Latest News.
David Fleischer
David Fleischer, our 2016 scholarship recipient, is currently finalising an exciting travel work program for 2017 and we thought you would like an update on his design commissions for this year.
Earlier in the year, David designed the set and costumes for STC's The Golden Age by Louis Nowra, set and costumes for Power Plays at STC, and is currently in rehearsals for David Mamet's Speed The Plow also at STC directed by Andrew Upton, starring Lachy Hulme, Damon Herriman and Rose Byrne.
Images of his work to date can be found on his website: davidfleischer.com
Nutcracker - The Story of Clara
Nutcracker - The Story of Clara, brilliantly designed by Kristian Fredrikson, will be part of The 2017 SEASON OF THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET.
A joyful celebration of ballet, a deeply moving life story, and an affectionately humorous depiction of the emigrant experience are masterfully interwoven in Graeme Murphy’s Nutcracker – The Story of Clara.
Created in 1992 for The Australian Ballet by one of the country’s most audacious and prolific choreographers, this ballet has become a modern Australian classic.
The company celebrates the 25th anniversary of this quintessentially Australian production with seasons at the Sydney Opera House from the 2-20 May, and at the Arts Centre Melbourne from 2 -10 June.
Nutcracker – The Story of Clara departs from its whimsical fore-bear to tell a story grounded in real-world events and the history of ballet in Australia. In Murphy’s radical retelling, Clara is an elderly Russian emigrant and former prima ballerina, dreaming of her earlier days with love and sadness one feverishly hot Australian Christmas Eve in the late 1950s. Her story encompasses romance and loss, worldwide fame, war and revolution, and a journey to Australia which leads to her joining the nation’s earliest professional ballet company, sowing the seeds of The Australian Ballet.
In this two-act story ballet, the character of Clara is performed by three different dancers spanning the generations, seamlessly coming together and parting ways over the course of Clara’s recollections.
Nuanced set and costume designs by Kristian Fredrikson evoke the formative places in her life, from her Russian childhood to her retirement in sunburnt Australia. The world of Clara’s youth is rich in dreamlike details, with snowflakes whirling about the stage in fluttering white head-dresses, and giant golden blooms adorning the walls of the Tsar’s lavish ballroom.
The much loved score by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is at the very centre of this production as the catalyst for Clara’s nostalgic recollections, and the accompaniment to her fondest memories of performing.
A distinctly Australian inclusion in The Australian Ballet’s 2017 Season.
Coppélia by The Australian Ballet
In 2016, The Australian Ballet will be performing Coppélia, featuring Kristian Fredrikson’s magical designs. See it in Melbourne (23 Sep – 1 Oct) and Sydney (2 – 21 Dec). Tickets
Coppélia
A Film of The Australian Ballet Company's production of Coppélia is coming to Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como next year in 2017
Duration: 135 mins
Rating: CTC
Release Date: 29 April, 2017
Coppélia is a sparkling tale of magic and mischief, it was lovingly revived by founding Artistic Director Peggy van Praagh and Theatre Director George Ogilvie, and exquisitely dressed by master designer Kristian Fredrikson. It will have its world premiere in cinemas in 2017.
Widely known in children's literature, these tales are a great introduction to ballet for younger audiences and a timeless treat for aficionados.
Stage Presence at The Arts Centre
For those interested in Stage Design The Arts Centre Melbourne is presenting 'Stage Presence' an exhibition of designs, costumes and stage models from The Australian Performing Arts Collection.
The exhibition items include the work of Hugh Colman, Jennifer Irwin, Tony Tripp, Brian Thompson, Richard Jeziorny, Jenny Tate, and Roger Kirk.
The exhibition is designed by Anna Cordingley, the 2012 Fredrikson Scholarship recipient and features designs by Alicia Clements, the 2014 Fredrikson Scholarship recipient. It opens on 30th April and closes on 4th September in the Arts Centre Melbourne, Gallery 1.
Announcing the 2016 winner: David Fleischer
Sydney based designer David Fleischer is the 2016 recipient of The Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship For Design in The Performing Arts. David is a freelance designer, he graduated from The National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2009 where he now is an Associate Lecturer.
He plans to use the award of $12,000 to embark on a series of internships with three major European companies in London, Italy and Germany including The Komische Oper Berlin, run by Australian Barrie Kosky. David will also observe various current theatrical productions as well as attending major performing arts festivals.
This trip will fulfill David’s intention of expanding his exposure to international design practices and work possibilities beyond Australia.There will be a display of David's designs at the Arts Centre Melbourne in The Smorgon Family Plaza, opening April 4th and closing May 29th. To see more of David's designs please refer to www.davidfleischer.com
Reminder: applications close 1st December
There is less than a month until applications close for this round of the Scholarship.
Applications open October 1st 2015
The Founding Committee will soon be inviting applications for the 2016 scholarship. Applications for theatrical designers and makers open October 1st 2015 and close December 1st 2015. The successful recipient will be announced at The Green Room Awards 2016.
Please check the website closer to applications opening for an updated application form.
Michelle Potter on Kristian Fredrikson
We would like to draw to the attention of dance aficionados to Michelle Potter's Dance Diary link http://michellepotter.org.
Michelle is an independent dance writer, historian and curator, who interviewed Kristian for the Oral History and Folklore Collection at the National Library of Australia National Library Archives.
Previous Recipient Career Update
Alicia Clements
Things have been busy since receiving the scholarship with a lot of travel and exciting new opportunities arising! I used my funds to spend several months in London where I worked as an assistant designer, a costume supervisor as well as attending master classes and workshops. As an assistant to Isla Shaw I worked on productions that toured the UK, West End and Broadway, and I was lucky enough to join Shakespeare’s Globe as Costume Supervisor on their UK and European tour of “Much Ado About Nothing”.
I rounded out these practical experiences with several intensive short courses at Jenny Tiramani’s School of Historical Dress, taking classes in 18th Century Breeches, 1930’s Drapery, History of Armour, 17th Century Embroidery, and Tailoring. I was also invited attended a series of truly inspiring master classes at the National Theatre Studio.
During this extraordinary trip I found my wonderful agent and was offered my first production at Sydney Theatre Company. I am now based in Sydney and currently working on “Hamlet” for Bell Shakespeare and “Bajazet” for Pinchgut Opera.
Previous Recipient Career Update
Anna Cordingley
In the European autumn and winter of 2013, the Kristian Fredrikson Memorial Scholarship took me to Germany and the UK on a bender of theatre, opera, dance and fine art voyeurism. The ambition was to form ties and forge relationships with choice opera houses, theatre companies and (most importantly) Warburgian aficionados, and this I did.
Basing myself along the Landwehrkanal canal in east Kreuzberg, I attended the Volkshochschule each morning, Barrie Koskie’s rehearsals at Komische most afternoons and the Schaubuhne, the Volksbuhne, the Philharmonie, the Staatsopera etc etc of an evening. I devoured the entire program of Ruhrtriennale in the country’s west. And on the last of the warm days in October, staged a street art intervention with the children of Liegnitzer Strasse to rival all other design pursuits…
While living in Berlin, I designed the State Library of Victoria’s Victor Hugo exhibition (opened mid 2014); the research for which took me to France and Guernsey for discussions with conservators and curators at Maison de Victor Hugo, Hauteville House, the Musee Rodin and the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Come December and across the North Sea, I attended lectures marking the eightieth anniversary of the clandestine transportation of Aby Warburg’s formidable Kulturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek from Hamburg to London, and was humbled to meet the grandson and great grandchildren of the man himself.
Now in 2015, I’m designing for Sydney Festival, Melbourne festival, STCSA, Griffin & Arts House, lecturing at the Victorian College of the Arts and looking after Louis, the other magical project to grow from my time in Berlin.
Previous Recipient Career Update
Victoria Lamb
I designed two shows in 2014, “Kryptonite” for the Sydney Theatre Co. and "Othello" in Adelaide, for State Theatre SA.
Kryptonite was a real joy to design. An intelligent, new, two hander that looked at the current China/Australia relationship, by veteran writer Sue Smith.
It was a real privilege to get to design another Shakespeare production on the main stage. The production was a very physical, primal interpretation with a young cast including an Australian/Palestinian actor playing Othello. My set included 5 tonnes of sand.
I’m still in talks to confirm design commissions for this year. My miniatures work is going very well and it takes me to the US often, which I enjoy. I will be attending a big convention this March in Chicago.
Swan Lake
There is another chance to see Kristian Fredrikson’s beautiful designs for Graeme Murphy’s ‘Swan Lake’. It opens the Australian Ballet’s 2015 season on 20th of February at The Capital Theatre in Sydney. It was first presented by the Australian Ballet in Melbourne in 2002 and last year made its US West coast premiere in Los Angeles before traveling to San Francisco. The Sydney season is from 20th to 28th of February 2015.
Announcing 2014 Recipient of The Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship for Design in The Performing Arts
The Founding Committee has great pleasure in announcing that West Australian designer Alicia Clements is the 2014 recipient of The Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship For Design in The Performing Arts. The official presentation will take place at The Green Room Awards on 28th April at The Comedy Theatre Melbourne.
There will be a display of Alicia’s designs in The Smorgon Family Plaza at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, until 11th of May.
Alicia Clements Biography
Alicia studied Design at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. She graduated in 2008 and received the inaugural David Hough Award for Outstanding Achievement. In 2011 she traveled to Paris to study the design development of menswear as part of an internship and went on to receive several professional development grants from The Australia Council for the Arts.
In 2012 Alicia was made Resident Designer with Black Swan State Theatre Company in Perth. She has designed 11 productions for the company since 2009, and has received three Equity Guild nominations for ‘Best Design’ for her work. Alicia has also collaborated with Barking Gecko Theatre Company designing, the Helpmann Award Nominated productions of Duck, Death and the Tulip and Driving into Walls, and assisting Gypsy Taylor on her Helpmann Award nominated design for The Red Tree.
Alicia has contributed set and costume designs for productions by, Deckchair Theatre Company, STEPS Youth Dance Company and Onward Productions. In 2013 she joined Will O’Mahony in forming The Skeletal System, a theatre company dedicated to new Australian work. The Skeletal System is one of six West Australian independent companies to be awarded the inaugural THEATRE WORKS Grant by the Department of Culture and the Arts.
Alicia is currently working in London, where she is costume supervisor for a production of Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe. She is also assisting designer Isla Shaw on a number of productions which are touring the West End and venues throughout the United Kingdom.
Alicia will return to Australia in June to design a site-specific production of The Emperor of Atlantis for the newly established opera company, Lost and Found. She will also work as designer and producer on a development season of Coma Land, a new play by award-winning writer/director Will O'Mahony.
2014 Scholarship recipient to be announced at The Green Room Awards
Congratulations to designer Anna Cordingley, our 2012 scholarship recipient on her two 2013 Green Room Award Nominations, set and costume design with Romanie Harper for M+M (Daniel Schlusser Ensemble) in The Ensemble Category, and set and costume design for The Bloody Chamber (Malthouse Theatre) in The Theatre Company Category.
The 2014 Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship recipient will be announced and presented by Fiona Reilly as part of The Green Room Awards at the Comedy Theatre on April 28th.
Applications Closed
Thank-you for all the applications we received, they are now being assessed.
The selection committee have been very impressed with the high standard of work submitted.Applicants will be notified in late February.
Applications Open
We are pleased to announce that applications are officially open for the 2014 Scholarship.
Please visit the 'APPLY' page on our website and follow the instructions on the downloadable application form. Please note that applications will close on Monday 2nd December 2013.
Latest News
Application Information
The Founding Committee will soon be inviting applications for the 2014 scholarship. Applications for theatrical designers and makers open October 1st 2013 and close December 1st 2013. The successful recipient will be announced at The Green Room Awards 2014.
Please check the website closer to applications opening for an updated application form.
New Founding Committee Member
The Founding Committee has pleasure in announcing that Designer Hugh Colman has joined the committee, and we look forward to his valuable contribution to the scholarship.
Previous Recipient Career Update
Anna Cordingley
Since receiving the Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship in March last year, I have worked on the following productions and exhibitions:
The White Night Letters Project by Anna Cordingley, White Night Melbourne, 2013 – Princes Bridge, Melbourne (As Director and Designer). Inside by Frank Woodley & Simon Yates, Token & The Sydney Festival – The Famous Spiegeltent, (As Set and Costume Designer). Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl by Melissa Madden Gray. The Southbank Centre, London, UK – Queen Elizabeth Hall, (As Set and Costume Designer). An Act of Now by Anouk van Dijk, Chunky Move & Melbourne International Arts Festival – Sidney Myer Music Bowl (As Costume Designer). War Horse & The Breath of Life by Tim Fisher. National Theatre, London & Arts Centre Melbourne, Collections & Exhibitions (As Exhibition Designer & Assistant Curator).
I undertook a reconnaissance mission to the Warburg Institute, London in December of last year and shall return for a series of conferences later in 2013. I am currently engaged in the following projects in Australia before leaving for Germany in August:
Phèdre by Jean Racine, Bell Shakespeare, CUB Malthouse – the Merlyn & Sydney Opera House – the Playhouse. Directed by Peter Evans, (As Set and Costume Designer). Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine. Victorian Opera, The Arts Centre, Melbourne – the Playhouse. Directed by Stuart Maunder, (As Set and Costume Designer). The Extraordinary Shapes of Geoffrey Rush by Margaret Marshall & Geoffrey Rush. The Arts Centre Melbourne, Collections & Exhibitions – Gallery One. Curated by Margaret Marshall, (As Exhibition Designer). The Bloody Chamber By Angela Carter. Malthouse Theatre, CUB Malthouse - the Merlyn. Directed by Matthew Lutton, (As Set and Costume Designer).