March 7, 2010

IT’S BEEN ONE HELLUVA FEST! AWARDS NOW NAMED  

The New Zealand Fringe Festival 2010  
Awards and Closing Night Party  
6pm March 7  
Paramount Theatre, Wellington  

The last New Zealand Fringe Festival ended with a question mark over its head about whether it would continue. It did, it rocked, and it will continue. Now Fringe 2010 has ended with a glorious bag with the naming of the best of all there is in 2010 and a new inductee for the Fringe Hall of Fame.  

The New Zealand Fringe Festival held its Award and Closing Night Party on March 7 at the Paramount Theatre, blowing out the candles on its 20th Birthday festival celebrations.

Fourteen awards were announced to celebrate the best on show at Fringe 2010, and a new member of the Fringe Hall of Fame was honoured. In 2009, Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords were inducted.

The night was hosted by Derek Flores and Vinyl Burns from talk show The Chit Chat Lounge and featured entertainment from this year’s crop of Fringe participants, including The Crimson Club and Galaxia.

In the spirit of the best sporting adage, Fringe 2010 producer Zelda Edwards said this year’s festival was a triumph in the face of adversity.

"This year was a battle that was fought hard and fought long," she said, " but we all are proud to have put on the best festival in the twenty years of Fringe.

"The Fringe is a festival that embraces and encourages the leading edge of arts and entertainment and despite the question marks that hung over this year’s event we’re beyond happy with how things turned out.

"We feel that in 2010 that the city really embraced the Fringe, from our opening day with the glorious Running of the Fringe right through to the end. We have to say thanks with all our heart to our supporters, the Wellington City Council and everyone who has not only put on a Fringe show but seen one as well.

"The Fringe is an essential part of New Zealand’s arts and culture, providing an opportunity for so many voices to be heard. Long may it continue," she said.

An announcement to the Fringe Festival’s future will be made in due course.

FRINGE 2010 AWARD NOMINEES AND WINNERS
(winners in bold)

BEST IN DANCE (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
How to be a Domestic Goddess
Footnote Perforum
Thricely? Precisely! A Pocketful Of Pips.

BEST IN MUSIC (supported by Radio Active 89FM)
Aphelion
Galaxia
Home

BEST IN VISUAL ART (supported by Resene)
The Princess and the Many Quilts
Nag

BEST IN OUTDOOR (supported by Phantom Billstickers)
Navigators
Storytime for the Hungry

BEST IN COMEDY (supported by Tuatara Brewery)
Ben Hur
Better Living

BEST IN THEATRE (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
A Love Tail
Who’s Neat? You!
Ruby Tuesday

MARKETING AWARD (supported by Creature)
Galaxia
Thricely? Precisely! A Pocketful Of Pips
Comediettes

BEST ONE MAN BAND (Solo Show)
Wannabe
Sun Drugs
The Immortals

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Pirates Vs Ninjas
Who’s Neat? You!
Aphelion
Nag
A Love Tail

MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT (supported by Springload)
The Princess and the Many Quilts
Galaxia
23 Pieces

WHERE DID YOU COME FROM? (Best Newcomer) (supported by Plum Café)
Wannabe
A Love Tail
For Real
The Princess And The Many Quilts

STAND OUT PERFORMER (supported by Team Capital Holden)
Paul Waggott (Sometimes I Don’t Like Yellow)
Isla Adamson (Ruby Tuesday)
Renee Lyons (Sunday Roast)

BEST OF FRINGE (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
The Princess and the Many Quilts

PICK OF THE FRINGE (supported by Downstage Theatre)
Both receive a return season at Downstage Theatre
Wannabe
Back/Words

Fringe Hall of Fame (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
BATS Theatre!