The DIY performance scene is built on moments — the legendary nights that shift what feels possible, spark new aesthetics, and ripple through generations of artists. But when those moments fade without being documented, the knowledge that shaped them disappears too. Future makers lose access to the experiments, risks, and quiet backstage labour that made those nights matter.
This guide exists to change that.
Part scrapbook, part handbook, part collective memory, we’ve gathered the behind‑the‑scenes wisdom of performers, producers, organisers, and audiences who keep independent performance platforms alive.
It’s a shared resource for anyone who wants to make things happen outside the mainstream: a place where stories sit alongside practical tools, where templates meet reflections, and where past successes (and failures) can help shape what comes next.
Think of it as a companion for future DIY makers — a way to honour what has come before while equipping the next wave of artists to build, experiment, and imagine boldly.
The Scratch Consortium are the artists/collectives/partnerships that led each of the six Scratch Renaissance nights. Some of these nights existed before Scratch Renaissance while others were developed as part of the project. Below you can read more about these nights and read contributions from their creators.