Supporting act wins an award (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Supporting act wins an award

1:30pm Wednesday 28th July 2010 in

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A MAJOR Basingstoke employer has scooped a prestigious Arts and Business award for supporting a local theatre company.

When Proteus Theatre Company was invited to take their critically-acclaimed production of The Elephant Man to the Brits Off Broadway Festival in New York last winter, Shire made the trip possible by providing financial backing to the tune of £10,000.

Now, the international company, which has offices in Hampshire International Business Park, Chineham, has picked up the Cultural Branding and Innovation gong at the Arts & Business South East Awards 2010 for its partnership with Proteus.

Shire was picked by judges ahead of other shortlisted partnerships, including IKEA Southampton with Turner Sims Concert Hall, MINI Plant Oxford with Oxford Inspires, OFVM Film Oxford and Dancin’ Oxford.

Mary Swan, artistic director at Proteus, said: “It’s fantastic. We really didn’t expect it as we were up against some massive organisations and were just pleased to be shortlisted, so we were gob-smacked when we won.

“Arts and Business is not just about companies throwing money at the arts. It has to have meaning, and this collaboration has been beneficial on both sides.”

The one-man show tells the true story of Joseph Merrick, who went from being an object of social revulsion to someone who held celebrity status in Victorian England.

Merrick is believed to have suffered from Proteus Syndrome, a rare genetic defect that causes organs, body parts and bones to grow uncontrollably.

Shire is a leading speciality biopharmaceutical company, which carries out research and development work into rare genetic diseases, so the collaboration was an effective way to promote the need for early diagnosis of those suffering from little known or rare diseases.

Mary said: “Shire have seen the advantages of joining up with us and we are now developing a project around ADHD and the impact it has on children, families and adults. It’s a long, slow process but we have created a true partnership and it’s a great opportunity for us.

“The arts are looking at the most enormous cuts over the next year. Without a shadow of a doubt, the landscape of the arts in England will totally change so it’s about what local businesses can do.”

The Arts & Business Awards celebrate the best collaborations between the corporate sector and the arts in five categories across the south east. The ceremony was hosted by the Cass Sculpture Foundation, Chichester, in partnership with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.