UK Theatre Awards explained

The UK Theatre Awards, established in 1991 and known before 2011 as the TMA Awards, are presented annually by UK Theatre (formerly the Theatrical Management Association) in recognition of creative excellence and outstanding work in regional theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.[1] [2]

Past winning productions

YearBest New PlayBest MusicalBest Show for Children and Young PeopleBest Touring Production
2022Mugabe, My Dad & Me, an ETT, Brixton House & York Theatre Royal in association with Alison Holder co-productionBilly Elliot The Musical, a Made at Curve productionFantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, a Kenny Wax Family Entertainment in association with MAST Mayflower Studiosn/a
2019Life of Pi adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, from the novel by Yann Martel, a Sheffield Theatres productionStanding At The Sky’s Edge directed by Robert Hastie, a Sheffield Theatres productionBillionaire Boy The Musical directed by Luke Sheppard, a Nuffield Southampton Theatres production in association with Belgrade Theatre, Coventryn/a
2018[3] The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver, a Royal Exchange Theatre productionThe Assassination of Katie Hopkins, a Theatr Clwyd productionThe Little Mermaid, a The Egg – Theatre Royal Bath and Pins and Needles co-productionThree Sisters, a RashDash and Royal Exchange Theatre co-production
2017Narvik by Lizzie Nunnery, a Box of Tricks productionEverybody's Talking About Jamie, a Sheffield Theatres productionThe Snow Queen, a New Vic Theatre productionThe Who’s Tommy, a New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and Ramps on the Moon co-production
2016Cuttin' It by Charlene James, a Young Vic/Royal Court Theatre co-production with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and The Yard TheatreFlowers for Mrs Harris, a Sheffield Theatres Production

