Encounter with a TV Producer
Jude Allen is born in London. As well as 15 years composing music for TV and adverts, she is a musician with an 8 piece band called Hip Replacement with ex-members of the 90’s charting band Amazulu. Her band has been recently featured in Kilburn Times. She started out in 1980’s Eurovision song contest with girl group Pussyfoot with the single “I wanna be me”
Jude is also an award winning TV producer/director of documentary and music films including ‘Yo-Yo Ma at Tanglewood’ and BAFTA award winning series on LSO for Channel 4.
She kindly accepted to answer to our four questions
What brought you to London?
I left Manchester University at 20 years old and came to London to understudy the role of Mary in original production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace theatre, Cambridge Circus, London
What is the last exhibition, film or show that inspired you and why?
"127 hours" by Danny Boyle. This is the film that begs the question…How would you cope? The accident that’s waiting to happen…the moment when your life stands still and the choice you make every minute, every second will determine the outcome of your life – whether you live or die. I’ve been to Australia 4 or 5 times, and love the sheer scale and beauty of the landscape, so this film had a particular resonance for me. For sheer visual flair, narrative drive and ability to capture the intimacy, despair and triumph of ‘alone-ness’ in the face of crisis – I urge to go and see this film!
If you had to leave London, what aspects of the city would you miss the most ?
For me the heart of the city is not in the typical tourist attractions of Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street or the London Eye - it’s the buzz and energy of London’s teeming ‘village’ communities in Camden Town, Portobello Road, Hoxton, Hampstead, Old Street. There’s always something going on – art exhibitions, pop up cinemas, live music, flea markets. Along with some of the most beautiful examples of Georgian architecture, there’s a unique creative energy that can’t be matched in any other city.
Could you recommend some of your favourite places in London?
Portobello Road - still great for browsing and picking up bargains.
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) remains one of my favourites for Sunday afternoon – I’ve been going for 20 years and still haven’t exhausted all the rooms!
A new discovery which I urge everyone to go and check out is Lassco’s at Brunswick House in Vauxhall. It is definitely worth a look – it has a fascinating history and has an absolute Aladdin's cave of Architectural salvage, antiques, paintings and nick knacks. They’re just opening the downstairs area for evening events. Everything you see, or sit on or eat from is for sale, so the environment is constantly changing from one week to the next!
The Paradise on Kensal Green – another great venue for live music, great food and interesting art & poetry events.
This is where we have our next gig on Sunday May 8th and again on Sunday July 10th and Sunday September 11th.
