Shortlist Announced for The Stage Awards

The world's oldest and best theatre publication, The Stage, has announced the shortlist for its annual industry awards, celebrating success within the performing arts.

The Believers Are But Brothers, a show which uses WhatsApp live group chat to tell a story of radicalisation, is shortlisted for The Stage Innovation Award,sponsored by Charcoalblue, alongside the pilot scheme for the National Theatre's Open Access Smart Capture glasses and the return of a reimaginedrepertory company at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.

Recently there have been many reports of mobile phones as a nuisance in theatres, including a theatre producer being punched after asking an audience member to stop using their phone. However, The Believers are But Brothers embraces mobile phone technology as a core part of the show. The National Theatre's glasses, meanwhile, look set to revolutionise the theatregoing experience for audiences who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing.

Elsewhere in the shortlist, Hull City of Culture vies for the Producer of the Year award, sponsored by PRG XL Video, against commercial producer Michael Harrison and Sadler's Wells which co-commissioned and co-produced 16 new dance works in 2017.

Shortlists in other categories at the performing arts annual industry awards are dominated by theatres outside the capital with organisations from Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Chester among those recognised (see the shortlist in full below).

In the London Theatre of the Year category, sponsored by Managed Networks, the Almeida Theatre, National Theatre and Barbican Centre are shortlisted. Meanwhile, Birmingham Hippodrome, Royal Exchange, Manchester and Sherman Theatre, Cardiff compete for Regional Theatre of the Year, sponsored by Evolution Productions.

There is a shake up for School of the Year, sponsored by TodayTix, in which traditional drama schools have been superseded by two youth theatre programmes and a mainstream secondary school: Royal Exchange Young Company, Scottish Youth Theatre and Sandringham School.

Alistair Smith, editor of The Stage and chair of the judging panel, said:

"I'm delighted The Stage Awards once again celebrate the achievements of theatres from across the UK, many of which aren't recognised at other ceremonies. This year's shortlist highlights the theatrical talent among organisations of all sizes, right across the UK."

"It's particularly interesting to see three very different examples of innovation in the Innovation Award category. The Edinburgh Fringe production of The Believers Are But Brothers opens up the conversation about how mobile phone technology can be incorporated into the theatre experience, while the National Theatre's Open Access Smart Capture glasses pilot, which is perfecting the use of smart glasses with live captioning, could revolutionise theatre-going for d/Deaf audience members. Both of those represent technological innovation, whereas the return of repertory to the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool represents a reimagining of a theatrical tradition for the 21st century."

"Elsewhere, nominees range from Hull City of Culture to a major commercial producer and a youth theatre in Scotland and incorporate organisations from Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester, as well as London."

The Stage Awards, in association with Integro Insurance Brokers Ltd, are decided by The Stage's senior editorial team, following extensive consultation with leading figures in the theatre industry and a public nomination process. The winners will be announced on January 26, 2018 at a ceremony at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Previous winners of The Stage Awards include: the National Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions, Shakespeare's Globe, Almeida Theatre, Royal Exchange Theatre, Young Vic Theatre, Michael Grandage Company, National Youth Theatre, Sheffield Theatres, Arts Educational Schools, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

The Stage Awards 2017 are presented in association with Integro Insurance Brokers Ltd. Category sponsors for this year's event include Ambassador Theatre Group, encoreinsure.com, Managed Networks, TodayTix, Charcoalblue, White Light, GDS, PRG XL Video and Evolution Productions.

Shortlist in full

Regional Theatre of the Year
Sponsored by Evolution Productions
Birmingham Hippodrome
Royal Exchange, Manchester
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

London Theatre of the Year
Sponsored by Managed Networks
Almeida Theatre
Barbican Centre
National Theatre

Fringe Theatre of the Year
Sponsored by encoreinsure.com
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Orange Tree Theatre, London
Summerhall, Edinburgh

Theatre Building of the Year
Bridge Theatre, London
Bush Theatre, London
Storyhouse, Chester

Producer of the Year
Sponsored by PRG XL Video
Hull City of Culture
Michael Harrison Productions
Sadler's Wells, London

School of the Year
Sponsored by TodayTix
Royal Exchange Young Company, Manchester
Sandringham School, St Albans
Scottish Youth Theatre, Glasgow

International Award
Sponsored by Ambassador Theatre Group
1927
Cervantes Theatre
Imaginate for the Edinburgh International Children's Festival

Innovation Award
Sponsored by Charcoalblue
The Everyman Company, Liverpool
National Theatre Open Access Capture pilot scheme
Team behind The Believers Are But Brothers

Sustainability Award
Sponsored by GDS
Arcola Theatre
The Attic
The Mill at Sonning

An Unsung Hero award, sponsored by White Light, (for which there is no shortlist) will also be announced at the ceremony.

About The Stage Awards

The Stage Awards, in association with Integro Insurance Brokers Ltd, highlight the achievements of theatre companies and individuals across the UK and globally.

• Nominations for the awards were open to organisations and the public from October-November.
• The nominations were supplemented by the views of a focus group of 30 influential industry figures and senior writers for The Stage.
• The shortlist and winners are decided by the judging panel. The judging panel for The Stage Awards comprises: Alistair Smith, Mark Shenton, Lyn Gardner, Sam Marlowe and Natasha Tripney.
• The shortlist for each category (except Unsung Hero for which there is no shortlist) is announced in the December 14, 2017 issue of The Stage.
• Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held on January 26, 2017 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London.

About The Stage

• Established in 1880, The Stage is a must read for those with an involvement or interest in the performing arts industry in the UK and beyond.
• The Stage offers nationwide theatre news, jobs, castings, reviews, and advice.
• The Stage is also responsible for the annual list of the 100 most influential people in theatre and the performing arts - The Stage 100, The Stage Awards, The Stage Debut Awards and The Stage Supports.
• The Stage newspaper is published every Thursday and is available to purchase for just £2.50 from newsagents around the country. It is also available as a digital edition via App on Android and Apple. The website (www.thestage.co.uk) is read by 550,000 unique users a month

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