City Stage: A Spark of Creativity in the Square Mile

This week, we did something a little different in the City of London.
Instead of boardrooms, speeches and serious agendas, Mansion House opened its doors to theatre, humour, and a room full of people curious to do something unexpected in a very formal setting.

The building is normally the backdrop for heavyweight conversations. For two nights, the lights were dimmed, the tables were rearranged, and the stage belonged to performers straight from the Edinburgh Fringe – people more used to pub basements than grand ballrooms.

There wasn’t a grand plan behind it. We just wanted to see what happens when you take a space built for a ceremony, and let it hold stories that are funny, honest, and recognisably human.

Two Stories Worth watching 

The festival opened with Seating Plan by Izzy Radford, starring Izzy Radford and George Airey – a sharp, funny story about two people stuck beside each other at dinner, year after year. On the surface, it’s a rom-com; underneath, it is an exploration of fate, loneliness and the invisible ties that bind us even when we’re too stubborn to notice.

Jade Franks followed with Eat the Rich (But Maybe Not Me Mates X) — a comedy about class, ambition, and the myth of meritocracy. It’s pointed without being bitter, insightful without being heavy.

Comedian and writer Miles Jupp hosted both evenings and closed with informal conversations between the artists and the audience, offering a glimpse into the personal stories behind the performances.

Why We Did It

We spend a lot of our time thinking about risk: quantifying it, modelling it, preparing for it. But the City doesn’t just run on Data sets— it runs on imagination too.

Good businesses rely on people who are curious, willing to explore ideas they don’t fully understand, and comfortable with not having all the answers. Creativity isn’t a side activity- it underpins problem-solving, innovation, and sound judgement.

Hosting theatre at Mansion House wasn’t about reinventing the City. It was simply a reminder that creative thinking is part of the ecosystem here, even if it doesn’t always get the airtime it deserves.

What We Took Away

We don’t need to go across town to feel inspired.
There’s room for creativity in the City, if we’re willing to make space for it.

Looking Ahead

City Stage was an experiment. Not a campaign, not a manifesto — just a small test: what happens when you bring historic buildings, unique spaces, good people and creative energy together for a night?

If something grows from it, great.
If not, at least we tried something new — and shared a laugh in a beautiful setting.

Thanks to everyone who came along. If the evening sparked conversations or encouraged people to think a little bigger and bolder beyond the routine of daily life, that feels worthwhile.

And honestly, it was great to watch two smart, funny shows with a room full of people who were up for something a little bit different.If you’d like us to keep you posted on future City Stage events, sign up here.