Show Boat, a Sheffield Theatres production

The Hobbit, a The Dukes productionThe Herbal Bed, a co-production by Royal & Derngate Northampton, English Touring Theatre and Rose Theatre Kingston
2015Iphigenia in Splott by Gary Owen, a Sherman Cymru productionGypsy, a Chichester Festival Theatre productionTwelfth Night, an English Touring Theatre and Sheffield Theatres production
2014An August Bank Holiday Lark by Deborah McAndrew, a Northern Broadsides production in partnership with New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, on tourBrass, a National Youth Music Theatre production at City varieties Music Hall, LeedsTranslations, English Touring Theatre
2013Bull by Mike Bartlett, a Sheffield Theatres productionThis Is My Family, a Sheffield Theatres productionThe Borrowers, a Northern Stage, Newcastle production and Mister Holgado, a Unicorn Theatre productionThe Full Monty, a Sheffield Theatres production, presented by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers
2012In The Next Room by Sarah Ruhl, a Theatre Royal Bath production in the Ustinov StudioThe Go-Between, a West Yorkshire Playhouse, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Derby LIVE! production at West Yorkshire Playhouse Anne Boleyn - English Touring Theatre's presentation of the Shakespeare's Globe production
2011Love, Love, Love, a Drum Theatre Plymouth and Paines Plough production at the Drum Theatre Plymouth, and on tourMatilda the Musical, an RSC production at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Richard III and The Comedy of Errors: both Propeller productions, in association with The Touring Partnership, on tour
2010[4] Spur of the Moment by Anya Reiss at The Royal CourtSweeney Todd - a Dundee Rep Ensemble production, at Dundee RepPobby and Dingan - a Catherine Wheels Theatre Company production, in association with Brunton Theatre, MusselburghThe Empire – a Royal Court Theatre and Drum Theatre Plymouth production
2009[5] ENRON by Lucy Prebble, a Headlong, Chichester Festival Theatre and Royal Court Theatre production at Chichester Festival TheatreSpend Spend Spend at Watermill, NewburyFor The Best Presented by the Unicorn Theatre in collaboration with Mark Storor and Anna LedgardNoël Coward's Brief Encounter, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers and Cineworld present The Kneehigh Theatre Production in a co production with Royal and Derngate Northampton
2008
2007 Citizens' Theatre/Tag's Yellow Moon (The Ballad Of Leila And Lee) at the Citizens', Glasgow and tour
2006 National Theatre of Scotland and Improbable's The Wolves In The Walls on tour
2005 Pyrenees by David Greig, Tron Theatre Company and Paines PloughHow To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying at the Festival Theatre, Chichester Alice's Adventures In Wonderland at Bristol Old Vic
2004 The Sugar Syndrome by Lucy Prebble at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre UpstairsThe Hired Man book by Melvyn Bragg, music and lyrics by Howard Goodall, at Salisbury Playhouse Arthur, The Story Of A King, Wee Stories & The Scottish Touring Consortium co-created by Andy Cannon, Iain Johnstone and David Trouton
2003 The Breathing House by Peter Arnott, Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, EdinburghSweet Charity book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, based on the original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinellis and Ennio Flaiano, at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Tom's Midnight Garden adapted by David Wood from Philippa Pearce's book, Library Theatre Company, Manchester
2002 Gagarin Way by Gregory Burke, Traverse Theatre Company in association with the National Theatre Studio on tourFiddler On The Roof book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, a Watermill West Berkshire Playhouse productionLifeboat by Nicola McCartney, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company in association with Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh on tour
2001 Splendour by Abi Morgan, Paines Plough in association with the Peter Wolff Theatre Trust on tourThe Gondoliers by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, adapted by John Doyle at The Watermill West Berkshire PlayhouseThe Unicorn Theatre's Tom's Midnight Garden by David Wood adapted from the book by Philippa Pearce, incidental music Stephen McNeff
2000 Larkin With Women by Ben Brown at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, ScarboroughUnder The Apple Tree devised by Paul Harman, Philip Harrison and David Tarkenter for ctc on tour
1999 The Palace Theatre Watford production of The Late Middle Classes by Simon Gray, subsequently toured nationally by the Ambassador Theatre GroupBirmingham Repertory Theatre and Tamasha Theatre Company's Fourteen Songs, Two Weddings And A Funeral adapted by Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith, music arranged by Barrie Bignold, English lyrics by Shaun McCarthy at Birmingham Repertory TheatreThe Young Vic Theatre Company's Arabian Nights adapted and directed by Dominic Cooke at the Young Vic and now on tour, in association with Warwick Arts Centre and Darren Ockert Productions
1998 Frozen by Bryony Lavery at the Birmingham Repertory TheatreSpend Spend Spend! by Steve Brown and Justin Greene inspired by the life of Viv Nicholson, from the book by Viv Nicholson and Stephen Smith at West Yorkshire PlayhouseOxford Stage Company's Junk by Melvyn Burgess, adapted by John Retallack
1997 Popcorn by Ben Elton, a co-production between Nottingham Playhouse and West Yorkshire PlayhouseDivorce Me Darling book, music and lyrics by Sandy Wilson at Chichester Festival TheatreBeauty And The Beast, directed and written by Laurence Boswell at the Young Vic Theatre, London
1996 Divine Right by Peter Whelan at the Birmingham Repertory TheatrePeter Pan by J M Barrie adapted by Matthew Warchus at West Yorkshire Playhouse
1995 Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, adapted by Harry Gibson, at the Citizens Theatre, GlasgowMoll Flanders book by Claire Luckham (from the novel by Daniel Defoe), lyrics by Paul Leigh (original lyrics by Claire Luckham and Chris Bond), music by George Stiles (based on tunes of the period) at the Theatre Royal, YorkThe Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse, book and lyrics by Anthony Clark, music by Mark Vibrans at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
1994 Hated Nightfall by Howard Barker, co-produced by the Royal Court and the Wrestling School, on tourAssassins music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman from an original idea by Charles Gilbert Junior at the Library Theatre, ManchesterTwo Weeks With The Queen adapted by Mary Morris from the novel by Morris Gleitzman, coproduced by the Royal National Theatre and the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, Scarborough
1993 Lost In Yonkers by Neil Simon, presented by Duncan C Weldon, on tourMe And My Girl book and lyrics by L Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber, music by Noel Gay, a Richard Armitage/Noel Gay Organisation production presented by Pola Jones and Farworlds Ltd, on tourThe Royal National Theatre's production of Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn, on tour
1992 The Choice by Claire Luckham at Salisbury PlayhouseInto The Woods music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine at the Wolsey Theatre, IpswichThe Magic Storybook by Renata Allen, Oxford Stage Company and Oxford Playhouse
1991 Donny Boy by Robin Glendinning at Manchester Royal ExchangeSweeney Todd music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler at Oldham ColiseumMonty Moonbeam's Magnificent Mission by Christopher Lillicrap and Jeanette Ranger at the Swan Theatre, Worcester

