2012 Big Kahuna Imagineering Scholarship Recipient — Elizabeth Gadsby

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As a passionate patron of the arts, Big Kahuna Imagineering sponsored a National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) scholarship for a Design student displaying considerable novelty in their material science.

Big-Kahuna-NIDA-Scholarship
Elizabeth among the designers and directors in Perth at the begining of the year for 2012 Perth Festival — the oldest annual international multi-arts festival in the southern hemisphere.

This year’s recipient, Elizabeth Gadsby, came highly recommended by Michael Scott-Mitchell, Head of Design and Director of Undergraduate Studies at NIDA as well as award-winning production designer.

Entering her second year at NIDA when the scholarship was awarded last March, Elizabeth has had a challenging and fulfilling year designing the opera Die tote Stadt and working with the Director Lucas Jervies shooting a music video for a Melbourne-based triple j Unearthed artist Taxidermy Hall.  She also worked as co-production designer on a short film called Jack Off directed by Max Doyle.

Now preparing for her final project for the year, Elizabeth is working with postgraduate director Harriet Gilles on an edited version of Goethe’s Faust which focuses on ‘The Gretchen tragedy’.

During the design process Harriet and Elizabeth delved into the play’s symbolism and logistically worked through different materials that could exist as a sculptural element to the set whilst responding to the performance. Originally they discussed salt blocks then wax blocks and now have settled on fresh cabbage as the material of choice.  Currently in pre-production, rehearsals for Faust start early next month and the performances will be held late November/ early December.

The Big Kahuna Imagineering Scholarship has allowed Elizabeth to continue studying at NIDA which she says “has been such a rewarding opportunity.”

NIDA-Die tote Stadt-Stage Design-Act 1
Stage Design for Act 1 of Die tote Stadt produced by NIDA
NIDA-Die tote Stadt-Stage Design-Act 3
Stage Design for Act 3 of Die tote Stadt produced by NIDA

“NIDA is Australiaʼs pre-eminent institute for dramatic education and it is fundamental that the most talented students have the opportunity to study here,” said Elizabeth Nicoll, Head of Development at NIDA. “The support of donors for the NIDA Scholarships and Bursaries program is invaluable and greatly appreciated. It helps us ensure that no student is precluded from having the opportunity to make the most of their intensive NIDA training and fulfill their creative journey”.

In regard to Elizabeth’s next step, she says she’s really looking forward to using the skills she’s developing at NIDA in the theatre and film industry and wider community upon graduation.  And she certainly has an exciting final year ahead, with two NIDA productions and further development of animated drawings for her secondment on the commissioned work Freeze Frame, directed by Debbie Allen and designed by Michael Scott-Mitchell for Brisbane Festival 2013. She is currently developing a puppet show with the Little Baroque Co. as part of the London Handel Festival to be shown in April 2013.

Stay tuned — we see great things in Elizabeth’s future!

Check out the music video for a Melbourne-based triple j Unearthed artist Taxidermy Hall that Elizabeth worked on with Director Lucas Jervies…

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBTM4Z1EIsk]