Inigo Lapwood
Inigo Lapwood | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993 (age 32–33) |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | Founding of Theatreship |
| Title | Director, Theatreship |
| Board member of |
|
| Relatives | Anna Lapwood (sister) |
Inigo Lapwood (born August 1993) is a British arts director, maritime heritage restorer, and data scientist. He is the founding director of Theatreship and Artship,[1] a floating arts centre in the London Docklands, and serves on the Council of Experts for National Historic Ships UK.[2]
Early life and education
Lapwood is the brother of organist Anna Lapwood.[3] He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford. In 2013, following a disciplinary incident involving a homemade flamethrower,[4][5] Lapwood relocated onto a houseboat that was in a state of disrepair.[6] He identifies repairing a sinking barge in Oxford when in need of a place to live as the starting point for his career in marine restoration.[1][7]
Career
Lapwood's work involves the restoration and adaptive re-use of historic steel vessels.[1] He has restored seven ships, two of which were listed on the National Historic Ships register.[8]
As director of Theatreship, Lapwood converted a 1913 dry cargo vessel into a 100-seat floating theatre and cinema,[9][10] which opened in 2024 with a cinema season in partnership with the British Film Institute.[11] During the 2025 transit of a second vessel, Artship, from Germany to London Lapwood carried out an emergency 36-hour engine rebuild while in the North Sea.[12]
Lapwood has been Theatrical Ground Crew Director for Boomtown Festival,[8] a juror for the Watersprite Film Festival,[13] and an advisory board member for the Canal & River Trust.[14] He co-founded YourStaffKnow.com Ltd,[15] based on his academic work at the university and supported by the Oxford University Innovation startup incubator.[16][7]
References
- ^ a b c Massey, Jon (24 January 2024). "Isle Of Dogs: How Theatreship and Artship are set to carry cultural cargo". Wharf Life. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Council". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "An Interview with Anna Lapwood". Expressive Audio. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Oxford University party shut down after one student turns up with flamethrower". The Telegraph. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Prescott, Jack (17 January 2014). "Student banned from college after flamethrower incident". Cherwell. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Flamethrower student now living on houseboat". 9News. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ a b "People of the Thames: Working on the River". Talk of the Thames (Podcast). Thames Estuary Partnership. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Theatreship Team". Theatreship. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Forge, Katie (17 January 2024). "A Giant Cargo Ship In London Has Been Transformed Into A Stunning Floating Arts Centre". Secret London. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Theatreship (26 October 2025). Theatreship - the North Sea Passage - with Inigo Lapwood - June 2022 (Video). YouTube. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ de Semlyen, Phil (16 January 2024). "London's getting a brand new cinema... on the Thames". Time Out London. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Massey, Jon (30 October 2025). "Artship set to join Theatreship on the Isle Of Dogs in cultural flotilla". Wharf Life. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Lock, Maddie. "Attending Watersprite Film Festival 2025". Young Film Network South East. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "London & South East Regional Advisory Board Minutes" (PDF). Canal & River Trust. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "YOURSTAFFKNOW.COM LTD: Persons with significant control". Companies House. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Incubator portfolio". Oxford University Innovation. Retrieved 20 February 2026.