All The World’s A Stage When Carlson Costumes

C A R L S O N
PO Box 5703
Dunedin
www.tanyacarlson.com

Media release
18 February 2001

All The World’s A Stage When Carlson Costumes

Fashion designer Tanya Carlson has joined forces with legendary New Zealand choreographer Douglas Wright to design the costumes for Wright’s keenly anticipated new dance theatre production.

The production, called Inland and commissioned and produced by the 2002 New Zealand Festival, debuts at the Festival in March and will then tour Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin. Inland blends dance, theatre, music and video images in a uniquely Kiwi work charting the relationships between shepherd and flock, dog and hawk. Inland is at the Wellington Opera House, 7-9 March, Christchurch Theatre Royal 12 March, Auckland ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge 15-16 March and Dunedin’s Regent Theatre, 23 March. Full dress rehearsal at the Wellington Opera House, 6 March.

Carlson says Inland is an ironic commentary on rural life, exploring the dynamics between different players. “There is a lot of humour and understated emotion in the piece.” Carlson says Wright was a joy to work with. “He is absolutely inspirational and very clever.”

There are ten costumes for the show. The colour palette is subdued, taking its cue from the shades found in sheep wool – from ochre yellows to sepia tone browns and soft creams, with accents of blood red. Fabrics include silk georgette, silk jersey and tulle to cable knits. And the overall look? “It’s very much my signature look with natural tones and appliqué but there are elements of Patti Smith meets the local farmer,” Carlson says. References to Patti Smith, celebrated New York punk poetess, include oversized jackets, masculine shirting and low slung pants.

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One of the key costumes for the show is a voluminous cotton and silk organza Bo Peep outfit. Carlson worked with milliner Margo Barton on the costume, with Barton creating a larger-than-life bonnet.

Carlson’s costumes for Inland are the latest in a series of costumes she has created for dance. She is known for her work with top choreographer Daniel Belton, spanning five years of dance productions.

Carlson, one of New Zealand’s leading fashion designers, is currently working on her Summer 2002-2003 range. Her last collection, titled the Fall of the Winter Palace, is due instore later this month. The Fall of the Winter Palace was one of the most acclaimed collections shown during the inaugural L’Oreal New Zealand Fashion Week in October last year. The collection embraces influences from Russian aristocracy through to gypsy styling and military emblems. French Chantilly lace, Merino wool, military-inspired Great Coats and sumptuous velvet dresses feature, along with Carlson’s first selection of casual wear and first jeans.

For more on Carlson, check out www.tanyacarlson.com.

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For more information, or for a picture of Carlson, sketches of the Inland costumes, or images of earlier dance costume work, please contact:

Kareen Floyd
WRC
Ph: 00 64 9 306 0968
Mob: 00 64 25 831 466

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