John McCrea, winner of the Best Performance in a Musical award for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Picture: Pamela Raith
There was a double triumph for Sheffield Theatres at the UK Theatre Awards 2017 with Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (opening at London’s Apollo Theatre in November) being named Best Musical Production and actor John McCrea – who plays the eponymous role of Jamie – winning the award for Best Performance in a Musical.
Also leaving the ceremony with two awards were the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Ramps on the Moon with their co-production of The Who’s Tommy. The show came out top in the Best Touring Production category, while the two producing companies also received the award for Promotion of Diversity for their groundbreaking work in the inclusion and integration of deaf and disabled individuals.
Jon Bausor received the prize for Best Design for his work on Bristol Old Vic’s musical The Grinning Man, another production heading to London (this time, at the Trafalgar Studios from 5 December).
Arts journalist Lyn Gardner collected the Outstanding Contribution To British Theatre Award. Gardner was the first critic to receive the prestigious prize.
The cast of Tommy on tour. Picture: Mike Kwasniak
Playwright David Hare received the Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts from The Shakespeare Guild.
The Mill at Sonning was announced as the overall winner of the public vote for UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre 2017 with Smooth Radio for the second year running.
Most Welcoming Theatre, which is the only award voted for by the public, is an opportunity for audiences to celebrate their local theatre. This year more than 40,000 votes were cast, a new record.
Speaking at the awards, UK Theatre president Fiona Allan announced the inaugural AK Bennett-Hunter Award for Backstage Journalism.
Established in memory of former TMA/UK Theatre president, Ken Bennett-Hunter, the AK Bennett-Hunter Award for Backstage Journalism will help meet the need for more journalists who can tell the story of backstage and technical theatre.
The award is a partnership between The Stage, the Association of British Theatre Technicians, Stage Management Association, Skillscene, the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre.
The award consists of £2,000 of financial support, a year of mentoring from established journalists and expert backstage practitioners, behind-the-scenes access, introductions and networking opportunities, and publication in The Stage, UK Theatre and Society of London Theatre websites, ABTT’s Sightline and the SMA’s Cueline magazine and website.
The UK Theatre Awards honour outstanding achievement in performing, producing and management in theatres throughout the United Kingdom. The awards were hosted by Sharon D Clarke.
UK THEATRE AWARDS 2017 WINNERS:
Best Musical Production
• EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE directed by Jonathan Butterell, a Sheffield Theatres production
Best Performance in a Musical
• John McCrea for EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE, a Sheffield Theatres production
Best Touring Production
• The Who’s TOMMY directed by Kerry Michael, a New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and Ramps on the Moon co-production
The Grinning Man at Bristol Old Vic. Picture: Simon Annand
Best Design
• Jon Bausor for THE GRINNING MAN, a Bristol Old Vic production
Best New Play
• NARVIK by Lizzie Nunnery, a Box of Tricks production
Best Director
• Gemma Bodinetz for the repertory season at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
Best Performance in a Play
• Joseph Millson for THE ROVER, a Royal Shakespeare Company production
Best Supporting Performance
• Sharon Duncan-Brewster for A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, a Royal Exchange Theatre production
Best Show For Children And Young People
• THE SNOW QUEEN, a New Vic Theatre production
Achievement in Opera
• Scottish Opera for PELLÉAS AND MÉLISANDE
Achievement In Dance
• Scottish Ballet for the European premiere of Crystal Pite’s striking one-act ballet EMERGENCE
Promotion of Diversity
• New Wolsey Theatre & Ramps on the Moon
Theatre Employee Of The Year
• Jane Claire – English Touring Theatre
• Liz Leck – Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust
Achievement in Marketing/Audience Development
• Scottish Ballet
The Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre
• Nuffield Southampton Theatres
Gielgud Award
• David Hare
UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre 2017
• The Mill at Sonning
Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre 2017
• Lyn Gardner
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