The Biennial Committee
The Linbury Biennial is steered by a committee: Anya Sainsbury (chairman), Professor Pamela Howard, Tim Hatley, Sean Crowley, Vicki Mortimer and Philip Lawford (administrator of the Linbury Trust).
Anya Sainsbury had a distinguished career as Anya Linden with the Royal Ballet Company from 1951 to 1965, becoming a ballerina in 1958. After retiring from the company, she studied stage design at the Slade School of Art. She has continued to be actively involved in the Royal Ballet School and the Rambert School, both as a teacher and on their governing bodies. Anya established the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design in 1987.
Professor Pamela Howard is a practising scenographer, director, curator, teacher and writer. Her book, What is Scenography? (Routledge UK/USA), has now been translated into several languages. She is the director, creator and writer of a new English-language version of La Celestina (Fernando de Rojas 1499 ) to be published by Oberon Books. In March 2003 she designed Victory by Howard Barker for the International Theatre Season, Teatr Wyspolczesny, Wroclaw, Poland. In 2005 she will direct and design The Greek Passion (Martinu/Kazantsakis), National Theatre of Northern Greece Opera, Thessaloniki. In 2005 she will become the Artistic Director of Oxmarket 2 - a new visual arts and performance complex in Chichester, W.Sussex. Her second book Designing Nothing is in preparation.
Tim Hatley trained at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and was a Linbury winner in 1989. Winner of the 2002 Olivier Award, 2002 Tony Award & 2002 Drama Desk Award for Best Set Design for Private Lives (West End & Broadway) and Humble Boy (RNT/ West End). He has also worked with a wide range of companies including Théâtre de Complicité, Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Donmar Warehouse, Almeida, ENO, Scottish Opera, Opera North, Northern Ballet and English National Ballet.
Sean Crowley graduated from Wimbledon School of Art in 1985. He has worked across the UK and Europe as a designer. In September 1999 Sean became Head of Design at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He continues to design although his greater commitment is now given to education. Sean has recently become the UK representative on the OISTAT education commitee, and will be co-ordinating the Scenofest at the Prague Quaddrennial in 2007.
Vicki Mortimer studied at the Slade School of Art and her opera designs include Cosě fan tutte, The Miserly Knight, Gianni Schicchi (GFO); Jephtha, Jenůfa, Kát’a Kabanová (WNO); The Turn of the Screw (Scottish Opera); Salome (ENO). She has worked extensively with the RSC and NT,. She has also designed for Random Dance Co; the Royal Ballet; NDT; the Almeida Theatre; Donmar Warehouse; Crucible Theatre, Sheffield; Gate Theatre; Shochiku Theatre, Japan; National Theatre, Ireland. Recent work includes Waves, The Seagull, Attempts on Her Life, The Man of Mode, A Matter of Life and Death (NT); The Wild Duck (Donmar Warehouse); costumes for Fiddler on the Roof and Nine (Broadway); Jumpers (NT, Piccadilly Theatre, Broadway); Easter and Natt och Drommar (Royal Dramatic Theatre Stockholm); Boy Gets Girl, Mountain Language/Ashes to Ashes, My Zinc Bed, The Country (Royal Court); The Seagull (RSC and tour); The Real Thing (Donmar Warehouse, West End, Broadway).
Lady Deborah MacMillan studied at the National Art School in East Sydney. She has exhibited widely in London since 1984, and her paintings have been seen at Fischer Fine Art, Camden Arts Centre, the ICA, Jason and Rhodes, the Contemporary Art Society, the Royal Academy, Glyndebourne Opera and the Royal Opera House. She has also carried out many public roles, which currently include honorary board member, American Ballet Theatre; board member National Youth Dance Company; trustee Wimbledon School of Art.