Nottingham Playhouse has been named the Most Welcoming Theatre at the UK Theatre Awards 2023.
The Award was presented at a hosted by Zoe Birkett at a ceremony held at the Guildhall, London on Sunday 8 October. The Award recognises work by Nottingham Playhouse across three areas: place, people and programme. Following a detailed submission, an independent judging panel visited the theatre to see for themselves how Nottingham Playhouse provides a ‘place where everyone belongs’. The panel considered areas such as ease of physical access to the building; connection to the local community; how audiences and creatives are made to feel welcome; diversity and inclusivity of programming, and how theatre is made accessible to all through various initiatives such as Pay What You Can.
The other shortlisted winners in the category were Leicester Curve and the National Youth Theatre. Stephanie Sirr, Chief Executive Nottingham Playhouse, said: “Being welcoming to us is all about genuine inclusion. We’re thrilled that the very hard work and dedication of the whole Playhouse team to achieve this has been recognised.”
Further Information
Nottingham Playhouse is dedicated to making bold and thrilling theatre in the heart of Nottingham and was named Regional Theatre of the Year in The Stage Awards 2019. In 2021, both Chief Executive Stephanie Sirr and Artistic Director Adam Penford featured in The Stage’s 100 and Stephanie Sirr was awarded the MBE for Services to Theatre in 2022.
In 2022, the theatre continued to build back from the pandemic with a series of critically acclaimed productions. So far this year, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, adapted by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler from the acclaimed novel by Christy Lefteri, played to packed houses and completed a very successful six-month UK tour, and Village Idiot, a new play by Samson Hawkins co-produced with Theatre Royal Stratford East, and in conjunction with Ramps on the Moon, opened in March and toured to New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Theatre Royal Stratford East. An open-air version of Twelfth Night toured to schools and played in Wellington Circus, outside the Playhouse building over the summer.
The European premiere of Australian playwright Tom Wright’s The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man directed by winner of The RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award 2022, Stephen Bailey, opened on 16 September and will tour to Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and Blackpool Grand Theatre. 2023 ends with the return of Mark Gatiss’ 2021 sell-out adaptation of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story, which was screened in 500 cinemas across 12 territories and broadcast on BBC4 and
features a new cast including the renowned Keith Allen as Scrooge. To round off the year, we have the legendary Nottingham Playhouse panto which, this year, is Cinderella and Hansel & Gretel for younger audiences.
Nottingham Playhouse recently announced its programme for spring summer 2024, including a world premiere of a James Graham play, Punch, based on the story of local Nottingham lad Jacob Dunne and his book Right from Wrong. A brand-new stage version of Minority Report is adapted by David Haig, directed by Max Webster and in association with Simon Friend Entertainment, the team behind the hit Life of Pi. The Children, Lucy Kirkwood’s powerful play about the impact of decisions on future generations, is funny but arresting. The Kite Runner returns to its origins at Nottingham Playhouse following a hit run on Broadway, and The Trials is a community led production which examines the guilt of generations and their impact on climate change.
Nottingham Playhouse believes that theatre is for everyone. Its wide-ranging participation work takes place in every corner of the building and throughout Nottingham. Each year it creates over 58,000 engagements with people of all ages, abilities and interests, including many cost-free classes, and targeted work with those at risk of being isolated or marginalised. Its artist development programme, Amplify, supports and develops local theatre-makers. Now in its fifth year and boasting over 500 members, it offers a year-round programme of professional development opportunities to a network of artists, alongside employment opportunities.
For more information about Nottingham Playhouse visit www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Box Office Information:
- Nottingham Playhouse
- www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
- Box office 0115 941 9419
Posted on 13 October 2023
