Blog

As we step into the New Year, we are looking back on a very special chapter in Jacksons Lane’s story. Our 50th anniversary year was a chance to celebrate everything we have done since opening our doors in 1975, and to enjoy all the things that make Jacksons Lane what it is today. 

For five decades, Jacksons Lane has been shaped by the people who have passed through its doors. Artists, audiences, volunteers, neighbours and young people have all played a part in creating a place rooted in community, creativity and curiosity. Throughout 2025, we came together to reflect on that shared history, while continuing to look ahead. 

Here are some of the moments that made our anniversary year so memorable. 

The Archive and Oral Histories 

Over the last year, we have been working with archivist Camille Johnson, a brilliant team of volunteers and in partnership with Bruce Castle Museum & Archive to build the Jacksons Lane Collection. Together, they have been carefully archiving posters, programmes, photographs that tell the story of Jacksons Lane across 50 years. 

From its beginnings as a bold community experiment to its role today as a home for contemporary circus, the archive captures the ideas, people and movements that have shaped the organisation. The collection will be available to access in person at Bruce Castle Museum and Archive from February 2026. To make an appointment to consult the collection please call 020 8489 4250 or email [email protected] 

Alongside the archive, our Oral Histories project, led by Marie Horner, brought together voices from across the decades. From founders and performers to staff, volunteers and community members, these interviews capture memories from everyday life at Jacksons Lane. 

The recordings offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into our past and the people who made it what it is today. You can find out more and listen to extracts from the full collection of oral histories online here. 

Throughout the year, we have also been digitising our poster collection, creating a colourful snapshot of the radical, community-led and experimental work that has taken place on our stages and in our spaces. 

Credit: Bruce Castle Museum and Archive 

Credit: Bruce Castle Museum and Archive 

Young Heritage Producers: New Voices on The Lane 

A key part of our anniversary year was working with an inspiring group of Young Heritage Producers. Meeting weekly, the group explored Jacksons Lane’s archive and oral histories, asking questions about what our past means today and how it connects to their own experiences. 

Their research covered topics including Disability Theatre, local activism and the role of young people in shaping the organisation, bringing fresh perspectives to familiar stories. Over the year, the group shared their work in a number of creative and public-facing ways. 

Birthday Party Radio Show 

As part of our Birthday Party Weekend, the Young Heritage Producers created a special radio show for local station Boogaloo Radio. The broadcast celebrated Jacksons Lane’s past, present and future, sharing voices, music and reflections from across the community. 

Birthday Party Installations 

At our 50th birthday celebrations, the group also presented a pop-up exhibition inspired by the parts of Jacksons Lane’s history that mattered most to them. Highlights included a recreation of our iconic stairs and a DIY protest sign station, inspired by the Archway Road protests of the 1970s and 80s. 

Credit: Alex Brenner 

New Voices on The Lane 

To round off their work, the group produced a Zine New Voices on The Lane, a publication bringing together their thoughts, feelings and creative responses to 50 years of Jacksons Lane. You can read the full publication yourself here.  

The Birthday Party 

On Saturday 28 June 2025, we celebrated our 50th birthday by opening our doors for a full day and evening of activity. Visitors old and new joined us to mark half a century at the heart of Highgate. 

The celebrations began with a lively circus parade winding its way through the building. Jugglers, stilt-walkers and costumes filled the space, setting the tone for a day that was joyful, welcoming and unmistakably Jacksons Lane. 

Over 800 people came through the doors, including founding members, volunteers, artists, educators and audiences from across our five decades. 

“Nicky’s family are so delighted to see Jacksons Lane Centre going from strength to strength in its 50th year. The centre played a huge part in Nicky’s life, from the early days when she saw the building’s potential as a space for local play schemes and the wider community, through to her recent pink plaque presentation. On behalf of Nicky, we wish Jacksons Lane a wonderful birthday year.” – The Gavron family 

The birthday celebrations reflected the spirit in which Jacksons Lane was founded: ambitious, community-led and full of creative energy. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special. 

Credit: Alex Brenner
 

Honouring Nicky Gavron: The Pink Plaque 

In 2024, we sadly lost one of our founding members, Nicky Gavron. As part of our anniversary year, we held Jacksons Lane: The Future and The Legacy, an event celebrating Nicky’s lasting contribution to the organisation and the local community. 

We were joined by the Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Ahmed, and Jacksons Lane co-founder Melian Mansfield, who shared personal reflections on Nicky’s vision and impact. Guests were also invited to view the permanent Pink Plaque created in her honour, ahead of its installation on the building. 

The Little Big Top Travelling Exhibition 

Throughout the year, the Little Big Top Travelling Exhibition Tent travelled across the borough, sharing the story of Jacksons Lane with new audiences. The exhibition visited Hornsey Library, Wood Green Library and Marcus Garvey Library, welcoming hundreds of visitors along the way. 

Credit: Alex Brenner 

Inside, people settled onto bean bags and listened to extracts of the Oral Histories recorded during 2025. Each stop also included circus-themed workshops and activities, with children having a go at juggling, plate spinning and balancing peacock feathers. If you didn’t manage to catch the Little Big Top, it will be on display at Bruce Castle Museum from 23rd January. 

Christmas Day at Jacksons Lane 

For 50 years, Jacksons Lane has opened its doors on Christmas Day to offer company, celebration and connection to older adults and families who might otherwise spend the day alone. In 2025, this much-loved tradition continued. 

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we exceeded our Big Give target, raising £22,354. With the help of more than 100 volunteers, we welcomed 300 vulnerable older adults and families into a space filled with warmth, food, entertainment and a strong sense of community. 

Looking Ahead 

Our 50th anniversary year was not only about looking back, but about celebrating the people, ideas and values that continue to shape Jacksons Lane today. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this milestone year. We are excited to carry this spirit forward into our next chapter.  

As we come to the end of our anniversary year, we would like to thank everyone who has supported our £50k for 50 years campaign. Your generosity is helping to secure the future of Jacksons Lane as a space for creativity, community, and bold artistic expression. 

We are very close to reaching our target. If you have enjoyed being part of Jacksons Lane over the years, please make a donation and help carry this legacy forward for future generations. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference to our communities. You can find out more here.