Irish artist and East London local, Eva Rothschild was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells to create an original artwork for the new theatre, Sadler’s Wells East.

She felt strongly that tapestry, a medium she has previously worked in, alongside sculpture, would be right to create a warm welcome at the theatre given its architecture – by Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey – and the way the people would interact with the space.

Rothschild was selected after winning a design competition whose panellists included Sadler’s Wells Co-Chief Executives Britannia Morton and Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Director and Chief Executive of the Design Museum Tim Marlow and Architects of Sadler’s Wells East Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey.

The two large tapestries, both 4 x 5 metres, were woven entirely by hand at West Dean College by a small team of weavers: Emma Straw, Jo Howard and Margaret Jones, overseen by Studio Manager Philip Sanderson. West Dean College, established in the 1970s by Edward James, a passionate supporter of artists, has its own dye lab working to recipes unique to the college. The stunning colours in Rothschild’s tapestries were created specifically for her.