March 28, 2017

2017 AUCKLAND FRINGE AWARD WINNERS 

AUCKLAND FRINGE FESTIVAL 

21st February – 12th March 2017 

Auckland Fringe has fired its last paintball, voiced its 621st and final opinion, and delivered its last love token for 2017. And after three weeks of city-wide performance, installations and community events, our panel of 22 industry judges sat down together to play a giant game of critical tug-of-war. Three and a half hours later, we had a list of the most superlative, virtuosic and downright Fringey moments of the festival. Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2017 Auckland Fringe Awards: 

BEST IN FRINGE:
‘Rushes’directed by Malia Johnston in collaboration with Eden Mulholland & Rowan Pierce 

SPIRIT OF THE FRINGE AWARD:
‘Lookout’ created by Andy Field 

UNFUCK THE WORLD/SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD:
‘Jane Doe’, created by Eleanor Bishop 

BEST CABARET, CIRCUS & VARIETY:
‘For Connor’ by Rochelle Mangan 

BEST COMEDY:
‘Aunty’ by Johanna Cosgrove 

BEST CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE & LIVE ART:
‘Power Ballad,’ created by Julia Croft, directed by Nisha Madhan 

BEST DANCE:
‘Josie’s Solo’ by Josie Archer 

BEST STORYTELLING & SPOKEN WORD:
Vanessa Crofskey in the Basement Salon 

BEST THEATRE SHOW:
‘We May Have To Choose’ written & performed by Emma Hall, directed by Prue Clark

BEST VISUAL ARTS:
‘Liminal Space’ by Kiri McKenna & Jade Kake

BEST NEWCOMER:
Freya Finch for ‘Shabbat Shalom & Thank You For Coming’

BEST DIRECTION:
Prue Clark for ‘We May Have to Choose’

BEST PERFORMER:
Julia Croft for ‘Power Ballad’

BEST ENSEMBLE:
The cast of ‘Rushes’

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – LIGHTING & AV:
Jo Kilgour (lighting) & Rowan Pierce (AV) for ‘Rushes’

BEST SOUND DESIGN OR MUSICAL SCORE:
Geoff Henderson for ‘The Floating Theatre’

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN OVERALL:
Stephen Bain & the design team of ‘The Floating Theatre’

BEST “OFF-BROADWAY” VENUE:
Garnet Station

JUDGES SPECIAL COMMENDATION (Spirit of Fringe):
Alice Canton for 17 versions of ‘Little Sister’ in the Basement Salon

JUDGES SPECIAL COMMENDATION (Performance):
Beth Kayes for ‘Once There Was a Woman’

AUCKLAND FRINGE HERO:
Basement Theatre Venue TechnicianSam Clavis

AUCKLAND FRINGE HERO:
‘Town Meetings’ creator, artist mentor & Auckland Fringe advocate Nisha Madhan

Industry Opportunity Awards:

AUCKLAND ARTS FESTIVAL AWARD FOR BEST OF THE FRINGE:  
Co-winners: ‘Rushes’ and ‘The Floating Theatre’

The Auckland Arts Festival Award is awarded for the ongoing development and life of an outstanding production looking to tour in both New Zealand and overseas. The award includes $2,000 and mentoring advice from the Auckland Arts Festival team.  

AUCKLAND LIVE PRESENTATION AWARD – ‘Jane Doe’

The Auckland Live Presentation Award celebrates the creation of high-quality Fringe work that has the potential to reach wider audiences. Auckland Live will work closely with the winning practitioners to raise and develop their profile, build marketing resources and broker industry relationships and build on successes.

Auckland Live will contribute a budget to co-present and deliver a season in partnership with the company, and will provide full venue, technical and marketing budget toward the presentation.

BASEMENT THEATRE, DUNEDIN FRINGE & FORTUNE THEATRE’S ‘FROM FRINGE TO FORTUNE’ AWARD:  
‘Power Ballad’

The ‘From Fringe to Fortune’ award assists one lucky show performed at Basement Theatre during Auckland Fringe to perform in the 2018 Dunedin Fringe at the Fortune Theatre. The show chosen will be given $1000 toward touring costs, free registration for the Dunedin Fringe, accommodation for the duration of their stay, marketing assistance, pre-tour mentoring from Basement Theatre, two weeks rehearsal space in Auckland and a fee waiver for performing at the Fortune in the Fringe season.

AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY’s ‘HERE & NOW’ AWARD:
Vanessa Crofskey

The Auckland Theatre Company’s HERE & NOW AWARD recognises an outstanding Fringe work that is either created by young/emerging artists or speaks directly to a teenage/young adult audience. The recipient of the HERE & NOW AWARD has the opportunity to remount their work at the inaugural HERE & NOW Festival at the ASB Waterfront Theatre 21 – 24 April. The recipients will also receive mentoring and production support for the HERE & NOW season of their show.