{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''The Wapping Project''' is a UK London-based arts organisation and a working name of '''Women's Playhouse Trust''' ('''WPT''') since 2000. WPT is a registered charity (286384) established in 1981 and incorporated in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityFramework.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=286384&SubsidiaryNumber=0|title=Charity framework|website=apps.charitycommission.gov.uk}}</ref> The project works as a commissioner and producer of art.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewappingproject.org/about/|title=About|publisher=}}</ref>
==History== Throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s, WPT worked predominantly at the Royal Court Theatre, London. The first WPT production was a revival of Aphra Behn's ''The Lucky Chance'', performed at the Royal Court in 1984, starring Alan Rickman and Harriet Walter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bristol.ac.uk/theatre-collection/explore/theatre/womens-playhouse-trust-archive/|title=Women's Playhouse Trust Archive – Theatre Collection – University of Bristol|first=University of|last=Bristol|website=www.bristol.ac.uk}}</ref> In 1993 WPT began to mount work in the derelict Wapping Hydraulic Power Station in the East End of London. WPT purchased the building from London Development Agency and invested £4 million in converting it into an arts centre. The conversion was designed and overseen by architectural practice Shed 54.<ref>Original Press Release issued by WPT (The Wapping Project) in October 2000. Digital copy from archives. Accessed 5 November 2018.</ref> The new gallery space opened on the 10 October 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=602303&sort=4&search=all&criteria=power+station&rational=q&recordsperpage=10&p=16&move=n&nor=361&recfc=0|title=Pastscape – Detailed Result: Wapping Hydraulic Pumping Station| website=www.pastscape.org.uk }}</ref> WPT sold the Wapping Hydraulic Power Station in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/01/wapping-project-house-prices-culture|title=The Wapping Project: our obsession with house prices will turn our cities into cultural deserts|first=Rowan|last=Moore|date=1 December 2013|publisher=|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>
WPT's founder and artistic Director, Jules Wright, who was diagnosed with cancer in February 2015 and died on 21 June 2015.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jun/26/jules-wright | title=Jules Wright obituary| newspaper=The Guardian| date=2015-06-26| last1=Coveney| first1=Michael}}</ref>
WPT continues its artistic work under its working name The Wapping Project, headed by its former Deputy Director, Marta Michalowska, and a longstanding collaborator of Jules Wright, Thomas Zanon-Larcher.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
==Recent work by The Wapping Project== * Andrea Luka Zimmerman's films ''Wayfaring Stranger'' (2024) and feature documentary ''Erase and Forget'' (2018) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2017/02_programm_2017/02_Filmdatenblatt_2017_201718677.html#tab=video | title=Erase and Forget}}</ref> * Shona Illingworth's installation ''Topologies of Air''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theconversation.com/profiles/shona-illingworth-568119 | title=Shona Illingworth}}</ref> * Mairéad McClean's installation ''Making Her Mark''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.taigh-chearsabhagh.org/events/making-her-mark-mairead-mcclean-wapping-project/ | title=Making Her Mark – Mairéad McClean / the Wapping Project}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.thewappingproject.org/ The Wapping Project website] * [https://www.bristol.ac.uk/theatre-collection/explore/theatre/womens-playhouse-trust-archive/ WPT archives at Bristol Theatre Collection]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wapping Project}} Category:1981 establishments in England Category:Arts organizations established in 1981 Category:Arts organisations based in England Category:Charities based in London Category:Cultural organisations based in London
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