BEST PRODUCTION
Rhinoceros, Edinburgh International Festival and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with DOT Theatre, Istanbul
“Sometimes, a show appears that not only captures the moment, but takes full possession of it, and slams it straight through the goalposts of the time we live in; and Murat Daltaban’s brilliant production of Rhinoceros –Eugene Ionesco’s 1959 satirical masterpiece, in which a “civilised” city makes a rapid descent into complete social collapse as its residents turn one by one into rampaging rhinoceroses – was·one of those shows. It made a thrilling start to the 2017 Edinburgh International Festival theatre programme, bringing together brilliant·design,·music and lighting with a series of superb performances to create a show full of blazing theatrical energy and wit; as well as of·controlled·terror at what may happen next, in a·word·where Ionesco’s vision seems more·timely·than·ever.
BEST DIRECTOR
Murat Daltaban, Rhinoceros, Edinburgh International Festival and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with DOT Theatre
“The nomination of Murat Daltaban for his production of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros has a particular significance. The play is a powerful warning about the dangers of conformity, of a mass succumbing to a social miasma that robs us of our culture, our freedom and, ultimately, our humanity. The times in which we live can feel like the 1930s with the film running slightly slower. That is particularly true of Daltaban’s homeland Turkey, where freedom of thought and expression, not least the freedoms of theatremakers, are currently under serious threat. Daltaban’s beautifully crafted production succeeded in capturing simultaneously the quasi-surreal craziness, the midnight dark humour and the sharp social allegory of the play. Brilliantly cast, perfectly paced and impressively integrated, in terms of the combination of its performative, visual and aural elements, his unforgettable production bore the hallmark of the director as master craftsman.”
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Robert Jack (Berenger), Rhinoceros, Edinburgh International Festival and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with DOT Theatre
“Robert Jack perfectly captures·the role of Berenger,· the·dishevelled over-refreshed bystander staggering·about an apparently irrational world. Wide-eyed and hapless, his portrait of total incomprehension is stunning as is his realisation that the inhabitants of the town are all being turned into rhinoceroses and he alone is left unscathed, to fight on.”
BEST MUSIC AND SOUND
Oğuz Kaplangı (composer, sound designer), Rhinoceros, Edinburgh International Festival and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with DOT Theatre
“Eastern sounds and whirling Turkish dance-rhythms played on a range of instruments and mixed with live foley on stage from Oğuz Kaplangi, added a haunting and subtle beauty to this outstanding production.”