Award For New Zealand Team At Theatre Olympics

First Pq Jury Award For New Zealand Team At Theatre Olympics

The New Zealand national exhibition PART has won a special award at the Prague Quadrennial which is the theatre design equivalent of the Olympic Games.

The exhibition was one of only four to be awarded a special prize by the international jury - it was recognised for "bringing a sense of play to the Quadrennial". Also recognised were Canada for its clarity and national spirit, Greece for its presentation quality and for the work of its designers and the USA for its inclusivity and internationalism.

PART featured the work of nine New Zealand theatre designers Tracey Collins (Auckland), Bryan Caldwell (Auckland), Helen Todd (Auckland), Sue Gallagher (Auckland), Amy Wright (Auckland), Toni De Goldi (Wellington), Mark McEntyre (Christchurch), Martyn Roberts (Wellington) and Tracy Grant (Auckland).

PART was an innovative and experimental exhibition that broke free from being a passive viewing experience. Created from elastic and scaffold, it contained nine individual installations showcasing the design philosophies of each designer.

The New Zealand exhibit is an active experience for the visitor as they negotiate a labyrinth - a journey of decisions embodying the theatre design process.

The Prague Quadrennial is a unique international theatre competition and exhibition featuring the work of more than 50 countries around the world. It has been held every four years since 1967 and has included such well known names as Salvador Dali, Josef Svoboda, Ralph Koltai and Maria Bjornssen. An average of 30,000 people visit the exhibition each time.

PART has touched many people of all ages at the Prague Quadrennial with many coming back for repeat visits.

"The New Zealand exhibition has built on the success of the previous entry in 1999 to continue in pushing the boundaries of innovative and experimental theatre installations," says Tracey Collins, Co-Commissioner of the New Zealand Exhibit.

PART received support from Creative New Zealand, Wellington Institute of Technology and the contributing designers themselves.

Six of the winning designers are in Prague accompanying the New Zealand exhibition at the Prague Quadrennial which continues until 29 June 2003.

It is hoped that PART will tour New Zealand on its return and ignite the imagination of New Zealanders.

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