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Evening Standard

Business

Emma Magnus

Why I live in Plaistow: theatre director Holly Race Roughan on her international, community-minded east London area

Plaistow London Daniel Lynch Matt Writtle Stratford

Holly Race Roughan in Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford
(Picture: Daniel Lynch)

I live in Plaistow, about five minutes’ walk from the Tube. I moved here five-and-a-half years ago with a group of close friends. We were looking for a five-bedroom house that was affordable and close to public transport. We made a Google map of where we all worked and tried to find somewhere that would be under an hour’s commute for all of us. We ended up in Plaistow.

My childhood was split between Bow and Islington, so I have east London in my blood. But when I originally rocked up it felt quite random I hadn’t spent any time in the area before I moved. I’m now an absolute Plaistow convert.

Eating and drinking

There is a brilliant vegetarian restaurant called Taste of India in Manor Park, which we get takeaway from all the time. Three of my housemates are of Indian heritage, so I leave the ordering to them but the idli is very good.

Sawmill Café on West Ham Lane is a family-run café and bakery. It’s great.

The pub that I love is Escape Bar Stratford on West Ham Lane. It’s a games bar. It’s quite geeky, but in a wonderful way. I’ve had a couple of birthdays there, and that’s where I end up if we’re ever drinking locally.

Where I work out

I go to the Olympic pool in Stratford two to three times a week. It’s like a slice of heaven. It’s such a treat to be able to swim in a 50-metre pool. I love it.

I occasionally go for a run along the Greenway, which goes around the back of West Ham and Plaistow and connects us to the Olympic Park.

To commune with nature

We’ve got some great parks. West Ham Park’s a winner. It’s really well looked after. It’s got tennis courts, areas to play football, a proper kids’ playground and a flower garden. Weirdly, it’s managed by the City of London, so it’s quite a zhuzhy park.

The Greenway, with Abbey Mills Pumping Station to the left (Daniel Lynch)

There’s the Olympic Park, of course, and the Greenway. My favourite place is Cody Dock. You can go to Three Mills and walk along the canal and river to get there. You actually feel like you’re out of London at points.

For a culture fix

I have to big up Theatre Royal Stratford East, which is the theatre that got me into directing. Stratford East has got the best pantomime in London. As a kid, I lived in Maryland, round the back of Stratford, for a bit. I used to go to pantos every year with my dad. I still go now. They’ve also got a really good bar in there, and do nice food.

The cinema that I go to is Stratford East Picturehouse, right next to the theatre. I go to the Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick a lot, too.

Plaistow Library is round the corner from us on North Street, and Plaistow is also home of Ghetts, the brilliant rapper.

“Theatre Royal Stratford East is the theatre that got me into directing,” says Holly (Daniel Lynch)

Grocery shopping

We go to Morrisons in Stratford. We get deliveries from Riverford for veg and do big bulk orders of rice and pasta from Suma every six months. We also spend too much money in our well-stocked corner shop in Plaistow.

Getting around

Public transport is really good. We’re a 15-minute walk from West Ham Tube, which is on the Jubilee line. My commute to work in Waterloo is about 40 minutes. We’re also on the Hammersmith and City line and District line.

Dream street

West Ham Park Road. There are some lovely houses, completely unaffordable, but I’d be happy with anything that overlooks the water or the parks. It’s always the dream to be closer to green space.

A giant community mural of a parakeet on Bull Road (Matt Writtle)

Something you only see in your area

Parakeets. Collectively, our local streets had a mural of a giant parakeet painted on Bull Road. We all painted a bit of it it’s a homage to how international and transient our community is, but also what a strong sense of community there is. I love it.

What’s the catch?

I have mice in my bedroom - but the catch is that there’s not really a nightlife in Plaistow.

In three words

Community. International. Multicultural.

Holly is currently directing Henry V at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse until February 4 and touring nationally until March 18. She is the artistic director of Headlong theatre company.