THE shortlist for the Manchester Theatre Awards has been announced and the city’s big theatres vie for the coveted awards alongside some of the region’s much smaller venues as Manchester honours its own, as well as some of the top international entertainment that has graced the region over the last year.
The largest of their kind outside London, the awards are chosen by a panel of nine independent regional theatre critics, who attend scores of productions throughout the region each year to come up with the list.
Besides the awards for best production, actor or actress, there is recognition too for supporting stars, design and the city’s vibrant fringe theatre productions. The winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at the city’s Opera House on Tuesday March 26.
The largest of their kind outside London, the awards are chosen by a panel of nine independent regional theatre critics, who attend scores of productions throughout the region each year to come up with the list. The work of several leading local names as well as some of the biggest performers in British and international theatre are celebrated in this year’s 19 categories, ranging across drama, opera, musical theatre and dance.
The full nominations list:
Best Actor
Ed Gaughan (pictured above), in Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Royal Exchange
Justin Moorhouse, in Two, at the Royal Exchange
Christopher Ravenscroft, in The Winslow Boy, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Clifford Samuel, in Obama the Mamba, President Of The Slums, at The Lowry
Best Actress
Lysette Anthony, in Lady Windermere’s Fan, at the Royal Exchange
Victoria Elliott, in Two, at the Royal Exchange
Lucy van Gasse, in Wonderful Town, at The Lowry
Maxine Peake, in Miss Julie, at the Royal Exchange
Imogen Stubbs, in Orpheus Descending, at the Royal Exchange
Best supporting actor
John Branwell, in Alfie, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Russell Dixon, in Macbeth, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Antony Eden, in Taking Steps, at Oldham Coliseum
Christopher Villiers, in The Winslow Boy at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Best supporting actress
Clare Galbraith, in Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, at the Royal Exchange
Natalie Grady, in The Daughter-in-Law, for the Library Theatre at the Lowry
Carla Henry, in Miss Julie, at the Royal Exchange
Maggie Service, in The Country Wife, at the Royal Exchange
Best Actor in a Visiting Production
Robert Bathurst, in Blue/Orange, at the Opera House
Ray Fearon, in Julius Caesar, at The Lowry
Karl Davies, in Henry V and The Winter’s Tale, at The Lowry
John Owen-Jones, in The Phantom of the Opera, at the Palace
Best Actress in a Visiting Production
Josefina Gabrielle, in The King and I, at The Lowry
Sian Phillips, in Cabaret, at The Lowry
Elaine C Smith, in I Dreamed a Dream, at the Palace
Best Production
Arabian Nights, for the Library Theatre at the Lowry
Orpheus Descending, at the Royal Exchange
The Winslow Boy, at Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Wonderful Town, for Royal Exchange/The Halle/Lowry, at the Lowry
Best New Play
The Gatekeeper, by Chloe Moss, Royal Exchange Studio
Obama the Mamba, President Of The Slums, by Kevin Fegan, The Lowry
Snookered, by Ishy Din, Oldham Coliseum
Towers Of Babel, by Nick Yardley, 24:7 Theatre Festival
Opera
Don Giovanni, Opera North, The Lowry
Giulio Cesare, Opera North, The Lowry
Hansel and Gretel, Clonter Opera
The Maiden in the Tower/ Kashchei The Immortal, Buxton Festival
Xerxes, Royal Northern College of Music
Dance
Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, The Lowry
Hofesh Shechter - Political Mother, The Lowry
Lyric Pieces, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Buxton Opera House
Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, New Adventures Production, The Lowry
Some Like It Hip Hop, Zoo Nation, The Lowry
Best Visiting Production
Blue/Orange, Theatre Royal Brighton, Opera House
DNA, Hull Truck, Royal Exchange Studio
Love’s Labour’s Lost, Northern Broadsides/New Vic Theatre, Buxton Opera House
Our Country’s Good, Out Of Joint/Bolton Octagon, at Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Julius Caesar, Royal Shakespeare Company, Lowry
Best Musical
9 – 5, Opera House
American Idiot, Palace
Carousel, Lowry
The Lion King, Palace
The Phantom of the Opera, Palace
Best Special Entertainment
Cinderella, Oldham Coliseum
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Radio Show Live!, Opera House
Star Cross’d, Oldham Coliseum
Translunar Paradise, Lowry
Best Design
Arabian Nights, Library Theatre
Hansel and Gretel, Clonter Opera
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Oldham Coliseum
Manchester Lines, Library Theatre
Wonderful Town, The Lowry
Best Studio Production
Black Roses, Royal Exchange Studio
Days Of Light, Starving Artists, Royal Exchange Studio
London, Paines Plough/Live Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse, Royal Exchange Studio
Snookered, Tamasha/Oldham Coliseum/Bush Theatre, Oldham University
Best Performance in a Studio Production
Rachel Austin, Black Roses, Royal Exchange Studio
Fred Broom, No Sleep For The Haunted, Lowry Studio
Julie Hesmondhalgh, Black Roses, Royal Exchange Studio
Reuben Johnson, Wrecked, Lowry Studio
Tricia Kelly, The Gatekeeper, Royal Exchange Studio
Best Ensemble
All the Bens, 24:7 Theatre Festival
Arabian Nights, Library Theatre
Snookered, Oldham Coliseum
Star Cross’d, Oldham Coliseum
Best Newcomer
Tamla Kari, Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, Royal Exchange
Anna Wheatley, Peter Pan, Octagon
Best Fringe
All the Bens, 24:7 Theatre Festival
The Bubbler, Studio Salford
The Cell, 24:7 Theatre Festival
JB Shorts, Real Life Theatre Co, Joshua Brooks
See manchestertheatreawards.com for more information.
