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The Linbury Prize for Stage Design

The Linbury Prize is the only nationwide prize for stage design in the UK, founded in 1987 by Lady Anya Sainsbury, former ballet dancer and patron of the arts

The prize is open every two years to graduating designers or those who demonstrate equivalent skills and experience. The Prize offers 12 prize recipients the chance to work with some of the UK’s leading theatre, opera and dance companies, offering vital support at the early stage of a designer’s career.

Applications for the Linbury Prize are next open in the summer of 2025.

For more information please visit the Linbury Prize website.

The Linbury Prize has had an enormous impact on my practice: as a participant, I learned to translate theory into practicality as soon as I finished my studies. Now, as a judge, I have learned so much from the next generation of young designers.
– Es Devlin OBE
Designer and Linbury Prize recipient 1995

Linbury Prize 2023 exhibition

Exhibition

The Linbury Prize exhibition took place in the Lyttelton Lounge at the National Theatre, from November 2023 to March 2024.

This free exhibition showcased the work of the 12 emerging designers from across the UK who were selected as the recipients of the Linbury Prize for Stage Design 2023.

Audio-described exhibition

Alongside the in-person exhibition at the National Theatre, an audio-described online exhibition is accessible for free via the Linbury Prize website.

The audio description takes you through each board and exhibit designed by the 12 recipients of this year’s prize. The audio description has been written by the recipients themselves and is read by actor, Hannah James Scott.

Visit the Linbury Prize 2023 audio-described online exhibition

If you are interested in hearing more about our Access offer at the National Theatre, please visit our Access page.

Linbury Prize 2023 exhibition gallery

All photos by Ian Tillotson

Open Gallery Dialog: 14 images A group shot of the 12 Linbury Prize recipients with Lady Anya Sainsbury at the Linbury Prize exhibition opening
A group shot of the 12 Linbury Prize recipients with Lady Anya Sainsbury at the Linbury Prize exhibition opening
A group shot of the 12 Linbury Prize recipients with Lady Anya Sainsbury at the Linbury Prize exhibition opening
View 14 images
Two people listening to a film on headphones at the Linbury Prize exhibition 2023 A model set box for Endgame by Samuel Beckette, featuring a hollowed out concrete room with someone sat in a wheelchair in the middle A model set box for 'Death of England' featuring cardboard boxes and screens on either side Model box for 'Endgame' by Samuel Beckett featuring a series of white rings with a smattering of black dots across the middle of the backdrop A model box for four acts of a play featuring a series of geometric concrete slabs A model box featuring an elderly woman walking across a white landscape with an oven in the background A black floor-length costume, made with a variety of materials, totally covering the face and with protuberances from the sides A model dresssed in a red jester's outfit peering out from a large black overcoat with red and black gloves also poking out A red and brown outfit consisting of a hat, double breasted jacket, red trousers and riding boots A model box featuring big 'sale' signs in a dilapdiated shopping centre A model box showing a person sitting on a white toilet in a row of other toilets in a dirty white-tiled cubicle Model box showing a rectangular cube with long windows through which you can see chairs, a table and some model people Model box with grand staircase and person playing grand piano at the bottom

History

The Linbury Trust was established by Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG and his wife Anya, Lady Sainsbury CBE. Anya Sainsbury is the former ballerina, Anya Linden. Therefore, the name ‘Linbury’ is derived from the names Linden and Sainsbury.

The first exhibition for emerging designers took place in 1987 at the Theatre Museum, arranged by Anya Sainsbury. Further conversations between Anya Sainsbury and friends in the theatre design world led to the idea of creating a biennial prize for young designers.

In 1989, Anya Sainsbury approached the Director of the National Theatre, Richard Eyre, to host the prize. The enthusiastic endorsement of Eyre and subsequent Directors Trevor Nunn, Nicholas Hytner and Rufus Norris, means that the Prize is still held here

This unique project continues to champion young designers today. Over the 30 years, more than 1,200 young designers have entered the Linbury Prize for Stage Design.

It is such an honour to be part of the judging panel for the 2023 Linbury Prize. Congratulation to each of this year’s 139 applicants. It is exciting to discover your creative process, craft and commitment to storytelling (whether abstract or narrative), text and performance.

The diversity of talent and skills presented made for deeply inspiring discussions with my fellow judges – and tough decisions putting together a shortlist. I can’t wait to see the work exhibited by the 12 prize recipients at the National Theatre, and look forward to participating in future opportunities the Linbury Prize provides to its community. 

Jean-Marc Puissant, judge for the Linbury Prize for Stage Design 2023

I am truly thrilled and honoured to be selected as one of the 12 recipients. This recognition boosts my confidence as a designer and fuels my excitement for diving into the industry.

Huge thank you to all the portfolio mentors, judges and the Linbury Prize team for their amazing feedback and support along the way.

Yimei Zhao, Linbury Prize recipient 2023

Contact us

Nadia Lakhani
Linbury Prize Project Manager

Press
Rhian Bennett
rbennett@nationaltheatre.org.uk

You can contact the Linbury Prize team on linburyprize@nationaltheatre.org.uk

The Linbury Prize committee

Lady Anya Sainsbury (Founder and Patron)
Stuart Hobley (Director of the Linbury Trust)
Roxana Silbert (Chair)
Sean Crowley (Designer)
Paul Handley (Production and Technical Director, National Theatre)
Sophie Jump (Designer)
Georgia Lowe (Designer)
Tom Piper (Designer)
David Pritchard (Production Manager)

Fore more information about the Linbury Trust, please visit their website below.

Linbury Trust

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