Past winning performers

YearBest Performance in a PlayBest Performance in a MusicalBest Supporting Performance in a PlayBest Supporting Performance in a Musical
2016Paapa Essiedu for Hamlet, a Royal Shakespeare Company productionClare Burt for Flowers for Mrs Harris, a Sheffield Theatres ProductionRebecca Trehearn for Show Boat, a Sheffield Theatres production
2015Joel MacCormack for Each His Own Wilderness, an Orange Tree Theatre production

Polly Lister for Abigail's Party, a Theatre by the Lake production

Imelda Staunton for Gypsy, a Chichester Festival Theatre productionJustine Mitchell for For Services Rendered, a Chichester Festival Theatre production
2014Patrick O'Kane for Quietly, an Abbey Theatre production on tourJamie Parker for Guys and Dolls, a Chichester Festival Theatre production Jenna Augen for Bad Jews, a Theatre Royal Bath production, in the Ustinov Studio
2013Cush Jumbo for A Doll's House, a Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester productionJanie Dee for Hello Dolly!, a Curve, Leicester productionSiân Phillips for This Is My Family, a Sheffield Theatres production
2012Henry Goodman for The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, a Chichester Festival Theatre productionImelda Staunton for Sweeney Todd, a Chichester Festival Theatre production
2011Derek Jacobi for King Lear: a Donmar Warehouse production at the Grand Opera House, Belfast and on tourBertie Carvel for Matilda at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
2010Maggie Steed for Hay Fever at West Yorkshire Playhouse – a West Yorkshire Playhouse productionEnsemble: The Hired Man- an Octagon Theatre Bolton productionAyesha Antoine for My Wonderful Day at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough – a Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough productionLouise Plowright for Irving Berlin's White Christmas the Musical - A Michael Rose Limited, Chris Moreno & Mayflower Theatre, Southampton presentation of a Theatre Royal Plymouth Production
2009Anna Francolini for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at Royal & Derngate NorthamptonAlexandra Silber for Carousel, Stanhope Productions, Michael Edwards & Carole Winter, Tiger/WSZ, Stevens-O'Boyle, and Tulchin/Bartner/Ambassador Theatre Group in association with The Churchill, Bromley on tourClaire Price for Mary Stuart at Clwyd Theatr CymruKirsty Hoiles for Spend Spend Spend at the Watermill, Newbury
2008 Brenda Blethyn for the Royal Exchange Theatre Company's The Glass MenagerieBrian Conley for The Music Man at Chichester Festival Theatre Kate O'Flynn for the Royal Exchange Theatre Company's The Children's Hour Martin Ball for Mary Poppins on tour
2007 Patrick Stewart for Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre produced in association with Duncan C Weldon and Paul Elliot Henry Goodman for Sheffield Theatres' Fiddler On The Roof at the Crucible Meg Fraser for All My Sons at the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh Anne Louise Ross for Sunshine On Leith at Dundee Rep
2006 Greg Hicks for Tamburlaine at Bristol Old Vic Tom Brooke for The Long And The Short And The Tall at the Lyceum, Sheffield Nicole Faraday for Bad Girls The Musical at West Yorkshire Playhouse
2005 Ian McDiarmid for Lear at the Crucible, Sheffield Anna-Jane Casey for Mack And Mabel at the Watermill Jimmy Akingbola for Blue/Orange at the Crucible, Sheffield Mark Tracie Bennett for the Royal Exchange Theatre Company's Sex, Chips & Rock N Roll

