Tag: 2021

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Local Stars Celebrated with Hearts For The Arts 2021 Awards

Valentine’s Day, 14th February, was the very appropriate date chosen for the announcement of the winners of the UK’s annual Hearts For The Arts awards.

2021 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Hearts for the Arts are the annual awards ran by the National Campaign for the Arts recognising the UK’s unsung Local Authority arts heroes.

The awards are judged by high-profile figures in the arts and sciences. This year’s judges were: Le Gateau Chocolat, Helen Czerski, Mariella Frostrup, Paul Hartnoll, Adrian Lester CBE, Francesca Martinez, Petra Roberts and National Campaign for the Arts Chair Samuel West.

An online multi-arts festival, a radio programme celebrating descendants of the Windrush generation, and efforts to counter digital poverty in Wandsworth have all been recognised by this year’s awards.

Awards will be presented by Samuel West and selected guest judges at the Hearts for the Arts digital Awards Ceremony hosted by the Local Government Association on Wednesday 3rd March.

Nominations were received from across the UK for each of the three award categories. Despite the incredible hardships faced by Local Authorities in 2020, this year’s awards have seen the NCA receive a record-breaking number of nominations, as local communities turned to the arts for solace, strength and connectivity during the pandemic.

So many strong nominations were received in the Best Arts Category, that three winners have been chosen:

And the winners are:

Best Arts Project: N17 (Haringey Council). A radio programme created in partnership by students of Harris Academy Tottenham, Kick it Out, Threads Radio, Haringey Council, RoughHouse Theatre and playwright, Dougie Blaxland.

Best Arts Project: Create & Learn PlayKits (London Borough of Wandsworth Arts Service). Wandsworth creative organisations worked together with Wandsworth Council to make and distribute over 3000 kits of creative materials and activities to children aged 6-10 years old in most need.

Best Arts Project: Arts E-Live (Mole Valley District Council). A community arts festival of over 50 events in the fields of music, theatre, poetry, creative writing, children’s events, street art, craft, filmmaking and dance.

Best Arts Champion – Local Authority or Cultural Trust Worker: Andy Dawson (Inspire Youth Arts). In his role as Service Manager, Andy has strategically planned and secured funds to deliver fantastic creative journeys for young people across Nottinghamshire.

Best Arts Champion – Councillor: Councillor Janet Emsley (Rochdale Borough Council) for her consistent and energetic support of the arts in Rochdale.

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) presents the Hearts for The Arts Awards each year. The awards are delivered by the NCA in partnership with Culture Counts; the Local Government Association; Thrive; UK Theatre, Voluntary Arts Wales, Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

To read more about Hearts For The Arts, click here

My heartiest congratulations to all the winners in this exceptionally challenging year.

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Family: Roald Dahl’s THE TWITS from Unicorn Theatre

There’s nothing better for family time than having a story read to us. But it’s even better when the story is read as a theatre show, with lots of fun and surprising touches along the way.

Family audiences can now enjoy the Unicorn Theatre’s three-part telling of Roald Dahl’s THE TWITS for free online until March 3rd.

Imagine the worst people you can think of, can you do that? Good. Then you’re just about ready to meet Mr and Mrs Twit, the nastiest couple you could ever hope (not) to meet.

Welcome to the Unicorn’s theatrical reading of one of Roald Dahl’s best-loved books about a most despicable couple, The Twits, the clever Muggle-Wump and the magnificent Roly-Poly Bird. This unabridged reading, filmed in the Unicorn Theatre, is gleeful, gunge-filled digital storytelling aimed at children aged 6 – 12. It is directed by Ned Bennett.

As part of Unicorn Online, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre are offering a range of free online theatrical experiences that they hope will be enjoyed by children across London, the UK and beyond.

Of course, the Unicorn is currently closed and like all arts organisations, its future is uncertain. If you are able to support them with a donation of any size, then your help will be enormously appreciated, I know.

VIEWING PERIOD ENDED

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Theatres at Risk – those on the critical list in 2021

Ramsbottom’s CoOp Music Hall dating from the 1870s, the only addition to the list for 2021.

The Theatres Trust has today published its annual Theatres At Risk Register, which is its 14th year of publication. Yet again this year, the North West of England has the highest concentration of endangered buildings.

This year’s list of 31 UK theatre buildings are those most at risk of being lost due to closure, irreversible changes, demolition or simply neglect. With the appropriate help these historic (sometimes but not always listed) buildings could once again become vital assets to their communities. Once lost, they will never return.

