January 21, 2010

NZ Scenography 1975-2015

sam trubridge    posted 10 Oct 2009, 09:13 AM / edited 10 Oct 2009, 05:30 PM

I am currently working as the NZ editor on a publication entitled ‘World Scenography’. This book surveys scenography of the world from 1975 to the present in three volumes: 1975-1990, 1990-2001, and 2001-2015. We are now selecting works for Volume 1 (1975-1990) and will produce Volume 3 much later.

I am interested in getting your contribution to this publication by suggesting key works from each of these periods. A ‘top ten’ if you will. From each time period, or over all three, it’s up to you.

‘Scenography’ is a term for design applied to theatre productions in the form of sets, costumes etc, but is not exclusive to the decoration of the experience; since it can also account for a holistic approach to the performance and its construction. We are also selecting works from a wide range of events where performance interacts with – or is affected by – a striking and influential design. The opening of the 1990 Commonwealth Games is a good example, as are the costumes, hair, and makeup for the Split Enz performances.

Please feel free to be specific to theatre in your response, or alternatively as broad reaching as you like. This is the writing / documentation (in one output) of our country’s (largely undocumented) scenographic history, so please take the time to make your contribution. Maybe at a later date in this discussion I can disclose the works that we are currently considering, but for now I am interested in what YOUR opinions are.

Many thanks, Sam Trubridge

sam trubridge    posted 21 Jan 2010, 10:39 AM / edited 21 Jan 2010, 11:37 AM

Here is the final list of selected works. Please make any comments if you remember anything significant about them. This list has come from a process of consultation and discussion with members of the NZ theatre community. Your continued input is very helpful.

The Commonwealth Games Opening ‘Cultural Display’, 1990 (designer Joe Bleakley)

The Song Cycle, 1975 (Jack Body, Bill Manhire, Ralph Hotere)

The Holy Sinner, 1990 (Inside Out Productions, designer John Parker)

Split Enz (the costumes/hair/makeup of Noel Crombie et al, and Raewyn Turner’s lighting designs)

The Season of Shows at St Mary’s Cathedral, Theatre Corporate, 1979 (designer Iain Aitken)

Manon Lescaut, Mercury Opera (designer Iain Aitken)

Raymond Boyce’s dialogue between scenography and architecture at Downstage (includes a body of works)

The Sun Festival, Wellington, 1983 (designer Joe Bleakley)

Insolent River: A Romance (Michael Parmenter and Stuart Griffiths)

Macbeth, Downstage Theatre, 1990 (designer Tony Rabbit)

Jean. The Ballet of Jean Batten, Royal NZ Ballet (Kristian Fredrickson)

Face Value (Susan Jordan)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Auckland Summer Shakespeare, 1990 (Theatre at Large, designer Francis Rood)

The Cherry Orchard, Downstage Theatre (designer Raymond Boyce)

How On Earth (Douglas Wright)

Squatter, Mercury Theatre (designer Tracy Grant)

The Rivals, Downstage Theatre (designer Raymond Boyce)

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, St Mary’s Convent School (Warwick Broadhead)

Wild Cabbage, Depot Theatre (James Beaumont)

321Zero! Pacific (From Scratch)

A body of work by lighting designer Joe Hayes – at The Court Theatre

Sneers and Delusions at The Court Theatre

Oedipus Rex at The Court Theatre

I am short of images for some of the dance works – specifically those that demonstrate their design quality. Please email me: s.trubridge@massey.ac.nz if you have anything that you would like to pass on.