Designer Chitty presented with 2008 Young Vic Award

Published Thursday 24 July 2008 at 11:55 by Alistair Smith

Theatre and opera designer Alison Chitty has been presented with the 2008 Young Vic Award.

The Young Vic Award is given annually to a theatre professional who, through their life’s work, has encouraged and inspired a younger generation of theatre artists. Chitty, who is an associate of the National Theatre and a long-time collaborator of both Peter Hall and Mike Leigh’s, also serves as director of the Motley Theatre Design Course - an intensive one-year training programme for aspiring theatre designers.

Hall said: “Alison Chitty is one of my closest and most admired collaborators and we have worked together for many years on a wide variety of plays and operas both in the UK and internationally.

“She is also one of the world’s most sought-after stage designers who has - even with a full schedule - found the time to be the inspiration to new generations of designers. I am therefore delighted that this particular aspect of her life is being recognised by this important award from the Young Vic.” 

The award has previously been presented to Clare Venables (2003) of the Royal Shakespeare Company for her work with directors and designers, Elyse Dodgson (2004) of the Royal Court for her international work with writers, Phillip Turner (2005) of the English National Opera for his work with stage managers and Hilary Vernon-Smith (2007) of the National Theatre for her work with scenic painters.

Chitty trained at St Martin’s School of Art and at Central School of Art and Design. She began her professional career at the Victoria Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, designing more than 40 productions and eventually becoming resident designer. She returned to London in 1979 where she has since worked in a wide variety of theatres including the National, the West End, Hampstead, Riverside Studios and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 2003 she was made an associate of the National Theatre. Her work there has included Remembrance of Things Past, which won her the Olivier Award for Best Costume Design. She has most recently worked with Harrison Birtwistle on The Minotaur at the Royal Opera House as well as a number of collaborations with Peter Gill with whom she has had a very long working relationship - notably on Scenes from the Big Picture and The Voysey Inheritance which won her a second Olivier for Best Costume Designer. 

Chitty has collaborated with Peter Hall for many years on numerous productions and was a consultant on the design of the Rose Theatre, Kingston which opened in January. She was also the designer of several of Mike Leigh’s award-winning films including Secrets and Lies, Life is Sweet and Naked as well as his production of Two Thousand Years at the NT. She was awarded an OBE in 2004.

Recipients of the Young Vic award are chosen by a panel of Young Vic staff including David Lan, Kevin Fitzmaurice and Sue Emmas and guests including directors Stephen Daldry, Phyllida Lloyd and Rufus Norris, designers Rob Howell, Richard Hudson and Ian MacNeil, lighting designer Rick Fisher, sound designer Paul Arditti, literary manager Ruth Little and casting director Julia Horan.