The Linbury Prize for Stage Design 2019


Interesting exhibition at the National Theatre showcasing the shortlisted designers for the Linbury Award award.

Drawn from recent graduates of theatre design course, 20 are chosen by a panel to present their work to one of the four commissioning theatres who each chose three to work with. Each designer was then asked to produce a design for one of their forthcoming productions. The prize is then to see their design realised.

It’s fascinating to see three designs for the same show and see the effect of a different set and costumes. Each design was represented by set models, sketchbooks and textiles.

 I loved Zoe Hurwtiz’s design for a play called Acid at the Nuffield Southampton Theatre which consisted of a glass box with dancers inside, figures outside and a loan figure on a chair behind the box. Different lighting highlighted the different aspects of the set. I would love to see this in action.

I also liked the winner Sami Fendall’s design for a ballet set in a hotel which looked like a corridor with layers of doors which move to create different spaces.

Closes 4 April 2020

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