Lucy Prebble’s critically acclaimed play Enron has won Best New Play at the 2009 Theatrical Management Association Theatre Awards, which were presented yesterday at a ceremony at the Lyric Hammersmith.
Prebble’s drama about the infamous financial scandal began life at Chichester Festival Theatre before transferring to the Royal Court, with a West End transfer already scheduled for next year.
It is one of several productions seen in London in the past year to be honoured by the TMA Theatre Awards, which recognise the best of UK regional theatre.
Alexandra Silber won Best Performance in a Musical for her portrayal of Julie Jordan in Carousel, which enjoyed a UK tour before coming to London’s Savoy theatre.
Kneehigh theatre’s production of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, which began life at the Cinema Haymarket in London, picked up Best Touring Production for its subsequent UK tour.
London’s Unicorn theatre won the award for Best Show for Children and Young People for its production of Mark Storor and Anna Ledgard’s For The Best.
Best Director went to Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Bath’s production of Shakespeare’s Othello, which was seen at the Lyric Hammersmith last year.
The awards also honoured Nicolas Kent, the Artistic Director of North London’s Tricycle theatre.
The full list of awards:
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Anna Francolini for The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie at Royal & Derngate Northampton
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Claire Price for Mary Stuart at Clwyd Theatr Cymru
BEST NEW PLAY
Enron by Lucy Prebble, a Headlong, Chichester Festival Theatre and Royal Court Theatre production at Chichester Festival Theatre
BEST SHOW FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SUPPORTED BY EQUITY
For The Best presented by the Unicorn Theatre in collaboration with Mark Storor and Anna Ledgard
BEST MUSICAL
Spend Spend Spend at Watermill, Newbury
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Alexandra Silber for Carousel, Stanhope Productions, Michael Edwards & Carole Winter, Tiger/WSZ, Stevens-O’Boyle, and Tulchin/Bartner/Ambassador Theatre Group in association with The Churchill, Bromley on tour
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Kirsty Hoiles for Spend Spend Spend at the Watermill, Newbury
BEST SET DESIGN
Michael Pavelka for The Merchant Of Venice, Watermill Theatre and Propellor on tour
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN SUPPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTING DESIGNERS
Daniella Beattie for The Wicked Lady at New Victoria Newcastle Under Lyme
BEST DIRECTOR
Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Othello, Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth in collaboration with Royal and Derngate, Northampton on tour
BEST TOURING PRODUCTION SUPPORTED BY WALTON AND PARKINSON
Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers and Cineworld present The Kneehigh Theatre Production in a co production with Royal and Derngate Northampton
ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA
Glyndebourne for an outstanding 75th Anniversary season
ACHIEVEMENT IN DANCE
The dancers of English National Ballet, who showed new strength and interpretative skills across a range of repertory
THE STAGE AWARD FOR SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN REGIONAL THEATRE
The Theatre, Chipping Norton
THE SPECIAL AWARD FOR INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT
Nicolas Kent