Self-Tape Studio London — Wapping, East London
STU 22 is a self-tape studio in Wapping, East London, five minutes from Wapping Overground. Self-tapes are recorded in The Portal, an acoustically treated, sound-isolated room with a plain mid-grey backdrop — the backdrop most UK casting briefs ask for. Hire is £35 per hour excluding VAT (£42 including VAT), with a one-hour minimum. You can shoot it yourself on your own phone or camera, or add a camera, lighting and an operator. A reader can be arranged in advance. STU 22 holds a 24-hour premises licence, so late-night and early-morning slots are available when a casting deadline lands overnight.
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What you get for £35 an hour
| Room | The Portal — acoustically treated with isolated sound, so there is no traffic noise, no room echo and no audio to re-record |
|---|---|
| Backdrop | Plain mid-grey, the standard UK casting briefs specify |
| Lighting and grip | Basic lighting and grip kit included in the rate — Aputure continuous lighting, C-stands, modifiers |
| Included as standard | Power, cleaning and studio operations. No equipment fee, no cleaning fee, no facility fee |
| Minimum hire | 1 hour |
| Rate | £35 per hour excluding VAT (£42 including VAT) |
Add a reader or an operator
Most actors book the room, set up a phone on a tripod and shoot it themselves. Two things can be added if you would rather not:
| A reader | Someone to read the other lines off-camera. Available on request as a paid add-on — tell us when you book so we can arrange it. It cannot be added on the day. |
|---|---|
| Camera and operator | Camera, lighting and an operator, so you can concentrate on the performance. Paid add-on, quoted when you book. |
Self-tape deadlines and late-night slots
Self-tape briefs usually arrive with 24 to 48 hours on them, and most studios close at six. STU 22 holds a 24-hour premises licence. Standard opening is 08:00 to 22:00 seven days a week, and overnight or early-morning sessions are available on request at special rates. If the tape is due tomorrow, message +44 7871 170152 on WhatsApp — same-day bookings are taken that way rather than through the form.
What to bring
Your sides, your phone or camera, and a tripod or phone clamp if you have one. Shoot in landscape unless the brief says otherwise, frame from mid-chest up for a standard slate, and wear something plain that separates you from a mid-grey background — avoid grey, and avoid busy patterns. Bring a reader if you have one you like working with; otherwise ask us in advance. Come a few minutes early so the setup time is not coming out of your hour.
Getting here
| Address | 8-10 Sampson Street, Wapping, London E1W 1NA |
|---|---|
| Wapping Overground | 5 minute walk |
| Shoreditch | 10 minutes |
| Canary Wharf | 10 minutes |
| Nearby | Short walk from Tobacco Dock and St Katharine Docks |
If you need more than a self-tape
The same building holds two other rooms, so a self-tape session can be combined with anything else you need shot on the day. The Cove is a 16ft × 16ft seamless white infinity cove with 12ft ceilings, used for headshots and portraits, at £120 per hour. The Blackout is a 26ft × 19ft total light-seal stage at £110 per hour, used for showreel material and cinematic pieces. Every rate and dimension is listed on the facts page, and the three rooms are compared on studios. All prices exclude VAT at 20%.
Common questions
How much does a self-tape studio cost in London?
At STU 22 a self-tape room is £35 per hour excluding VAT, which is £42 including VAT, with a one-hour minimum. That covers the room, the mid-grey backdrop, a basic lighting and grip kit, power, cleaning and studio operations. A reader and a camera operator are paid add-ons quoted when you book.
Do you provide a reader for self-tapes?
Yes, on request. A reader is a paid add-on and has to be arranged in advance rather than on the day, so mention it when you book. If you would rather bring your own reader, that is fine and costs nothing extra.
Do I need to bring my own camera?
Not necessarily. Most actors shoot self-tapes on a phone, and the room is set up so that works well. If you would rather not handle it yourself, a camera, lighting and an operator can be added as a paid add-on, quoted when you book.
What colour is the backdrop?
Plain mid-grey, which is what most UK casting briefs specify for self-tapes. If a brief calls for something else, tell us when you book and we will tell you honestly whether we can match it.
Can I record a self-tape late at night or at the weekend?
Yes. STU 22 is open 08:00 to 22:00 seven days a week, and holds a 24-hour premises licence, so overnight and early-morning sessions are available on request at special rates. Self-tape deadlines are usually 24 to 48 hours, so this is the reason most actors end up here rather than at a studio that shuts at six.
Where is the studio?
8-10 Sampson Street, Wapping, London E1W 1NA — a five-minute walk from Wapping Overground, ten minutes from Shoreditch and ten minutes from Canary Wharf.
How do I book a last-minute self-tape?
Message +44 7871 170152 on WhatsApp. Same-day and next-morning slots are handled there rather than through the booking form, which is better suited to dates further out.
Book a self-tape slotWhatsApp +44 7871 170152
Last updated: 11 September 2026. Rates and add-ons are current as of this date and exclude VAT at 20% unless stated.