Patch Theatre Company was honoured to win the Channel 7 Creative Industries Award at the Business SA 2014 Australian Export Award. They were one of eight companies recognised for their excellence in exporting.
The awards recognise South Australian businesses whose achievements, skills and innovation continue to generate fresh export opportunities for the state and who have been successful in selling their products or services overseas.
The prestigious win highlights the company’s leadership in producing and exporting outstanding high quality theatre for young children. Winning the award was recognition of the significant work the company has done overseas – winning Best Show at IPAY, Philadelphia with Me and My Shadow, touring Me and My Shadow to the New Victory Theatre in New York, the Kennedy Centre in Washington and other prestigious venues across the US, in addition to residencies in Singapore and with the University of Texas in Austin.
Patch Theatre Company is now a finalist in the 52nd Australian Export Awards to be held on 27 November 2014 in Sydney.
Patch Theatre General Manager Christine Schloithe says, “Patch Theatre is thrilled to win the Channel 7 Creative Industries Award for exporting our theatre productions overseas. In the last three years we’ve concentrated specifically on increasing our international profile and have had great success touring in North America and sharing our artistic practices with some innovative international partners. To be acknowledged for our work in this area by South Australia’s business community is a privilege, and we’re delighted to receive this Export Award.”
Patch Theatre was established in 1972. Based in Adelaide, it is a nationally and internationally acclaimed professional theatre company creating distinct and specialist live theatre experiences for 4 – 8 year old children. Since its inception the company has performed 104 new works to 1.7 million children and their families including touring eight productions to six countries in 28 international seasons and regular sell-out seasons at Children’s Festivals, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Arts Centre and Adelaide Festival Centre.
Patch Theatre has been selected to showcase its work The Moon’s a Balloon at IPAY in Philadelphia in January. Patch Theatre won the Victor Award for Best Showcase Production at IPAY in 2013. The company is only one of 18 international companies selected to showcase its work from more than 120 applications world-wide. IPAY is the largest children’s theatre arts market in the northern hemisphere and following this showcase, Patch Theatre will build two North American tours of this work across the 2015 – 2016 period and will be touring the same production into Asia in late 2015. The company is still receiving requests to tour its popular work, Me and My Shadow, to the US following two highly successful international tours in 2013 and 2014.
Patch Theatre is also working on a market development strategy to licence its performance repertoire overseas. This is based on the successful pilot project for its award winning production of Mr McGee and the Biting Flea, which is about to conclude a critically acclaimed five-month tour across New Zealand.
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