A new one-day event bringing together designers, makers and technologists from film, theatre and live events sold out its inaugural edition at Central Saint Martins in London on Saturday, drawing more than 800 attendees.
Set & Scene, founded by Yosien Burke, Bimla Jackson and Murray Ashton, was created around a straightforward premise: that film, theatre and live events face many of the same creative challenges and share many of the same opportunities, yet the people working across those industries rarely occupy the same room.
The programme ran across three stages and covered sustainable design, emerging technology, AI, circular economy practices, immersive storytelling and traditional craft. An exhibition floor offered hands-on demonstrations and meet-the-maker sessions alongside displays from suppliers and organisations supporting the wider creative industries. The day opened with a private screening at Lightroom and closed with a networking session.
Burke and Jackson described the first edition as both a learning experience and a validation. “In a world where freelance work can often feel isolating,” they said, “hearing people describe the event as having a real festival energy — something epic and much-needed for inspiration — means everything to us.”
The strong turnout suggests genuine appetite for a cross-sector forum of this kind, with attendees from across production design, set construction, live events and immersive experience all represented. Organisers say they will use feedback from the first year to shape future editions, with a year-round programme of activity now in development and early access already open for 2027.
