March 11, 2013

NZ FRINGE AWARDS 2013  

The 23rd New Zealand Fringe Festival celebrated and honoured the hard work, innovation, talent and vibrant energy of 100 events over three amazing weeks with an Award ceremony held Sunday 10th March at The Front Room.

The evening also honoured the recurrent theme of Fringe 2013 – audience participation, with brilliant ad-libbed musical accompaniment from Vance Fontaine and his Peculiar Sensations, an impromptu ping pong ball explosion and inspiring dance by swing band Shake Em on Downers.

Best in Fringe Award recognised the powerful Binge Culture Collective event The Whales, which saw a pod of human whales swim through the city, beach on the harbour waterfront and require care and rescuing by the public. Hundreds of families and concerned citizens took the time to help the pod back into the water. A magic event for all involved.

And awards for services to the Fringe went to Conrad Coom for literally building the Fringe and MCing Fringe events with spirit and hilarity. Writer Uther Dean was also recognised for involvement in seven Fringe shows and reviewing all the others. We salute these hard working individuals.  

The Fringe judges were impressed with the level of audience interaction, social awareness, clever lo-tech production design and the massive use of cardboard in Fringe 2013!

The Fringe would like to sincerely thank our sponsors; Creative New Zealand, Wellington City Council, Pub Charity, Wellington Community Trust, The Lion Foundation, Creature, I-Site, Verb, Resene, Radio Active, Tiki Wines, Tuatara, and Mojo Coffee.

(Nominees are alphabetical.)

Best Outdoor Award
Nominated: Campground Chaos
Winner: The Whales

Best Comedy Award
Nominated: Gobsmacked: Showbiz and Dating, Signfeld and Friendz
Winner: Corner Diary 

Best Dance Award
Nominated: Feet of Clay, Gizza Hoon
Winner: How to Make Friends and Still Appear Normal

Best Visual / Digital Art Award
Nominated: BYOB Wellington, Resonant Beings
Winner: The Cuba Street Project

Best Theatre Award
Nominated: A Cry Too Far From Heaven, The Road That Wasn’t There
Joint Winners: Madam X and Mister Q, Affinity

Best Music Award  
Nominated: Adam Page and special mention for We Build This City for bringing musical joy to the public 
Winner: Explorer’s Club: Antarctica  

Best Production Design Award
Nominated: Feet of Clay, Light Sleepers Wake, Madam X and Mister Q
Winner: A Play About Space 

Stand Out Performer Award
Nominated: Emily Taylor (Cannonball), Fern Wallingford (Madam X and Mister Q), Jade Gilles (A Cry Too Far From Heaven), Melissa Phillips (Gizza Hoon), Neenah Dekkers-Reihana (Affinity)
Winner: Anna Renzenbrink (Spider Dance)

Best Newcomer Award
Nominated: Jade Gilles (A Cry Too Far From Heaven), Making Friends Collective (Rageface)
Winner: Natalie Clark (How to Make Friends and Still Appear Normal)

Best Solo Award
Nominated: Adam Page (Adam Page), Debs Rea (Take Back the Hood)
Winner: Emily Taylor (Cannonball)

Best Ensemble Award
Nominated: A Play About Space, Madam X and Mister Q
Winner: Little Town Liars: A Musical

Best Promotion Award
Nominated: Gizza Hoon, Take Back the Hood, The Lady Garden
Winner: Corner Diary

CNZ Innovation Award
Nominated: Beep Test, For Your Future Guidance, The Lady Garden
Winner: The Whales (Binge Culture Collective)

Servicing the Fringe Award
Winners: Conrad Coom, Uther Dean 

Best of the NZ Fringe 2013
Winner: The Whales (Binge Culture Collective)