The Corner Shop PR

THE CORNER SHOP PR
incorporating Chamberlain AMPR and Petersen PR

4th Floor, 25 Lexington Street
London W1F 9AG

Tel: 020 7494 3665
Fax: 020 7734 7280

Publicists Ben Chamberlain and Ryan Petersen merged to create The Corner Shop Public Relations in 2007 after collaborating on the UK launch of Avenue Q, for Cameron Mackintosh, the London opening of Tim Supple’s extraordinary A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Roundhouse and the launch of Dominic Cooke’s first season at the Royal Court Theatre. Together they have created a PR team to be reckoned with, which aims to provide an extremely high-quality, tailor-made service to its varied list of clients.

As specialists in the world of theatre Ryan and Ben have between them over 25 years of experience in Arts PR. Joining forces has meant that their clients are benefitting from their combined experience as well as the quality of service that they are renowned for individually - now enhanced by their collaboration.

Ben Chamberlain has worked in arts marketing and PR for over 15 years; starting his career in a small agency, moving on to English National Opera and, later, Battersea Arts Centre. He established Chamberlain AMPR, alongside Clair Chamberlain, in 1999 to offer an integrated marketing and PR service primarily to arts sector clients. The company has established long and productive relationships with many key clients.

Ryan Petersen worked in-house and in agency press offices regionally and in the capital before joining Kirwin Media in 1999 where, over five years, he publicised over 40 West End theatre productions and managed the public relations activity for many of the industry’s high-profile performers and directors. In 2004 he established Petersen Public Relations and was retained by Disney Theatrical Productions, alongside other freelance work.

The Corner Shop is retained year-round to work on Matthew Bourne’s work for New Adventures, the Menier Chocolate Factory, Disney’s ‘The Lion King’, Cameron Mackintosh’s Avenue Q, and the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park. Other project-based work this summer includes West Side Story at Sadler’s Wells, The Wizard of Oz at Southbank Centre. The autumn sees a new show for creative producers Artichoke and a return to the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. In January 2009 the team will launch a British production of the new musical, Spring Awakening, at Lyric Hammersmith.

The Corner Shop team also includes Marketing specialist, Clair Chamberlain, and Press Assistant, Laura Macleod Brown

The Corner Shop’s current and recent projects include:

Matthew Bourne – New Adventures
Ongoing media management for Matthew Bourne and all of his UK and International work with New Adventures. Currently includes a national tour of Nutcracker!; the international and UK tours, and the London run, of Edward Scissorhands, and the world premiere of his new work Dorian Gray, which opens at the Edinburgh International Festival before a run at Sadler’s Wells and a UK tour

The Menier Chocolate Factory
Ongoing media management for all productions and subsequent West End transfers. Currently The Common Pursuit, by Simon Gray. The next production which will open on August 4th is They’re Playing Our Song, a musical starring Connie Fisher and Alistair McGowan. Recent transfers have included Little Shop of Horrors, Sunday in the Park With George, and Dealer’s Choice

Disney Theatrical Productions
Ongoing PR services to Disney’s ‘The Lion King’; one of the most successful musicals in the history of the West End

Cameron Mackintosh Ltd
Ongoing PR services to Avenue Q; one of the rudest musicals in the history of the West End

Spring Awakening
Press and PR for a British production of the new musical Spring Awakening, based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial play. It will open at Lyric Hammersmith in January 2009

Southbank Centre
Press and PR for the Southbank Centre’s summer musical – The Wizard of Oz at the Royal Festival Hall, directed by Jude Kelly

Open Air Theatre, Regents Park
The Company is managing new Artistic Director Timothy Sheader’s first season which includes Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream - re-imagined for everyone aged 6 and over, and Lerner and Loewe’s Gigi. The season’s company includes Janie Dee, Lisa O’Hare, Millicent Martin, Clive Rowe and Topol

Ambassador Theatre Group
The 50th anniversary production of West Side Story at Sadler’s Wells in Summer 08 and a subsequent nationwide tour

Artichoke
Ben Chamberlain handled the PR for The Sultan’s Elephant, by Royal de Luxe, produced by Artichoke in May 2006. The Telectroscope, an engineering installation by Paul St George, appeared in London and Brooklyn, New York in May 2008. The next project is a monumental outdoor project for Liverpool City of Culture 2008 by French company La Machine in September 2008.

ALEX – on tour and London run
Following a sold out 10 week run in London last year, this stage adaptation of the ever popular Daily Telegraph cartoon strip will tour internationally and then in the UK and play a short pre-Christmas London season.

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds
In September last year The Corner Shop delivered the PR campaign for the re-opening of the building following a £5million restoration. After the success of the opening production Black Eyed Susan, the theatre this September will be producing another Georgian drama – Wives As They Were, and Maids As They Are.

Mama Group plc
Group marketing and PR management for the live music division of this company. The venue estate includes Hammersmith Apollo, the Forum, the Barfly Group, the Jazz Café, Borderline and Garage as well as the Lovebox and Great Escape festivals.

Marketing Consultancy on behalf of RSC, NT, ENB, ROH & ENO
Marketing consultancy on an ‘Infrequent Attendees Project’. Clair Chamberlain recently collaborated with the National Theatre, RSC, English National Ballet, Royal Opera House and the ENO to generate ideas and ways of making people increase attendance across all five organisations.