The Stage has today announced the shortlists for The Stage Awards 2023.
The annual awards celebrate excellence in British theatre and this year’s shortlist features theatres across the UK from Belfast to Bolton, Leicester to Liverpool as well as a project at the National Theatre and producers and theatres in London’s West End.
Nominees also include new West End theatre @sohoplace, Empire Street Productions, the production company behind Jodie Comer’s Prima Facie, Cabaret’s Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre, and a digital project combining Hamlet and Grand Theft Auto.
In the running for Theatre of the Year, are Bush Theatre, London; Curve Theatre, Leicester; Harold Pinter Theatre, London; Liverpool’s Royal Court; Lyric Theatre, Belfast and Octagon Theatre, Bolton.
The Fringe Theatre of the Year category, sees Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle, Little Angel Theatre, London and Omnibus Theatre, London competing for the award, with Empire Street Productions (Prima Facie), Improbable (My Neighbour Totoro) and Jamie Wilson Productions – producer of forthcoming West End musical Mrs Doubtfire – up for the Producer of the Year award.
Shortlisted for the Theatre Building of the Year award is Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre, London, Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot and @sohoplace, London which is the first new purpose-built West End theatre for 50 years.
The judges of the awards, who met at the end of November, are Alistair Smith, Matt Hemley, Georgia Snow and Sam Marlowe of The Stage; theatre critics Lyn Gardner and David Benedict; showbiz writer Baz Bamigboye of Deadline; and Inc Arts UK founder Amanda Parker. The judges considered a variety of factors in selecting the shortlist, including artistic excellence, innovative business practices, outreach and community work and financial resilience.
The Stage Awards 2023 – Shortlist in full
Theatre of the Year
Bush Theatre, London
Curve Theatre, Leicester
Harold Pinter Theatre, London
Liverpool’s Royal Court
Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Fringe Theatre of the Year
Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
Little Angel Theatre, London
Omnibus Theatre, London
Theatre Building of the Year
Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre, London
Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot
@sohoplace, London
Producer of the Year
Empire Street Productions
Improbable
Jamie Wilson Productions
Innovation Award
Donmar Warehouse, London for The Trials
New Diorama Theatre, London for Intervention 01
Sam Crane / Rustic Mascara for Hamlet in Grand Theft Auto
Digital Project of the Year
Dante or Die for Odds On
Derby Theatre for Odyssey
Megaverse for SURGE
Community Project of the Year
Blackpool Grand for the Story-Led Resilience programme
Derby CAN for Over to You
The Lowry for Show Selectors
Perth Theatre for Oh When the Saints
Protein Dance for There and Here
Turtle Key Arts for JOY
International Award
Another Route
National Theatre for its Ukrainian casting day
Tara Theatre for Artists Make Space
Unsung Hero Award
An Unsung Hero award, sponsored by Kindred Partners, (for which there is no shortlist) will also be announced at the ceremony.
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