Dublin Fringe 2017 – Award Winners Announced

Best Fringe ever? It was certainly a good one, with lots of new and exciting work. You can see the winners from this year’s awards below. And the winners are…

Best Production Award

Presented by DUBIN FRINGE FESTIVAL to the show, production or event that has it all, displaying excellence in every area of production, design, performance, concept and execution. This award acknowledges the enormous work and talent that is poured into presenting work at the festival and honours the comprehensive production.

WINNER: 

NOT AT HOME by Emma Fraser (NINE CROWS) & Grace Dyas (THEATREclub)

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES

Everything Not Saved by Malaprop
MDLSX by Motus
Soldier Still by Junk Ensemble
The Half of It by MOMMO

Best Design Award

The award presented for outstanding lighting, sound, scenic, projection, costume or overall design.

WINNER:

Soldier Still by Junk Ensemble

For Overall Design, Costume and Set Design by Sabine Dargent, Lighting Design by Sarah Jane Shiels, Sound Design/Composition by Denis Clohessy, costume design by Sarah Foley

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:
Raven Eyed by Loosysmokes
Susanne R. Day’s Toilers – Her Lost Play – as reconstructed by Painted Bird
Talk Real Fine, Just Like A Lady by Amanda Coogan & Dublin Theatre of the Deaf
The Half of It by MOMMO

Best Performers Award

Two of the festival’s rightest stars and best performers will take home this much sought-after accolade from a field of up to 10 nominees. [Formerly given to best male and female, Fringe has broadened this category to suit all gender indentification]

WINNERS:

Lucy McCormick for Triple Threat
Silvia Calderoni for MDLSX by Motus

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

Alison Spittle for Alison Spittle; Worrier Princess
Anita Salako for NINE
Caoimhe O’Malley for NormalEfficacy 84
Donncha O’Dea for DUMMY
Ian Toner for The Shitstorm
Julie Maguire for Susanne R. Day’s Toilers – Her Lost Play – as reconstructed by Painted Bird
Karen Cogan for The Half of It
Siofra O’Meara for Efficacy 84

Best Ensemble Award

Sometimes it’s the entire cast that makes a show. Introduced in 2014, this award recognises the ensemble as the standout – the key and driving action behind a project or show.

WINNER:

Birdy by Eccles Theatre Group 

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

Fierce Notions by Ill Advised Theatre Co.
Foil Arms & Hog: OinK
How To Be Angry by Brazen Tales Productions
Soldier Still by Junk Ensemble

Judges Choice Award

Instituted in 2014, this award recognises a project, contributor, experience of Fringe event that defies categorisation and is simply just too good to pass by unheralded.

WINNERS:

Trophy by STO UNION  / Sarah Conn + Allison O’Connor with Change of Address
Fierce Notions by Ill Advised Theatre Co.

Fishamble New Writing Award

Honouring the best play by a new or emerging Irish (or Ireland-based) playwright premiered during DUBLIN FRINGE FESTIVAL, this award includes dramaturgical support as appropriate, for instance, a scholarship place on one of Fishamble’s acclaimed playwriting courses and generously supported by Fishamble: The New Play Company. The idea of new writing is interpreted broadly to include new works  in the area of dance, performance art, music, multi-author, post dramatic works and so on.

WINNER:

All Honey by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth (Sad Strippers Theatre)

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

Fierce Notions by Ill Advised Theatre Co
Normal by WeGetHighOnThis Collective
The Egg is a Lonely Hunter by Hannah Mamalis

First Fortnight Award 

Since its inception in 2009, First Fortnight’s key aim has been to challenge stigma and prejudice about mental health issues through the creative arts.

WINNER:

The Half Of It by MOMMO

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

Alison Spittle; Worrier Princess
FFFFFFFMILK by Paul Currie
How To Be Angry by Brazen Tales Productions
The Egg is a Lonely Hunter by Hannah Mamalis

Next Stage Wild Card Award

DUBLIN FRINGE awards a bursary to an artist who has been part of the festival, enabling them to participate in the Next Stage – an artist development programme run by Dublin Theatre Festival in partnership with Theatre Forum.

WINNER: Hilary Woods for NINE

Bewley’s Cafe Theatre ‘Little Gem’ Award

Bewley’s Café Theatre is Ireland’s foremost presenter of lunchtime theatre and is delighted and proud to continue to sponsor the Bewley’s Café Theatre ‘Little Gem’ Award for the most exciting show presented at this year’s DUBLIN FRINGE FESTIVAL under 60 minutes. The selection is made up by the jury for final approval by Bewley’s Café Theatre. The prize is a handsome one; the winning production is earns a two week run at Bewley’s Café Theatre with €2000 available to the company for remounting the production.

WINNER:

The Woods and Grandma by Dead Lady Productions

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

Double Decker Bus by Davey Reilly
My Left Nut by Michael Patrick
The Egg is a Lonely Hunter by Hannah Mamalis
The Power of Wow by X & Co.

Georganne Aldrich Heller Award

A standout Irish artist or company that demonstrates innovation and connects with audiences. Part bursary, part investment, the award supports an Irish artist to connect with the New York theatre scene.

WINNER: 
Everything Not Saved by Malaprop

Spirit of Wit Award

A unique award for an artist willing to take risks and whose work defies categorisation with bold and unconventional material. In memory of Moira Brady Averill.

WINNER: 
Deadline by Conor O’Toole

Spirit of the Fringe, Spirit of Project Award

Co-presented by Dublin Fringe Festival and Project Arts Centre. An Irish artist dedicated to making bold contemporary work and who embodies the spirit of Fringe and Project.

WINNER: 
Fully Automated Luxury Gender Oasis by Trans Live Art Salon 

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

aon mac tíre, nó roinnt mic tíre by Ruairi Donovan & Mica Sigourney
Birdy by Eccles Theatre Group
Deadline by Conor O”Toole
The Woods & Grandma by Dead Lady Productions

DUBLIN FRINGE FESTIVAL 2017 Panel of Judges:

Lisa Connell [Chairperson of the 2017 Dublin Fringe Judging panel – Advertising and Development Manager at GCN]; Aoife Spillane-Hinks [Theatre Director & co-founder of This Then Theatre Co.]; Bee Sparks [Arts Professional & former Programming Assistant at Dublin Fringe Festival]; Clare Monnelly [Actor / Theatre-maker]; Dara MacDomhnaill [Dublin Fringe patron since 2009]; Fuchsia MacAree [Illustrator & Educator]; Jamie Tuohy [Marketing and Communications Executive in the Irish Film Industry]; Jan Schneider [Creative Producer]; Laoisa Sexton [Actor and Playwright]; Lívia Páldi [Curator of Visual Arts, Project Arts Centre]; Luca Trufarelli [Photographer, Video-maker, Visual Designer and Artistic Collaborator]; Margaret Mc Auliffe  [Actor and playwright]; Mollie Mollumby [Director, Facilitator and Artistic Director of Bombinate Theatre]; Orla Moloney [Arts Manager, Policy Developer and Evaluator]; Ronan Phelan [Freelance Theatre Director / Associate Director at Rough Magic Theatre Company].