Capital E National Theatre for Children has appointed Stephen Blackburn as their new general manager.
Capital E National Theatre for Children has appointed Stephen Blackburn as their new general manager.
Blackburn, who currently lectures in Lighting Design, Production Management and Arts Administration at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre, commences his new job in January 2004.
"The National Theatre for Children is one of New Zealand's best kept secrets," says Blackburn of the company which is New Zealand's second major professional touring company after the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Blackburn replaces former manager Katherine Joyce-Kellaway who spent more than four years working to develop the company's national status and reputation for quality.
The National Theatre for Children is part of the Wellington Capital E Creative Technology and Performance Centre for Children.
It is New Zealand's only full-time professional theatre company devoted to creating and presenting new works exclusively for young people. The theatre commissions top New Zealand writers, musicians and artists in the development of these works, presenting them in its Wellington theatre and touring to theatre venues nationally. It also hopes to sell works to international festivals.
The company was a finalist in this year's Wellington Region Gold Awards, for excellence in business and enterprise.
"The biggest thing the company has to do now is get on a big soapbox and say here we are," says Blackburn who plans to raise the company's profile in both public and industry arenas.
Blackburn has worked in performing arts for more than 20 years in New Zealand and internationally. He also grew up in theatre, son of highly acclaimed actor Ken Blackburn and opera singer Vi Blackburn.
His first job aged 15 was at Downstage Theatre in Wellington and by 18 he was the youngest Technical Director in New Zealand. He freelanced briefly before spending 10 years working in the United States and United Kingdom.
Blackburn worked in museum and theme attraction design throughout Europe, ranging from the Lisburn Linen Centre to the National Science Museum in London. He set up his own consultancy in Leeds, specialising in lighting design for theatre, museums, visitor centres and dark rides.
In 1994 Blackburn returned to New Zealand at the invitation of the Royal New Zealand Ballet to take up the post of Production Manager. In 1999 he was asked to join the staff at Te Whaea where he helped develop the diploma programme in Entertainment Technology.
Stephen has designed lighting for more than 120 productions, ranging from New Zealand drama to opera and ballet. He has also production managed a wide range of productions and events. Recently he has designed lighting for the New Zealand tour of The End of the Golden Weather, the highly acclaimed NBR Opera New Zealand production of Verdi's Falstaff and for the Face Maker, a 2002 International Festival of the Arts production.
Capital E is managed by the Wellington Museums Trust with major funding support from the Wellington City Council. The National Theatre for Children also receives funding from Creative New Zealand on an annual basis and the Ministry of Education through the Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom scheme.
For more information contact:
Alice Taylor
Publicity
Capital E
Ph 04 913-3725
alice@capitale.org.nz
www.capitale.org.nz