L-R Theatres of the Year: Claire Murray and Paul Hart from the Watermill Theatre; David Byrne and Will Young from the Royal Court Theatre
The Stage has announced the winners of The Stage Awards 2026, in association with Tysers Live, honouring creativity, talent and dedication on and off the stage. This year’s ceremony took place at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre, London.
The 10 categories included Theatre of the Year, Theatre Building of the Year, Producer of the Year, International Award, Innovation Award, Community Award, Campaign of the Year, Fringe Theatre of the Year, Team of the Year, and Unsung Hero, alongside a special Judges’ Award. Welsh National Theatre founder Michael Sheen, who ranked number one in The Stage 100, was also presented with an award recognising his success in the annual power list.
Joint winners of Theatre of the Year were London’s Royal Court Theatre and Newbury’s Watermill Theatre. For the Royal Court, it is the theatre’s first win in 15 years, recognised for a string of critically acclaimed productions under its new artistic leadership.
The Watermill, a 2024 winner, impressed again with record-breaking shows, including its revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and international transfers of Calamity Jane, Fanny, Barnum and The Lord of the Rings.
Theatre Building of the Year went to Soho Theatre Walthamstow, a 960-seat venue born from a decade-long grassroots campaign to save a 1930s grade II-listed Granada cinema.
Producer of the Year was awarded to Wessex Grove. The company wowed audiences with The Seagull at the Barbican starring Cate Blanchett and Tom Burke, and the New York transfer of Vanya with Andrew Scott. Its current production of All My Sons, directed by Ivo van Hove, also drew praise from judges. Alongside its high-profile shows, Wessex Grove has also championed new work in the West End, including Samuel D Hunter’s Clarkston and Oh, Mary!
Judges particularly praised the company’s focus on vital industry issues, including a year-long project on women’s health in theatre, opening conversations about menstruation, infertility, pregnancy, baby loss and menopause, and shaping new workplace policies with Applause for Thought.
Fringe Theatre of the Year went to Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, celebrating a transformative 10th anniversary for the venue founded by Joseph Houston and William Whelton. Hope Mill has grown into one of the UK’s most dynamic producing houses. After a challenging period emerging from the pandemic, a bold new producing model allowed the theatre to stage larger regional productions while keeping a vibrant home programme in 2025.
The Community Award went to Common/Wealth, the site-specific theatre company known for creating bold, political work with communities rarely reached by traditional theatre. Founded by Evie Manning and Rhiannon White, the Bradford- and Cardiff-based company makes shows in council houses, boxing gyms and car parks, meeting audiences where they live.
This year’s Innovation Award was awarded to Hull Truck Theatre for its pioneering theatre-based training scheme for GPs. Developed by the theatre’s creative learning team and piloted in partnership with a local NHS branch, the programme uses drama techniques to build communication, empathy and confidence in trainee GPs.
Winner of the International Award was Foreign Affairs, London. Founded by Camila França and Trine Garrett, the company challenges the UK’s under-representation of plays in translation, presenting new English versions of works from across the globe. Over the past year, it supported emerging theatre translators through its Jerwood-funded mentorship, showcased productions from Japan, Sweden, Chile and Kenya, and launched Field Notes, a digital hub sharing 15 years of experience in international collaboration.
Campaign of the Year was awarded to Brixton House and PlayWell Productions for Black Power Desk, a campaign that combined cultural authenticity, creative boldness and real impact. Leaning into the show’s themes of radical resistance, the campaign engaged audiences across digital platforms, press and live events, achieving 110% of its income target and 132% of its audience target, with 70% first-time bookers.
Team of the Year went to Lyric Scene Shop at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, recognising a team whose skill, collaboration and innovation have transformed scenic production in Northern Ireland. In just four years, the in-house workshop has delivered sets for every Lyric production since 2021 while also supporting Northern Ireland Opera, Irish National Opera, and other companies. Working to Theatre Green Book standards, the team reuses over half of all scenic materials, combining sustainability with creative flexibility. Led by Aidan Payne, the workshop’s carpenters, fabricators and scenic artists collaborate closely with designers, enabling more informed planning and bringing ambitious visions to life.
This year’s Unsung Hero award winner is Eugene Ju-Pierre, stage door manager of the Royal Ballet and Opera who was presented with his surprise award along with a special performance by Bryn Terfel. Nominated by colleagues, Ju-Pierre is celebrated for more than 25 years of outstanding service at the heart of one of the world’s busiest stage doors. As stage door manager, he is renowned for his professionalism, warmth and unwavering sense of responsibility, ensuring the smooth and safe running of the building while offering a welcoming smile to everyone who passes through.
The Judges’ Award went to publisher Nick Hern. The judges praised Hern as one of the most quietly influential figures in modern British theatre, whose work has helped shape the contemporary theatrical canon and sustain countless creative careers.
Beginning his career as drama editor at Methuen in 1974, Hern transformed theatre publishing by pioneering the practice of releasing play texts alongside their first productions and developing the innovative ‘programme-text’ model in collaboration with the Royal Court Theatre.
Through Nick Hern Books, he championed new writing, ensured plays were widely accessible to audiences, students and practitioners, and created vital income streams for playwrights through script sales and amateur performance royalties. Having stepped back from the day-to-day running of his publishing house this summer, Hern was honoured for more than 50 years of exceptional contribution to theatre.
Hosts Hilson Agbangbe and Lucy Karczewski, recent winners of The Stage Debut Awards, guided the evening, which featured performances from Leesa Tulley and Grace Hodgett Young, both previous winners of Best Performer in a Musical at The Stage Debut Awards.
THE WINNERS IN FULL
Theatre of the Year
Royal Court Theatre, London
Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Fringe Theatre of the Year
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Producer of the Year
Wessex Grove
Theatre Building of the Year
Soho Theatre Walthamstow, London
Community Award
Common/Wealth, Bradford
International Award
Foreign Affairs, London
Innovation Award
Hull Truck Theatre
Campaign of the Year
Black Power Desk, Brixton House and Playwell Productions
Team of the Year
Lyric Scene Shop at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Unsung Hero
Eugene Ju-Pierre, Royal Ballet and Opera
Judges’ Award
Nick Hern
The Stage 100
Michael Sheen
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