2019 Total Theatre Award winners announced
Since 1997, the Total Theatre Awards have been recognising innovative and artist-led performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Today the winners of the Total Theatre Awards 2019 were announced. Over the course of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe 25 peer assessors, comprised of artists, producers, programmers, curators, critics and academics assessed 403 shows across the first 11 days of the festival, from which a shortlist of 27 nominated shows was announced on 15 August 2019.
Following this, the nominated shows were viewed by a panel of 21 judges who have awarded seven awards across five categories – one Total Theatre & Theatre Deli Award for an Emerging Company / Artist; two Total Theatre, Rose Bruford & Theatre in the Mill Awards for Innovation, Experimentation & Playing with Form; one Total Theatre & Cambridge Junction Award for Physical/Visual Theatre; two Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Awards for Circus; and one Total Theatre & The Place Award for Dance. Following shortlisting an additional 57 eligible late opening (post short listing) shows were Assessed and Judged, resulting in a further 3Judges discretionary Awards being awarded; alongside one award for Significant Contribution.
Speaking about the award winners, Co-Directors Jo Crowley and Becki Haines said;
Today we celebrate 27 shortlisted artists, 7 award winners, 3 judges discretionary awards and a significant contribution. These visionary artists and theatre makers show the ability the sector has to carve essential discourse with society; gently and urgently provocating with immense skill, sensitivity, consideration, craft and care. In so doing, the shortlisted and winning artists collectively offer vital reflections, perspectives and insight into our society and times. They also remind us of the necessity for collective action across a spectrum of challenges and experiences to affect necessary change.
In 2019 Total Theatre Awards process has continued to rigorously re-evaluate what performance is by championing collective conversation between peers that culminates in the recognition of some of the worlds leading artists across this festival. Taking time for this carefully considered peer discourse, debate and dialogue, we can explore and reflect upon the vital role contemporary live performance, theatre makers and independent artists play.
The details of all the winners below:
The Total Theatre Award Winners 2019 are:
Total Theatre & Theatre Deli Award for an Emerging Company / Artist
Burgerz by Travis Alabanza
Hackney Showroom (England)
Traverse
Total Theatre & Cambridge Junction Award for Physical / Visual Theatre
Working On My Night Moves
Julia Croft and Nisha Madhan with Zanetti Productions (New Zealand)
Summerhall
Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus
Knot
Nikki & JD (England)
Assembly
Staged
Circumference (England)
Zoo
Total Theatre & The Place Award for Dance
Seeking Unicorns
Chiara Bersani / Associazione Culturale Corpoceleste (Italy)
Dance Base
Total Theatre, Rose Bruford College & Theatre in the Mill Award
for
Innovation, Experimentation & Playing with Form
Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster
Battersea Arts Centre and BAC Beatbox Academy (England)
Traverse
Tricky Second Album
In Bed with My Brother (England)
Pleasance
Judges Discretionary Award
The End
Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas (England)
Summerhall
Scottee: Fat Blokes
Scottee & Friends Ltd (England)
Assembly
The Forecast
Amy Bell, presented by The Place (England)
Dance Base
Significant Contribution Award
Jessica Brough and Fringe of Colour
