Getting to know... Chris Rhodes

In the latest instalment of Bdaily's Getting to know feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Chris Rhodes, founder and creative director of London-based creative production agency Experience, talks about the influence of Jaws at a young age, the thrill of delivering a live show and how a brush with the small screen has turned him into an antique hunter…

We know you as the creative director of Experience, but who is the person behind the title? Did you always want to work in the events sector?

I struggled with reading at school but found plays easy. 

The stage directions and dialogue painted pictures for me in a way novels never did. That drew me into drama classes, which introduced me to scenic design.

When I was about 13, I read an article in FHM about a group of friends in the US who screened Jaws on a bed sheet stretched between trees by a lake. 

They floated in rubber rings while another friend in scuba gear gave them a fright at key moments.

It was mischief, theatre and storytelling all rolled into one, and it stuck with me. 

Leaving school, I was torn between scenic design at Bretton Hall and graphic design at Falmouth. 

I chose Falmouth, tempted by the coast and by the new iMacs that suddenly made design feel instant and exciting. 

That decision taught me the power of a good idea.

After graduating, I moved to London with my portfolio. 

I had interest from design agencies, but took a role with an audio-visual company creating on-screen content and preparing graphics for stage sets and signage. 

Then, one day, the scenic designer left, and I was asked to take over. 

Suddenly everything came together. 

The storytelling and conceptual thinking from my degree collided with my earlier love of theatre, moving people through spaces and engaging an audience.

What is the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best part is still the thrill of delivering a live show. 

I love the build-up, the nerves before it begins and the moment when the audience experiences something for the first time. 

There is nothing quite like creating that sense of wonder.

I enjoy the challenge of problem-solving, finding new ways to reveal a space, move people through it and make them say ‘wow’. 

That mix of theatrical craft and showmanship is what keeps me hooked.

The hardest part is how fast the industry moves. 

Deadlines come thick and fast, and entire years seem to disappear in a blur of projects. 

I also miss being fully hands-on with design. 

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

I am proud of building Experience and sustaining it for nearly two decades. 

We have navigated some incredibly tough times, not least the pandemic, and come out stronger on the other side. 

I am proud of the shows we have staged in extraordinary venues, and just as much of the people who have grown with us along the way. 

On a personal level, I still get a buzz from walking into a place like the Albert Hall and seeing a stage set that began as a sketch on my desk. 

Those moments remind me why I started. 

How do you relax outside of work?

I enjoy drawing and painting, though I often relax most when I am designing for myself. 

House renovations and interiors have become a real passion. 

I like the problem-solving that comes with reimagining a space.

I would love to take on an old farmhouse in France or Spain, and spend time carefully restoring it.

What makes London such a great place to live and work?

The cultural diversity.

London brings together influences from all over the world, and that variety feeds creativity in a way I’ve not found anywhere else. 

You can walk through different neighbourhoods in a single day and feel as though you have travelled across continents.

The city is constantly evolving. It is fast moving, restless and full of ideas.

I have worked in many other capitals, but London always feels like the place where new movements begin before spreading worldwide. 

Tell us something about you we didn't know…

A few years ago, I somehow ended up on BBC’s Bargain Hunt with my ex-wife. 

I didn’t especially enjoy the filming, but it sparked something unexpected, and I’ve since become an antiques hunter. 

Wherever I travel, whether in the UK or abroad, I love seeing what unusual treasures I can find – and I’ve picked up some real gems. 

It might not be the most rock and roll hobby, but it is something I really enjoy.

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