Abstract
A core aspect of Manaakitanga is “the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others” (Moorfield 2025). Within the performance design community, we are accustomed to self-nomination processes for peer-to-peer recognition at international and national festivals such as World Stage Design and the Prague Quadrennial. These events curate our best work with the hope to inspire others, document noteworthy productions, share new theoretical methods and explore the performance design’s unending potential. Similarly, we acknowledge that critic associations and professional organizations provide recognition through “best of” awards during a theatre season within a geographic area.
Yet, drawing on Manaakitanga, there’s a lost opportunity to celebrate innovative and impactful performance design work within the performance design community. As Sodja Lotker and Richard Gough observes “[w]hat is important is that scenographies are environments that not only determine the context of performative actions, but that inspire us to act and that directly form our actions” (2013, p. 3-4).
During this session, panellists from ADSA’s Scenography & Performance Design Working Group reflect on performance design across select productions in 2025. What productions caught both our creative imaginations and our critical eye? These productions not only represent diverse perspectives on the contemporary socio-political moment; they are transformative acts of scenography. We started as spectators to another artist’s creative work, yet we wish to repay our hosts with acknowledgement of their influence on our ongoing creative practice by raising awareness within our community.
Presentation Note
This session contained a focused presentation on a case study production as a launching point for further discussions. The production was GUAC (written and performed by Manuel Oliver, co-written by James Clements, directed by Michael Cotey, lighting design by Justine Burke and sound design by Grover Hollway). The presenter viewed the production at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company on 29 January 2025 and 8 February 2025. Their performance was presented in association with Change the Ref and The Public Theatre.
Works Cited
Lotker, Sodja, and Richard Gough. 2013. “On Scenography: Editorial.” Performance Research 18 (3): 3–6. doi:10.1080/13528165.2013.818306.
Moorfield, John C. “Manaakitanga.” Te Aka Māori Dictionary. 2025. https://maoridictionary.co.nz/.