The Stage

Dynasty designer launches low-cost members club

Published Tuesday 21 March 2006 at 14:15 by Liz Thomas

Youcef Aden, the costume designer for hit eighties TV show Dynasty, is setting up a new venue for upcoming actors, directors, producers and arts professionals to network in London, saying that traditional members clubs have priced young talent out of the market.

Aden is developing a site underneath Regent Street located in what were the premises of Royal wine and spirit merchants Hedges and Butler. The aim is to offer an alternative to organisations such as Soho House or the Groucho, where membership fees are several hundred pounds.

He said: “Young people coming into the theatre, television or film industries are not paid huge amounts, they work difficult sometimes unsociable hours and it is important that there is an affordable space for them to be able to spend time and meet other industry professionals. We all know how important meeting people can be for securing the next job or big break.

“I want to develop somewhere where actors can come before or in between auditions in town or casting directors can use to audition for their shows. There will be office space and access to broadband so people can work on their CVs and I also plan to hold weekly seminars and lectures using key industry figures talking about issues of the day.”

He added that there would also be access to legal help for those with concerns about contracts or wanting more information about the impact of recent legislation.

Aden began his career designing clothes in Beverly Hills and dressed stars such as Elton John and The Jacksons. After working on Dynasty he moved into set design and worked with Top Gun and Beverley Hills Cop producer Don Simpson. Most recently he worked as an art director for film and television in the US, France and the UK.