The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design culminates in a month-long exhibition at the National Theatre

Details of the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design Exhibition announced

4 October 2005, London: The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design, the national search for the country's most talented young stage designers, culminates in a month- long exhibition at the National Theatre, it was announced today. Four winners will go on to share around £50,000 in prize money and production sponsorship.

The Linbury Biennial Exhibition showcases the work of 12 young stage designers chosen from over 100 applicants to the prize. Since July they have been working with four of the UK's leading theatre and dance companies on models and designs for forthcoming productions. This year the participating companies are Bristol Old Vic, The Gate, Nottingham Playhouse and Random Dance.

The National Theatre exhibition attracts leading figures from the theatre industry looking for new stage design talent making it an extraordinary opportunity for exposure and recognition at an early stage in the designers' careers. From contacts made at the exhibition, many previous finalists have gone on to win commissions and forge highly successful careers, some receiving major awards for their work in stage design.

These include Tim Hatley, winner of an Olivier award and a Tony for Humble Boy and Private Lives; Anthony Ward, designer for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Stuart; Vicki Mortimer designer for Closer and Jumpers for The National Theatre and Adam Wiltshire whose work will be used on the main stage at the Royal Opera House this autumn.

Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director, National Theatre: "It is always an enormous pleasure to host the Linbury exhibition and I look forward with excitement to seeing what the new generation of stage designers are up to. The Linbury has consistently discovered and encouraged the best young designers and has become absolutely indispensable to the future of British theatre, opera and dance”.

The Linbury Biennial, founded in 1987 by Anya Sainsbury, is the only prize of its kind and gives recently graduated stage designers an unparalleled opportunity to work with professional theatre companies and collaborate with writers, directors and technical teams at a crucial stage in their careers.

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Exhibition Details
Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design Exhibition
12 November - 10 December 2005
Lyttleton Circle Foyer
National Theatre SE1
Opening Hours: 1000hrs - 2300hrs
Press Preview: Wednesday 16 November 1700hrs - 1900hrs. To attend the press preview please contact: Anna Cusden anna.cusden@kallaway.co.uk
020 7221 7883

Further Information

A dedicated online media resource supports the 2005 Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design. It contains full information about the Linbury Biennial and the competition. All press releases are made available on the site along with high-resolution pictures for download. View the site at: www.kallaway.co.uk/linbury.htm

High-resolution Pictures

Pictures of the selection day, the 12 finalists and the four artistic directors are available on our website. Set designs and commissioning company productions from the 2003 Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design can also be downloaded for your use. View and download images: www.kallaway.co.uk/linbury_picture_library.htm

Linbury Biennial Press And Competition Information

Anna Cusden (media) anna.cusden@kallaway.co.uk 020 7221 7883
David Nagle (competition) david.nagle@kallaway.co.uk 020 7221 7883

Notes To Editors

The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design was founded by Anya Sainsbury in 1987. The prize is open to recent graduates from theatre design courses across the country, many of whom are originally from outside the UK. Twelve finalists get the chance to work with four professional performing arts production companies and exhibit their work at the National Theatre. Four of the 12 win a commission to realise their designs with the commissioning companies and one student is awarded the overall winner's title. The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design is sponsored by the Linbury Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

Lady Anya Sainsbury CBE, Chair of the Linbury Biennial Committee.
After a distinguished career as Anya Linden with the Royal Ballet Company from 1951 to 1965, becoming a ballerina in 1958, she retired from the company and went on to study stage design at the Slade School of Art. She married John Sainsbury in 1963 and has continued to be actively involved in the Royal Ballet School and the Rambert School, both as a teacher and on their governing bodies.

About the Linbury Trust
The Linbury Trust is a charitable trust; it was established by Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG, and his wife Anya, Lady Sainsbury, CBE. The trustees of the Linbury Trust make grants to organisations and towards causes across a broad range of categories, including the Arts and Art Education, Social Welfare, Drug Abuse, Education, Environment and Heritage, Older People, Medical, and Developing Countries. Trustees give priority to causes in which they have a particular interest and where they have particular knowledge and experience, as exemplified by their support for the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design.