Of the 31 theatres, 24 are in England with 10 of those in the north west and 4 in London. 3 are in Wales and 3 are in Scotland.

Changes from last year are minimal partly due to the pandemic, with the addition of just one building- the Co-Op Music Hall in Ramsbottom, near Bury, which dates from the 1870s and survives above a number of retail outlets, forgotten and neglected until very recently. Isn’t it astonishing how the UK’s building stock can still reveal forgotten treasures, even into the 21st century?

Last year’s new new addition to the list was the Grade II listed Groundlings Theatre in Portsmouth which suffered from the effects of break-ins and vandalism as well as a neighbouring redevelopment threat during 2019. The biggest thing impeding progress now is a very short-term lease which is the main stumbling block to unlocking further grant eligibility.

Positive steps have been made with the theatres who received financial and advisory support from the excellent Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme – Leith Theatre, Derby Hippodrome, Burnley Empire, Morecambe Winter Gardens, Salford Victoria, Spilsby Theatre, Swindon Mechanics’ Institute, along with Walthamstow Granada (you can read about my own visit to the Walthamstow Granada here).

Launched as a pilot scheme in 2019, the Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme is particularly important because it provides grants and in-depth advice from the Theatres Trust for the early stage work that is often difficult to fundraise for but essential to set theatres at risk on the path to survival and revival. It is certainly proving its value in driving renovation projects forward, which is to be celebrated in this otherwise uncertain time.

This new Register further reminds us of the extensive, valuable work which the Theatres Trust do to help keep our precious entertainment buildings from the wrecker’s ball. It is especially needed during times when daily observation and intelligence is restricted due to the constraints of lockdowns.

To explore the full 2021 Theatres at Risk Register, click here

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Finalists announced for 2021 OFFIES Awards

One of the highlights of the theatre year comfortingly continues despite Covid interruption as the OFFIES finalists are announced, celebrating the best in theatre outside the West End, on smaller, more intimate stages.

Despite the smaller numbers of entrants, there is still much talent to be celebrated in the shortlists and finalist lists.

Some categories did not have enough entries to be considered competitive and therefore finalists were not announced. The biggest oversight in this approach is that Temi Wilkey, author of the brilliant THE HIGH TABLE, is not eligible to win Most Promising New Playwright, a title which she eminently deserves.

In the set design award, the most interesting for me is Casey Jay Andrews’ complex and intriguing constructions for LOCKDOWN TOWN which opened in London in October 2020, a journey through the history of music expertly produced by Tim Wilson.

Musicals-wise, dynamic and savvy independent producer Katy Lipson has been rewarded with a slew of nominations for her shows RAGS and THE LAST FIVE YEARS across performance, direction, Musical Direction, production and lighting.

In terms of plays, there are several standouts here. The finest all-round production for me was Richmond’s Orange Tree Theatre’s inspired revival of Lucy Prebble’s THE SUGAR SYNDROME, with every member of the cast nominated but lead by a mesmerising performance (fresh out of drama school) by Jessica Rhodes, of whom you will hear much, much more I am certain.

Athena Stevens’ challenging drama SCROUNGER also picked up an impressive array of nominations, well-deserved for its originality and sometimes uncomfortable truth.

The winners will be announced in a virtual ceremony held on February 21st.

Congratulations to all the those celebrated in these shortlists!

For a full list of all the nominees and finalists, visit the OFFIES website here

You can find a full list of the finalists below.

OFFIES 2021 finalists

Design; Set

FINALIST: Casey Jay Andrews / Lockdown Town

FINALIST: Lucy Osborne / Afterplay / Coronet Theatre

FINALIST: Patrick Connellan / The Incident Room / New Diorama with Greenwich Theatre

