Fringe Festival Awards

The Fringe Festival in Wellington held its closing party and awards on March 7 at the Paramount Theatre, blowing out the candles on its 20th birthday festival celebrations.

Fringe 2010 producer Zelda Edwards said this year's festival was a triumph in the face of adversity.

"The Fringe is a festival that embraces and encourages the leading edge of arts and entertainment and despite the question marks that hung over this year’s event we're beyond happy with how things turned out.

"The Fringe is an essential part of New Zealand's arts and culture, providing an opportunity for so many voices to be heard. Long may it continue," she said.

Fourteen awards were announced to celebrate the best on show at Fringe 2010, and a new member of the Fringe Hall of Fame was honoured. Wannabe and Back/Words received Pick of the Fringe and a return season at Downstage Theatre

The awards were hosted by Derek Flores and Vinyl Burns from talk show The Chit Chat Lounge and featured entertainment from this year's crop of Fringe participants, including The Crimson Club and Galaxia.

Organisers say an announcement on the Fringe Festival's future will be made in due course.

Fringe 2010 Award winners and  nominations
(winners in bold)

Best in Dance (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
How to be a Domestic Goddess
Footnote Perforum
Thricely?  Precisely! A Pocketful Of Pips.

Best in Music (supported by Radio Active 89FM)
Aphelion
Galaxia
Home

Best in Visual Art (supported by Resene)
The Princess and the Many Quilts
Nag

Best in Outdoor (supported by Phantom Billstickers)
Navigators
Storytime for the Hungry

Best in Comedy (supported by Tuatara Brewery)
Ben Hur
Better Living

Best in Theatre (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
A Love Tail
Who's Neat? You!
Ruby Tuesday

Marketing Award (supported by Creature)
Galaxia
Thricely? Precisely! A Pocketful Of Pips
Comediettes

Best One Man Band (Solo Show)
Wannabe
Sun Drugs
The Immortals

Best Production Design
Pirates Vs Ninjas
Who's Neat? You!
Aphelion
Nag
A Love Tail

Most Original Concept (supported by Springload)
The Princess and the Many Quilts
Galaxia
23 Pieces

Where Did You Come From? (Best Newcomer) (supported by Plum Café)
Wannabe
A Love Tail
For Real
The Princess And The Many Quilts

Stand Out Performer  (supported by Team Capital Holden)
Paul Waggot (Sometimes I Don't Like Yellow)
Isla Adamson (Ruby Tuesday)
Renee Lyons (Sunday Roast)

Best of Fringe (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
The Princess and the Many Quilts

Pick of the Fringe (supported by Downstage Theatre)
Both receive a return season at Downstage Theatre
Wannabe
Back/Words

Fringe Hall of Fame (supported by Fringe Arts Trust)
BATS Theatre!