The Lab Is Eagles Meadow’s Latest Community Space. It is a new multi-arts space and is also a space for the whole community. The community hub offers a growing programme of activities, spaces for hire, a café and bar area (with burgers and hotdogs from Notorious Eatz), a hip-hop fashion and books shop and social, performance and creative spaces.
Dave Acton
On Wednesdays from 4 to 5pm, under 16s can learn rap with Dave Acton of Larynx Entertainment, while from 5 to 6pm, they can learn breakin’ with BBoy Flexton of UK Breakin’.
A breakin’ class for over 16s takes place from 6 to 7.30pm. The hip-hop social/jam night session, from 8 to 11pm, involves fans and artists bringing their skills to learn, share, and play with not only musicians and dancers, but also DJs, rappers, beatboxers, and others.
All hip-hop workshops and events are £5 per person. There are also belly dancing classes on Thursdays from 7 to 8pm (£10), starting 7th November and weekly Kizomba sessions also starting in November.
New events and activities are being programmed all the time. These include a half-term screen acting bootcamp, open mics, youth sessions and more. Furthermore, the venue is available for hire for events, classes and other activities. You can also follow The Lab’s Facebook page or Avant Cymru’s Instagram for updates and advance notifications.
Rachel Pedley
The Lab is an initiative of Rachel Pedley’s creative collective, Avant Cymru, in partnership with local creatives and businesses. Rachel is a professional actress and also a dancer.
Wrexham Borough Council supports events at The Lab through the UK Government Levelling Up programme and The National Lottery Community Fund. The Lab exists through the kind support of Eagle’s Meadow Shopping Centre.
The Lab came about due to Hip Hop Cymru, a successful Heritage Lottery-funded exhibition and activity programme that raised the profile of Wales’ contribution to hip-hop. It attracted thousands of visitors and featured stories, photos and memorabilia donated by Wales’ hip-hop community, including DJs, breakers, graffiti artists, rappers, MCs, beatboxers, music producers, promoters and fans.
It was such a success for the shopping centre that managers gave the organisers a longer-term space to develop the new venue. The aim is to create an affordable, accessible, safe and creative space where people of all ages can congregate, connect, get involved and benefit.
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