Elizabeth Gadsby joins Regina to talk about the art in set designing for the stage.

Elizabeth is a set and costume designer, whose background in installation and performance art influences her approach to her design work. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from National Art School and a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts (Design) from NIDA.

Elizabeth’s 2018 design work includes set and costume on the Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company production of THE CHILDREN, set and costume for BLACKIE BLACKIE BROWN and set design for A CHEERY SOUL both for the Sydney Theatre Company.

In 2017 and 2018 Elizabeth was the associate director and costume designer on the Sydney Chamber Opera and Victorian Opera production of the THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA presented at Carriageworks in Sydney and then at the Theatre Royal in Hobart.

In 2017, Elizabeth designed set and costume for THE TESTAMENT OF MARY, CLOUD NINE and DINNER for Sydney Theatre Company, JOHN for Melbourne Theatre Company and FIREBIRD for the Louisville Ballet in Kentucky, USA. She also designed an interactive film called LOVE AT FIFTH SITE for the 2017 Adelaide Festival presented by Google’s Creative Lab and Grumpy Sailor.

In 2016, Elizabeth was appointed resident designer at Sydney Theatre Company where she designed set and costume for THE HANGING and DISGRACED both directed by Sarah Goodes.

Other theatre design includes: CINDERELLA for Belvoir St Theatre directed by Anthea Williams; A RABBIT FOR KIM JONG-IL for Griffin directed by Lee Lewis; CUT at Adelaide Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe directed by Duncan Graham; and DELUGE for Adelaide Festival.

Her design for film and television includes: seasons 1 and 2 of KIM AND COURTNEY THEORY OF AWESOMENESS, as well as costume design for JACK-OFF, a short film directed by Max Doyle. In 2014 Gadsby did production and costume design for MOODSTONE, a short film by Google Creative Labs and Grumpy Sailor, and BARD’S BIRTHDAY BASH, a live online performance with Google Hangouts. She also designed an interactive film called LOVE AT FIFTH SITE for the 2017 Adelaide Festival presented by Google’s Creative Lab and Grumpy Sailor.

Elizabeth’s design for dance includes: EPIC FAIL for Perth International Arts Festival and WA Ballet as well as ECOBOTS and PLAIN JANE for Buzz Dance Theatre and Awesome Festival – both directed by Lucas Jervies. PLAIN JANE then went on to tour with Louisville Ballet.

Her design for opera includes: ORFEO ED EURIDICE for Spectrum Now Festival directed by Shannon Murphy; INDEX OF METALS for Sydney Chamber Opera directed by Kip Williams; BACH, COFFEE, CAKE with The Little Baroque Co for London Handel Festival, BREMF, Newbury Festival and Petworth Festivals; and FLY AWAY PETER for Sydney Chamber Opera directed by Imara Savage which toured to the Melbourne Festival.

Elizabeth is a recipient of an Australia Council Art Start Grant, a William Fletcher Scholar and was the 2015 artist in residence for City of Sydney’s Creative Living Work Space program. She has also designed the event space at the MCA for VIVID IDEAS.