Arts

Vinoly wins art gallery competition

The winner of the architectural competition to choose the designer of a multi-million pound arts facility was announced recently as internationally acclaimed Rafael Vinoly.

Vinoly, runner up in the World Trade Center competition, is famed for having designed museums and galleries around the world as well as leading wider urban planning projects. He was announced as the winner at an event in the Mayor's Parlour in Colchester Town Hall. The appointment was later celebrated at the London headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Vinoly's team was selected from an initial 107 submissions by a jury panel consisting of representatives from the partner organisations behind the project and architectural advisors. Dr Neil Cox, who is also Chair of the firstsite board of trustees, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivor Crewe, represented the University. Vinoly's design, which proposed a low crescent structure sited in the gardens of East Hill House, was chosen from four final design concepts. Extensive work and consultation is now underway to develop a final design proposal.

The launch at RIBA was attended by over 200 guests and also provided the opportunity for announcing that the new gallery would receive an additional £6.1 million from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), the single biggest cash sum EEDA has donated to any project.

It is thought that the new gallery, which will build on the success of firstsite at the Minories, could attract more than £100 million in private sector investment. It is hoped that the project, firstsite: newsite, will be completed in 2007, will also provide a permanent home for the University of Essex Collection of Latin American Art.

Rafael Vinoly's grand design for Colchester

Playwright's first Act

A new play, written by a young playwright studying at the University, will be performed at the Lakeside Theatre later this month.

Act 1 Scene 2 was written by MA Theatre Writing student Jenna Hirst. It follows the story of Becka who rebels against the theatre and reverses the roles of performer and audience. It is an intimate look at the way theatre conventions and unwritten rules operate on both sides of the curtain and focuses on a central character with little understanding of where she belongs in the world of drama.

Jenna wrote the play during the autumn term but thanks to numerous script alterations during rehearsals, the cast members are reflected in the characters they play. The cast, of just 6, are predominantly drama students at the from first years up to postgraduates.

On taking on her first role as director, Jenna explained: 'I'm really enjoying it. The Lakeside Theatre is a really nice space, and it is a great opportunity to try things out and play until the perfect way to do it is found.'

Act 1 Scene 2 will be at the Lakeside Theatre from 17 to 19 March. Admission is £4, £3 for concessions, and all tickets at £2 for the performance on Wednesday 17 March. Tickets are available from the Arts Office, telephone 01206 873261 or e-mail arts@essex.ac.uk.

Also in the printed March edition of Wyvern: