UK Theatre Awards Announced in London

Sir Ian McKellen at the UK Theatre Awards in London on Sunday, October 14, 2018. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

• Four wins for Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, including Best Director for Sarah Frankcom and Best New Play for The Almighty Sometimes
• The Assassination of Katie Hopkins wins Best Musical Production
• Accolades for Denise Black, Ashley Zhangazha and Gemma Dobson
• Maxine Peake and Richard Eyre receive honorary achievement awards
• The Mill at Sonning crowned UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre

LONDON–This year’s UK Theatre Awards winners were revealed today (Sunday 14 October) in a lunchtime ceremony at London’s Guildhall.

The Awards were hosted by Olivier-nominated musical theatre performer Tyrone Huntley, and presenters included Wendi Peters, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Ria Jones, Matt Cardle, Emma Williams and Michael Ellis MP.

Actor and writer Maxine Peake was honored with an Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre award, presented by producer Conrad Lynch and the Artistic Director of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, Sarah Frankcom. Director Richard Eyre received the Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts, presented by Ian McKellen.

Accepting the Gielgud Award, Richard Eyre said: ‘I’m constantly bewildered by the fact that local authorities and government can’t see what an extraordinary, unique asset theatre is’. He also praised Ian McKellen, who presented the award, as ‘a wonderful actor and a very good friend and the natural artistic son of John Gielgud’.

Receiving her Outstanding Contribution Award, Maxine Peake said: ‘People keep saying to me, “you’ve given so much to regional theatre” – I haven’t given anything, it’s given it to me; it’s allowed me to do the work I want to do, and that is mainly down to Sarah Frankcom and her bravery and her belief in me’.

Maxine Peake also revealed that Richard Eyre had been instrumental in giving her an early start in the industry, as part of the panel which gave her a scholarship to drama school.

FULL LIST OF UK THEATRE AWARDS WINNERS 2018

Best New Play

THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES by Kendall Feaver, a Royal Exchange Theatre production

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Best Musical Production

THE ASSASSINATION OF KATIE HOPKINS directed by James Grieve, a Theatr Clwyd production

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Best Touring Production

THREE SISTERS, a RashDash and Royal Exchange Theatre co-production

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Best Show for Children and Young People

THE LITTLE MERMAID directed by Emma Earle and Cameron Carver, a The Egg – Theatre Royal Bath and Pins and Needles co-production

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Best Director

Sarah Frankcom for OUR TOWN, a Royal Exchange Theatre production

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Best Design

Morgan Large for WONDERLAND, a Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company production

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Best Performance in a Play

Denise Black for THE CHERRY ORCHARD, a Sherman Theatre production _______________________________________________________________________

Best Performance in a Musical

Ashley Zhangazha for GUYS AND DOLLS, a Royal Exchange Theatre and Talawa Theatre Company co-production

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Best Supporting Performance

Gemma Dobson for RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO, a Royal Court, Out of Joint and Octagon Theatre, Bolton production

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Achievement in Dance

Northern Ballet for its bold and varied programming, particularly THE LITTLE MERMAID and its Kenneth MacMillan tribute

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Clothworkers’ Theatre Award

Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch

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Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre

Maxine Peake

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Achievement in Opera

David Pountney and Tomáš Hanus for their artistic leadership of Welsh National Opera

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The Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre

Scottish Ballet

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Theatre Employee of the Year sponsored by Integro in Association with Chubb

Clare Lindsay – The Watermill Theatre

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Promotion of Diversity

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

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Achievement in Marketing/Audience Development

The Old Vic

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UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre

The Mill at Sonning

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Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts

Richard Eyre

For more information visit the UK Theatre Awards website.

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UK Theatre is the UK’s leading theatre and performing arts membership organisation –promoting excellence, professional development, and campaigning to improve resilience and increase audiences across the sector.

The UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide Awards to honour outstanding achievement in theatre throughout the United Kingdom. The Awards are supported by White Light, Q-Park, Theatre Tokens, John Good, Harbottle & Lewis and Integro in association with Chubb.

2018 UK Theatre Awards at London’s Guildhall. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography