London's 100 top movers and shakers 2006
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100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
Down from 48 to 77: Premier producer, Sonia Friedman New entry
80 Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin
Big Chillers
Why? In September they launched the Big Chill House in King’s Cross – three floors of festival-style musical variety – in addition to the two-year-old Big Chill Bar on Dray Walk, off Brick Lane. The bare facts Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin started the Big Chill as a Sunday afternoon session at the Union Chapel in 1994. In their own words ‘The Big Chill has a great team – we’ve done two leaving dos where the leavers have come back to work on the Monday!’New entry
79 Helen Marriage and Nicky Webb
Elephant people
Why? Last May they staged the biggest performance ever seen in London as a million people turned out to watch ‘The Sultan’s Elephant’ – a piece of giant street theatre featuring a giant mechanised creature trundling through town.The bare facts They first wrote to the Arts Council five years ago asking whether it would support the event. They had to persuade Westminster Council, Royal Parks, the Met and others to let them dig up lamp-posts and bollards, cut overhead wires and close roads for their unforgettable elephant.New entry78 Thierry Henry
Anti-racism iconWhy? Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer, three-times nominee for FIFA World Player of the Year, and one of the most high-profile anti-racism campaigners. He loves London, too. The bare facts Since Spanish coach Luis Aragonés referred to him as ‘that black little shit’, Henry has become the face of the ‘Stand Up Speak Up’ campaign. Did you know? The expression ‘Va-va-voom’ is in the ‘Concise Oxford English Dictionary’.Down from 48
77 Sonia Friedman
Premier producer
Why? This year she has produced the highly successful ‘Donkeys’ Years’ and ‘Rock ’n’ Roll’, and become a star in her own right as a judge in Channel 4’s ‘The Play’s the Thing’. The bare facts She will always be remembered for bringing Madonna to the West End in ‘Up for Grabs’ (2002), yet she has championed a broad spectrum of work. In Mark Ravenhill’s words ‘She has the most phenomenal energy, drive and attention to detail. As soon as she’s got one of your projects in hand, you know for certain that it’s going to happen.’ Down from 3276 Sandra Hebron
Film festival chief
Why? Under Sandra Hebron’s five-year stewardship, the London Film Festival has re-established its position at the forefront of the capital’s cinema culture.The bare facts As artistic director of BFI Film Festivals, the former academic and programmer of Manchester’s Cornerhouse is also responsible for the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Did you know? She makes short films herself, and chairs the artist’s film organisation Lux. New entry75 Lara Clifton
Burlesque agent
Why? Whether you want to swing a nipple tassel or reverse-striptease into a corset, she’s the agent you want. The bare facts Since Laura Clifton co-founded The Whoopee Club in 2000 and started burlesque try-out night Hip Hip a year ago, her agency has gone from 20 performers to 130. Did you know? Clifton met co-founder Tamara Tyrer at a fan-dancing workshop in 2000. New entry74 Ben Summerskill
Stonewall stalwart
Why? As chief executive at lesbian and gay lobbying group Stonewall, he spearheaded campaigns for the repeal of Section 28 and the introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples in the UK. The bare facts Became a journalist in 1990, editing the Pink Paper before rising to the position of assistant editor at the Observer. Did you know? His aunt, Dr Shirley Summerskill, helped introduce the Sex Discrimination Act back in 1975 when she was a Home Office Interior Minister.
Miss Jocelyn New entry
73 Miss Jocelyn
Funny girl
Why? The BBC is very excited about Jocelyn Jee Esien, and another series of her show has already been commissioned. The bare facts Esien worked with Dom Joly on ‘Trigger Happy TV’ and Sacha Baron Cohen before springing to wider attention with the BBC3 series ‘Three Non-Blondes’. In her own words In character as an unlicensed taxi driver to a nervous female passenger: ‘I no rape you – I no got time.’ New entry72 Free paper distributors
Sheet happens
Why? These purveyors of litter are not only blocking London’s pavements, but also mob-handedly destroying any chance London ever had of becoming a 100 per cent recycled city. The bare facts With both London Lite and the London Paper employing around 700 people in Zone 1, that makes an awful lot of people earning very little money for handing out an awful lot of rubbish to very few interested commuters. In their own words ‘Free paper?’
Lulu Kennedy Down from 59
71 Lulu Kennedy
Rag trader
Why? Kennedy’s been a key fashion player since she set up Fashion East six years ago with the aim of showcasing new British design talent. Last year she set up Fashion East MAN with Topman to promote new menswear designers. The bare facts Her career began in art galleries in Naples. She moved back to London to become events manager at the Old Truman Brewery before setting up Fashion East in 2000. 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1 - Add your comment to this feature
Kennedy’s been a key fashion player since she set up Fashion East six years ago with the aim of showcasing new British design talent. Last year she set up Fashion East MAN with Topman to promote new menswear designers. Her career began in art galleries in Naples. She moved back to London to become events manager at the Old Truman Brewery before setting up Fashion East in 2000.
