From March 18th the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff will host the 2011 exhibition ‘Transformation and Revelation’ presented by The Society of British Theatre Designers.
This is a unique opportunity for people to preview this extraordinary collection of work before it travels in part to represent the UK at the 2011 Prague Quadrennial International Exhibition this summer. A selection of designs will be on display at the V&A from 17th March 2012 – 30th September 2012 and will also be available as a UK touring exhibition.
The exhibition also offers an exclusive sneak preview of the new Royal Welsh College £22.5m development currently under construction which is due to open in the summer.
The exhibition will take place in a number of spaces including the newly built Richard Burton Theatre, and will mark the first public event to be housed in this exciting venue.
The exhibition, which takes place every four years, is a rare and unmissable chance to see a selection of the most innovative and ground breaking designs for performance realised between 2007 to 2011 by some of the UK’s most talented and prolific theatre designers.
The exhibition will include drawings, paintings and photographs, 3D artefacts, scale models, specialist props, costumes and puppets, and there will be extraordinary interactive exhibits from Lighting, Video and Sound designers, Theatre Consultants and Theatre Architects.
The total number of exhibitors anticipated is over 200. It will include notable designers such as Richard Hudson, Marie-Jeanne Lecca, Paul Brown, Bob Crowley, and Yolanda Sonnabend to name but a few. Designs on display will range from Antony Gormley’s Sutra with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the Shaolin Warrior Monks for Sadlers Wells to Es Devlin’s
designs and projections for the Lady Gaga Monsterball Tour. Ian MacNeil’s new designs for
the New York version of Billy Eliott will be shown alongside Lion King designer Richard Hudson’s latest works for dance.
The exhibition also includes work from emerging talents such as the very latest winners from the prestigious Linbury Biennial Competition. In addition the ACTD (Association of Courses in Theatre Design) schools exhibit will show work from UK design schools and colleges.
A full programme of workshops with exhibiting designers will be taking place with local schools, colleges and community groups throughout March and April 2011.
Design concepts for well known classics will be displayed alongside new works, stimulating engagement and imagination of both Industry professionals and public visitors.
The exhibition is open weekdays from 9.30 am to 8pm and weekends between 10am and 5pm between March 18th and April 16th 2011.
A full colour catalogue with editorial text and contributions from over 200 designers will also be available to purchase during (and after) the exhibition. A brilliant resource for anyone interested in art, drama and design, the catalogue will be influential beyond the life of the exhibition.
As recent cuts in arts funding threaten the future existence of our regional theatres and theatre companies, an exhibition promoting recognition of the UK’s diverse and rich pool of theatre design talent is crucial to help inspire the support necessary for the survival and development of British theatre, encouraging a new audience for theatre and inspiring a new generation of designers.
Geoffrey Marsh, Director of the Department of Theatre at the V&A said:
“We are delighted that a selection of the best designs will be shown at the V&A as part of the Museum’s celebration of modern British Design. UK designers are world leaders across this sector and the exhibition will provide an opportunity to promote their talents to a large British and International audience”.
Entrance to this exhibition is free.
