Duncan Macmillan and Robert Icke have been awarded the Best Director prize at 2014’s prestigious UK Theatre Awards following its hugely successful Olivier Award nominated run both at the Almeida Theatre and in the West End.
The young co-directors and adapters of the critically acclaimed Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre co-production, which is currently touring the UK, were joined by an esteemed list of winners celebrating success at the awards held today at the City of London’s Guildhall.
Amongst the many award wins for a diverse range of venues across the UK, London’s Shakespeare’s Globe and Sadler’s Wells triumphed at the glamorous lunchtime event, sharing this year’s Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre.
Audiences in the capital will also soon be able to see Jenna Augen recreate her now Best Supporting Performance Award-winning portrayal of Daphna in Theatre Royal Bath’s family comedy Bad Jews, which will arrive in London for a run at the St James Theatre early next year.
Run by regional theatre membership organisation UK Theatre, the UK Theatre Awards have celebrated the incredible theatrical talent, entertainment and industry employers in venues throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since 1991.
This year’s glittering event was compèred by musical theatre star and two-time Olivier Award nominee Michael Xavier. Alongside a performance by former Oliver! star Jodie Prenger, who is currently appearing in Nikolai Foster’s touring production of Calamity Jane, theatre favourites including Anita Dobson, Tamzin Outhwaithe and Wayne Sleep were on hand to reveal this year’s illustrious winners.
Alongside the awards for creative excellence both on and off the stage, this year’s ceremony also included a posthumous prize for the esteemed actor Sir Donald Sinden, who was awarded the Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts for his incredible eight decade career.
The full list of 2014’s UK Theatre Award winners:
Best New Play
AN AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY LARK by Deborah McAndrew, a Northern Broadsides production in partnership with New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme on tour
Best Performance in a Play
Patrick O’Kane for QUIETLY, an Abbey Theatre production on tour
Best Supporting Performance
Jenna Augen for BAD JEWS, a Theatre Royal Bath production, in the Ustinov Studio
Best Musical Production
BRASS directed by Sara Kestelman, a National Youth Music Theatre production at City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds
Best Performance in a Musical
Jamie Parker for GUYS AND DOLLS, a Chichester Festival Theatre production
Best Show for Children and Young People
DRAGON, a National Theatre of Scotland, Vox Motus and Tianjin People’s Art Theatre, China production, at the Citizens Theatre and Traverse Theatre
Best Director
Duncan Macmillan and Robert Icke for 1984, a Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre production, on tour
Best Design
Jon Bausor for MAMETZ, a National Theatre Wales production
Best Touring Production
TRANSLATIONS – English Touring Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and Rose Theatre, Kingston
Achievement in Dance
Birmingham Hippodrome for the bold, extensive programming and presentation of the International Dance Festival Birmingham 2014, in partnership with DanceXchange.
Achievement in Opera
Richard Farnes for his exceptional conducting of Opera North’s DEATH IN VENICE, THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST and GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
The Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre
Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Shakespeare’s Globe
Achievement in Marketing
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
Theatre Employee/Manager of the Year
Hedda Beeby – Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Promotion of Diversity
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
My Theatre Matters! UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre in association with Smooth Radio
Wales Millennium Centre
The Stage Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre
Paul Kerryson
The Clothworkers’ Award
Theatre Royal Plymouth
The Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts
Sir Donald Sinden CBE