UK Theatre has announced the 12 regional and national winners of the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre 2016 in association with Smooth Radio. This year over 200 theatres from across the country competed for the coveted title.
The award is voted for by the public and is an opportunity for audiences to celebrate all that their local theatre does for their community. All the regional and national winners will be invited to the UK Theatre Awards ceremony on Sunday 9 October where the overall winner will be announced.
The UK Theatre Awards take place at London’s Guildhall, where the ceremony will be compered by Olivier Award-winning actor Lesley Manville.
Julian Bird, Chief Executive of UK Theatre and Society of London Theatre, said: “Theatres play a vital role in communities across the UK, so it has been wonderful to see so many votes cast. This campaign brings together audiences, theatres, performers and producers and gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate their local venue.”
Paul Phear, Smooth Radio presenter, said: “It is a privilege to team up with UK Theatre once again as we crown the nation’s Most Welcoming Theatre. This award is even more special because it is the audiences, including our Smooth Radio listeners, who have chosen the winner. I look forward to announcing the result next month.”
It was recently announced that Vanessa Redgrave CBE will be receiving The Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts, while Sir Ian McKellen will collect the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre. There were also nominations for Show Boat, which enjoyed a critically lauded run at the New London Theatre, and Half A Sixpence which opens in November at the Noël Coward Theatre.
UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre 2016 in association with Smooth Radio winners:
East
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
East Midlands
Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Theatre
London
Orange Tree Theatre
North East
Newcastle Theatre Royal
Northern Ireland
Lyric Theatre, Belfast
North West
Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
Scotland
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
South East
The Mill at Sonning
South West
Salisbury Playhouse
Wales
Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl
West Midlands
Lichfield Garrick
Yorkshire and the Humber
Hull Truck Theatre