Belvoir's new boss has designs upon the company
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday November 12, 2009
WHEN the designer Ralph Myers audaciously decided to apply for Neil Armfield's job as Company B Belvoir's artistic boss, he figured he had nothing to lose."Neil is without question Australia's great theatre director, and so it would have been more onerous to come in as a young director. It's lucky that I'm not," Myers said."As an artistic associate at Belvoir, I have come to realise that the role of artistic director is akin to running a festival. You assemble teams, curate programs and inspire artists."Plaudits for the designer's surprise appointment came from Cate Blanchett, the director Benedict Andrews and Armfield."I am thrilled that Ralph has been entrusted with this great job," Armfield said. "It is a pleasure to collaborate with a designer who has such an innate understanding of how stories are told on a stage ... Most importantly Ralph has a real wisdom, remarkable in one so young."Blanchett, who is starring in A Streetcar Named Desire in New York, for which Myers designed the set, is equally effusive.The co-director of the Sydney Theatre Company said: "Company B Belvoir couldn't have made a more exciting decision for the Australian theatre community. Ralph combines intelligence, theatre craft and good humour, all requisites to lead the wonderful Company B."Since graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2000, Myers has worked in film, circus, dance, opera and theatre, including, most recently, Armfield's acclaimed Peter Grimes at the Opera House.Myers's appointment follows a five-month search since Armfield announced he would leave Belvoir in December next year after 25 years with the Surry Hills company.The standard of candidates was high €“ among those touted were the rising young director Matthew Lutton, Company B's literary associate Sam Strong and the director Geordie Brookman."Ultimately, Ralph stood out for his intelligence, humour, capacity for inspiring leadership and understanding of the theatrical process," Company B Belvoir's general manager, Brenna Hobson, said. "His affinity with artists and audiences alike is wonderful to see."Andrews, who collaborates with Myers on The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Australia next year, said: "Like Neil, Ralph has a childlike love for theatre's rough magic. He is a practical, no-bullshit theatre artist whose experience in diverse rehearsal rooms gives him a unique perspective and broad understanding. Belvoir's hallowed corner space has a new artist to care for it."Myers was elated. "As a collaborator I've always been interested in making good theatre and the work I've done has brought me in touch with the best directors in Australia. I'm fortunate to inherit such a strongly creative and confident company. It has been well looked after."The Premier and Arts Minister, Nathan Rees, announced yesterday an additional grant of $320,000 a year to Company B Belvoir to help fund a pay restructure and "ensure this most innovative and acclaimed of companies can ... attract the very best artists and staff," he said.Studied at Newtown Performing Arts High School. Graduated from NIDA, 2000.Designed outdoor spectacle Eora Crossing for Legs on the Wall/Sydney Festival, 2004. Resident designer at Sydney Theatre Company, 2005-06. Designed Robyn Nevin's Mother Courage, Barrie Kosky's The Lost Echo, Benedict Andrews's Endgame and Cate Blanchett's Blackbird.Won 2006 Sydney Theatre Award for best set design for A Kind of Alaska/Reunion. Belvoir designs: Wesley Enoch's Parramatta Girls, Neil Armfield's The Spook and Toy Symphony.Opera credits: La Boheme (New Zealand Opera), Cosi fan tutte and Peter Grimes (Opera Australia).Designed Liv Ullman's A Streetcar Named Desire.Directed Frankenstein for STC's Wharf2Loud last year.Currently Company B Belvoir associate artist.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald