UK’s most welcoming theatre award – winners revealed

Winner in the East – Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch

The 12 regional and national winners of this year’s UK Theatre Awards’ search to find the country’s most ‘welcoming theatre’ have been announced.

Aimed at offering audiences an opportunity to celebrate their local theatre this year’s winners in each region are:

East
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

East Midlands
Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Theatre

London
Orange Tree Theatre

North East
Newcastle Theatre Royal

Northern Ireland
Lyric Theatre, Belfast

North West
Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Scotland
Pitlochry Festival Theatre

South East
The Mill at Sonning

South West
Salisbury Playhouse

Wales
Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl

West Midlands
Lichfield Garrick

Yorkshire and the Humber
Hull Truck Theatre

All the regional and national winners will be invited to attend the UK Theatre Awards ceremony at London’s Guildhall on Sunday 9 October where the overall winner of the award for the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre 2016 in association with Smooth Radio will be revealed.

Scottish winner, the Pitlochry Festival Theatre

This year more than 200 venues across the country have competed to take home the coveted title which was claimed last year by the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.

Commenting on the public response to the award, UK Theatre chief executive Julian Bird said: “Theatres play a vital role in communities across the UK, so it has been wonderful to see so many votes cast. This campaign brings together audiences, theatres, performers and producers and gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate their local venue.”

Smooth Radio presenter Paul Phear added: “It is a privilege to team up with UK Theatre once again as we crown the nation’s Most Welcoming Theatre. This Award is even more special because it is the audiences, including our Smooth Radio listeners, who have chosen the winner. I look forward to announcing the result next month.”

The UK Theatre Awards are supported by Smooth Radio, UK Theatre Insurance, White Light, Theatre Tokens, John Good and Harbottle & Lewis.

The ceremony, which will be hosted by Lesley Manville, will also include the presentation of the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre to Ian McKellen and the Gielgud Award For Excellence in the Dramatic Arts to Vanessa Redgrave.

Angela Thomas

uktheatre.org/awards

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