Theatre fans who fancy helping to select 2009’s best work and seeing a year’s worth of free productions in the process, have just two weeks left to apply to be Laurence Olivier Awards judges. Applications close on 28 November.
To help choose the stand out performances, productions and creatives of 2009’s London theatre offerings, The Society of London Theatre (SOLT), which runs the Laurence Olivier Awards, is seeking 10 members of the theatregoing public to join industry professionals on the judging panels.
The chosen panellists, who must display their passion for theatre, opera or dance as part of the application process, will have a 2009 filled with free theatre as they take in all the productions London’s Theatreland has to offer to find the cream of that year’s theatre crop.
Due to a technical error earlier in the application process, some applications have been lost. The error has now been corrected, but aspiring panellists are encouraged to resubmit early applications to ensure they have a chance to help create theatre history.
Originally named the Society of West End Theatre Awards, the Laurence Olivier Awards were first held in 1976. Traditionally the culmination of the theatre awards season, the Laurence Olivier Awards are the most prestigious prizes to be bestowed upon London’s thespians. Among the elite group of award winners, Dame Judi Dench is the most honoured, with seven Laurence Olivier Awards to her name. Ian McKellen, Alan Bennett, Richard Eyre and Stephen Sondheim each have six.
Interested applicants, who must be over 18 and within easy travelling distance of London, can collect a leaflet from any West End theatre, request a form from awards@solttma.co.uk, send a self-addressed envelope to Awards Office (P), 32 Rose Street, London WC2E 9ET, or apply online. The closing date for applications is 28 November 2008.
MA