The highly-respected Finborough Theatre, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, has been awarded the title London Pub Theatre of the Year 2020.
In a virtual ceremony (due to prevailing conditions) hosted by London Pub Theatres, the awards celebrate London’s historically thriving fringe pub theatre scene, this year also awarding its Standing Ovation Awards for shows presented in London pub theatres.
Here is a list of the winners and awardees
LONDON PUB THEATRE OF THE YEAR 2020, FINBOROUGH THEATRE, Artistic Director NEIL MCPHERSON
RUNNER-UP FOR LONDON PUB THEATRE OF THE YEAR 2020, WHITE BEAR THEATRE, Artistic Director MICHAEL KINGSBURY
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to JOHN and KATIE PLEWS for their work UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE
COMMENDATION FOR SERVICES TO PUB THEATRES to TESSA HART, REBECCA PRYLE, and VELENZIA SPEARPOINT at the BREAD AND ROSES THEATRE
STANDING OVATION AWARDS 2020– shortlists (winners in red) Comments in brackets after the show titles are evaluations and opinions of London Pub Theatres team only)
BEST PRODUCTION (London based companies)
CHAPLIN BIRTH OF A TRAMP by Ross McGregor at Brockley Jack Theatre
NUCLEAR WAR/BURIED AND GRACELAND at Old Red Lion Theatre
CALL ME FURY by Sasha Wilson (further devised by the company), Produced by Out of The Forest Theatre at The Hope Theatre
AT LAST by James Lewis & Alexander Knott at Lion and Unicorn Theatre
TRYST by Karoline Leach at Chiswick Playhouse
THE HOUSE OF YES by Wendy MacLeod at The Hope Theatre
BEST REDISCOVERY / ADAPTATION
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Charles Dickens) at Bridge House Theatre
THE WIND OF HEAVEN by Emlyn Williams at Finborough Theatre
MOBY DICK by Herman Melville adapted and directed by Douglas Baker at Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
BEST TRANSFER / SHOW ON TOUR FROM OUTSIDE LONDON
THE VIOLENCE SERIES TRIPLE BILL by The Other Room Theatre (Cardiff) at Theatre503
A PRAYER FOR WINGS by Sean Mathias, transferred to The King’s Head from Swansea Grand Theatre
FOR OUTSTANDING THEATRICALITY
TRYST by Karoline Leach at Chiswick Playhouse
THE HOUSE OF YES by Wendy MacLeod at The Hope Theatre
BEST INNOVATIVE PLAY
EMPTY IN ANGEL by James Woolf at White Bear Theatre (skewering the gig economy – The set was a fixed-wheel messengers’ bicycle on rollers and two screens to project the GoPro footage provided by real-life courier Giovanni ‘Overkill’ Adebay)
MOBY DICK by Herman Melville adapted by Douglas Baker at Brockley Jack Studio Theatre (environmentalism, and active graphics, presenting a very big book on a very small stage)
CALL ME FURY by Sasha Wilson (further devised by the company), Produced by Out of The Forest Theatre at The Hope Theatre (looks at women and witchcraft through the ages, It’s thought-provoking & has outstanding musicianship)
THE NOISES by Jacqueline Saphra at Old Red Lion Theatre, Presented by Liam McLaughlin productions (audio-described introduction of the set, costume and movements plus other innovation to include the visually impaired – story told from the point of view of a dog)
COMEDY
OOPSY DAISY by Holly McFarlane at Katzpace Theatre
THE INVISIBLE MAN by HG Wells at Jack Studio
HAPPILY EVER POOFTER Created and performed by Rich Watkins at King’s Head Theatre
BEST NEW PLAY RAISING AWARENESS
NETFLIX & CHILL by Tom Stocks at Drayton Arms Theatre (suicide of young men)
EMPTY IN ANGEL (Chris) by James Woolf at White Bear Theatre (skewering the gig economy)
THE BEVIN BOYS (Richard) by Viv Edwards at Pentameters Theatre, Hampstead, 12-21 July 2019 (young men conscripted to go down the mines during the Second World War)
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!