Design: Lighting

FINALIST: Jamie Platt / The Last 5 Years / Southwark Playhouse

FINALIST: Malcolm Rippeth / Afterplay / Coronet Theatre

FINALIST: Tom White / Macbeth / Wiltons Music Hall

Design: Sound

FINALIST: Max Pappenheim / Sunnymead Court / Tristan Bates Theatre

FINALIST: Neil Bettles / Petrichor / Theatre Royal Stratford East

FINALIST: Yaiza Varona / The Incident Room / New Diorama with Greenwich Theatre

Musicals: Lead Performance

FINALIST: Carolyn Maitland / Rags / Park Theatre

FINALIST: Frances Barber  / Musik / Leicester Square Theatre

FINALIST: Molly Lynch  / The Last 5 Years / Southwark Playhouse

FINALIST: Oli Higginson / The Last 5 Years / Southwark Playhouse

Musicals: Supporting Performance

FINALIST: Beaux Harris  / Blitz! / Union Theatre

FINALIST: Dave Willetts / Rags / Park Theatre

FINALIST: Rachel Izen / Rags / Park Theatre

Musicals: Musical Director

FINALIST: George Dyer / The Last 5 Years / Southwark Playhouse

FINALIST: Joe Bunker / Rags / Park Theatre

FINALIST: Michael Bradley / Pippin / Garden Theatre at the Eagle

Musicals: Director

FINALIST: Bronagh Lagan / Rags / Park Theatre

FINALIST: Jonathan O’Boyle / The Last 5 Years / Southwark Playhouse

Musicals: Production

FINALIST: Pippin / Garden Theatre at the Eagle / LAMBCO Productions

FINALIST: Rags / Park Theatre / Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment

FINALIST: The Last 5 Years / Southwark Playhouse / Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment in association with Edward Prophet and People Entertainment Group

Ensemble: Performance

FINALIST: Stephanie Booth & Hannah Livingstone / We Were Having A Perfectly Nice Time / Omnibus Theatre

FINALIST: Ryan Anderson, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Joanne Clifton, Harry Francis, Dan Krikler / Pippin / Garden Theatre at the Eagle

FINALIST: Rachel Barnes, Laurie Jamieson, Nigel Taylor, Daniel Ward / The Canary and The Crow / Arcola

Plays: Lead Performance

FINALIST: James Demaine / Nuclear War / Buried / Graceland / Old Red Lion

FINALIST: Jessica Rhodes / The Sugar Syndrome / Orange Tree Theatre

FINALIST: Sam Crane / The Rage of Narcissus / Pleasance

Plays: Supporting Performance

FINALIST: Ali Barouti / The Sugar Syndrome / Orange Tree Theatre

FINALIST: John Hollingworth   / The Sugar Syndrome / Orange Tree Theatre

FINALIST: Leigh Quinn  / Scrounger / Finborough

Plays: Performance Piece

FINALIST: Daniel Ward / The Canary and The Crow / Arcola

FINALIST: Lucy McCormick / Lucy McCormick, Post Popular / Soho Theatre, Johnson & Mackay & United Agents

FINALIST: Miguel Hernando Torres Umba / Stardust / Roundhouse

Plays: New Play

FINALIST: Sam Steiner / You Stupid Darkness! / Southwark Playhouse

FINALIST: Sergio Blanco / The Rage of Narcissus / Pleasance

FINALIST: Athena Stevens  / Scrounger / Finborough

Plays: Director

FINALIST: Jim Pope / Can I Help You? / Omnibus Theatre

FINALIST: Lily McLeish / Scrounger / Finborough FINALIST: Phoebe Barran / Tryst / Chiswick Playhouse

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ETPEP Award 2021 submissions close April 30th

If you’re a theatre professional (or know one) who wants to spread their wings as a playwright, the Finborough Theatre has announced the opening of the 2021 ETPEP Award. ETPEP stands for Experienced Theatre Practitioners Early Playwriting and, as its name suggests, is not an award for playwrights. It is an award for those who work in theatre IN SOME OTHER capacity who also write plays.

The ETPEP Award 2021 is a playwriting prize for new UK playwrights who work or have worked in the theatre industry, run by the Finborough Theatre in association with the Experienced Theatre Practitioners Early Playwriting Trust (ETPEP). The competition is open to new playwrights who have previously worked in theatre in another capacity for a minimum of two years.

The organisers said “We are looking for promising writers, rather than projects specifically targeted for production. The winner will be given the chance to develop and present their work in a supportive environment.”

The Award is open for submissions until 11pm on Friday, 30 April 2021.

The winner will receive:

The winner will receive a prize of £6,000.
(£3000 will be presented on the announcement of the winner, and the remaining £3000 will be presented at the conclusion of the staged reading performance).
A development relationship with the Finborough Theatre including one-to-one dramaturgy with Finborough Theatre Artistic Director and playwright Neil McPherson.
A rehearsal workshop with actors and a director to develop the play.
Pandemic permitting, either a staged reading performance of the winning play at the Finborough Theatre, London, or a rehearsed reading online.
Publication of the winning play by Salamander Street, independent publisher of theatre, performance and live art.
There will also be ten runner-up prizes of £300 each.

For more information, click here