company … I am a voracious reader and I love to learn, so when I heard that SPID were working with the V&A (one of my favourite museums) I was really excited and curious to see what was happening … Saturdays aren’t right without Kensal Voices!”

SPID (Specially Produced Innovatively Directed) Theatre Company is itself based the Community Rooms on the Kensal House estate. The company won the First Light Award for Best Animation 2013 for short film High Above the Sky and received a four-star review for its most recent production iAM.

Kensal Voices Magazine Presentation
3.30pm, 8th June 2013
North Kensington Library
108 Ladbroke Grove
W11 1PZ