United Kingdom, Mold
February 2026
N/A
Creative Drapery, Manufacturing, Digital Print
Performing Arts, Event Venue
White 5.0m Theatre Canvas (PCT001), digitally printed, Fern 3.0m Mercury (MER041).
A palette of other colours and fabrics for the appliqué.
Theatr Clwyd is Wales’s largest producing theatre, and its mission is clear: to make the world happier, one moment at a time. To achieve this, the theatre brings powerful stories to the stage while placing the community at the heart of its work.
Built in 1976, Theatr Clwyd was created to expand cultural opportunities across North Wales. Since then, renowned actors including Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Timothy Dalton and Owen Teale have appeared on its stages. In 2018, the theatre also won an Olivier Award for Home, I’m Darling, which starred Katherine Parkinson and Richard Harrington.
More recently, Theatr Clwyd partnered with rising textile artist Sauda Imam to create a major new commission for its public art programme. Over the past two years, the collaboration has brought together creativity, craftsmanship and community engagement.
J&C Joel joined forces with Sauda Imam and Studio Three Sixty to create a striking 33m x 5m drape for the theatre’s multi-use community space. Sauda is a London-based textile designer who works across print, weave and material storytelling. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Vogue and Elle.
The design took inspiration from both the Welsh landscape and traditional Welsh decorative motifs. The finished piece reflects a strong sense of place and heritage.
From the beginning, Sauda and the J&C Joel team worked closely on the fabrication process. Together, they selected the main fabrics, linings, fullness and pleating methods for the installation.
The team digitally printed the artwork onto 50 metres of 5m-wide white theatre canvas (PCT001). Next, they lined the drape with 80 metres of Mercury 3m Fern fabric. Our specialist manufacturing team then added appliqué details made up from a palette of other fabrics and colours, gems, and floral elements, all using a range of materials and etching techniques. This helped the final piece gain added texture, depth and dimension.
The project took just over two years to complete, and the finished drape has become a stunning centrepiece for the theatre’s communal space. It was a superb project to showcase Sauda Imam’s artistic vision, J&C Joel’s manufacturing expertise and Theatr Clwyd’s ongoing commitment to public art and community engagement.
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