UK Theatre has today announced that Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D Clarke will host the UK Theatre Awards 2017.
The UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide Awards to honour and celebrate outstanding achievements in regional theatre, both on and off stage, throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This year’s UK Theatre Awards will take place at London’s historic Guildhall, on Sunday 15 October 2017.
Sharon D Clarke is an acclaimed theatre and television actress and singer. Her recent stage credits include playing the title role of Caroline in Caroline, Or Change at The Minerva Chichester, which will transfer to the Hampstead Theatre in 2018, Sonja in The Life at Southwark Playhouse & Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at The National Theatre.
She played Odessa in The National Theatre’s production of The Amen Corner, for which she received an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In 2017 she was awarded an M.B.E in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for Services To Drama.
Sharon D Clarke said: “From musicals and plays to opera and dance, the last year has seen incredible work performed on stages up and down the country. The UK is home to the greatest talents, both on and off stage, and I can’t wait to celebrate the industry’s phenomenal achievements in October.”
Nominations for the UK Theatre Awards will be announced by previous UK Theatre Award winners Clare Burt (Best Performance In A Musical 2016) and Rebecca Trehearn (Best Supporting Performance 2016) on @TwitterStage on Thursday 14 September at 13:30.
More than 30,000 public votes have so far been cast this year for The UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award with Smooth. The vote gives the public the chance to celebrate their local theatre and the vital work they do in their communities. Voting closes at 12:00 on Tuesday 19 September. To cast a vote visit the voting page on the UK Theatre website.
For more information and tickets visit the UK Theatre website.