Evening Standard Theatre Award in London
28 November 2007
The acclaimed producers of Handspring Puppet Company have, once again, been
bestowed with an international recognition, The Evening Standard Theatre Award
for the Best Design for "Warhorse". They share this prestigious award with Rae
Smith. Of course, countless arts lovers, especially theatre, are proud and
happy for this splendid achievement. In fact, we deeply honour the founders and
producers of Handspring for not only their vision and resilience but making an
excellent contribution to indigenous cultural production that has captured the
imagination of the world.
Their achievement has not only put this country on the global map but
reveals the now obvious fact that South African talent is of world standard, if
not above. The winning of the Evening Standard Theatre Award for the Best
Design marks a turning point in how indigenous creativity, especially cultural
production and export, shall be perceived by the world.
Handspring Puppet Company was formed and launched in 1981. The best thing to
say is simply, "Carry on!" Ever since they first took global centre stage in
France, with "Episodes of an Easter Rising" in 1985, the whole world has been
enthralled. Both founding members, Adriaan Kohler and Basil Jones epitomise the
unmistakable winning streak of indigenous South African work. Few would doubt
that they are the toast of the world, especially since 1992 when they began
collaboration with renowned artist William Kentridge.
Although they are spiritually and physically rooted in South Africa, they
are cosmopolitan creative artists who, now, have the world eating out of their
hands. Of course, it is a great honour for our leading African cultural
producers and creative artists to receive recognition and reward in London,
United Kingdom. They possess the intuitive connection that is not only inspired
by the South African story but fuses it with complex world trends and creative
outputs.
Significantly, our own people and the international film community have, so
far, voted with their feet, receiving their output with critical acclaim
because its cultural offerings resonates in the hearts and soul of human
kind.
Above all, Handspring is about the triumph of the human spirit, the resilience
of highly gifted African intellectual to give the world and humanity the best
of what they have to offer.
Thus, no single award in the whole world can reward artists of the calibre
of Kohler, Jones or Kentridge. Instead, they have taken it upon themselves to
give the world the best of their souls. There is no doubt that Handspring's
winning The Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Design prize has truly
raised the flag to the acknowledgement and recognition of South African
imaginative talent and creative cultural production.
We are thankful to all the judges. The prize opens up opportunities for
South African talent to shine and draws international attention to our
outstanding talent and what our beautiful country has to offer to the world. It
is a matter of great national pride to the Ministry of Arts and Culture to have
our artists granted this prestigious Evening Standard Theatre Award which they
now enjoy and share with some of the greatest theatre artists from around the
world.
Most important, it must be made clear that this award cannot only belong to
these three outstanding individuals in a personal way. The nameless and
faceless millions who have inspired their stories are again witness to the fact
that we must keep working and walking.
It is the outstanding vision and example of such calibre of artists that
will breed a new generation of African world-class creative artists who will
take their rightful place on the world stage.
They reflect and affirm the government's vision to build a non-racial society
where our artists can nurture a spirit of national unity, transform our society
and use cultural production and performance as a tool for economic
self-sustenance and independence.
We congratulate Handspring for being nominated and winning The Evening
Standard Theatre Award for Best Design on 27 November 2007 in London, United
Kingdom.
There is no stopping South African talented artist, now!
For further details call:
Sandile Memela
Spokesman for the Minister of Arts and Culture
Cell: 082 800 3750
Premi Appalraju
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 903 6778
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
20 November 2007
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za)