Past winning creatives

YearBest DirectorBest Set Design / Best DesignBest Lighting DesignSpecial Award for Individual AchievementSpecial Award for Achievement in Regional Theatre
2016Raz Shaw for Wit, a Royal Exchange Theatre productionLez Brotherston for Flowers for Mrs Harris and Show Boat, a Sheffield Theatres productions
2015
2014
2013Blanche McIntyre for The Seagull, a Headlong and Nuffield, Southampton production in association with Derby TheatreJonathan Fensom and Charles Balfour for The Accrington Pals, a Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester productionSimon Callow
2012
2011
2010Laurie Sansom for Beyond the Horizon and Spring Storm - Royal & Derngate, Northampton productionsMike Brookes and Simon Banham for The Persians - a National Theatre Wales productionChris Davey for Dial M for Murder – a West Yorkshire Playhouse and Fiery Angel production and for Beyond the Horizon – a Royal & Derngate, Northampton productionMax Stafford-ClarkPaines Plough
2009Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Othello, Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth in collaboration with Royal and Derngate, Northampton on tourMichael Pavelka for The Merchant of Venice, Watermill Theatre and Propellor on tourDaniella Beattie for The Wicked Lady at New Victoria. Newcastle Under LymeNicolas KentThe Theatre, Chipping Norton
2008 Michael Boyd for The Histories at RSC Stratford-Upon-Avon Mike Britton for Lady From The Sea at Birmingham Rep The Royal Exchange Theatre Company's The Children's Hour designed by Mick Hughes Latitude Festival
2007 Tim Supple for A Midsummer Night's Dream on tour Chloe Lamford for Small Miracle at the Mercury, Colchester Bruntwood Group - for their year round charitable work and key contributions off stage
2006 Nina Raine for Unprotected at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool Robert Innes Hopkins for Promise, Promises at the Crucible, Sheffield English Youth Ballet
2005 Michael Grandage for Don Carlos at the Crucible, Sheffield Faustus set design by Laura Hopkins at Northampton Theatre Royal The Mackintosh Foundation
2004 Anna Mackmin for Cloud Nine a Sheffield Theatres production at the Crucible Liz Ascroft for the Royal Exchange Theatre Company's The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice The Playhouse Theatre, Derry
2003 David Farr for A Midsummer Night's Dream at Bristol Old Vic Julian Croch, Phil Eddols, Colin Grenfell and Stephen Snell for The Hanging Man, Improbable Theatre in co-production wit West Yorkshire Playhouse, Wexner Center for the Arts, the Walker Art Center, the Lyric Hammersmith and Weiner Festwochen in association with Pomegrante Arts The Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, North Yorkshire
2002 Emma Rice for Kneehigh Theatre's The Red Shoes on tour Simon Higlett for Elizabeth Rex at Birmingham Repertory Theatre produced in association with Duncan C. Weldon and Paul Elliott for Triumph Entertainment Ltd, and for Nuffield Theatre Southampton's Three Sisters presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions on tour mindthe gap
2001 Vicky Featherstone for Splendour, Paines Plough in association with the Peter Wolff Theatre Trust on tour Laura Hopkins for Mister Heracles at West Yorkshire Playhouse The Wales Association for the Performing Arts
2000 Richard Wilson for Mr Kolpert at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Jeremy Herbert for 4.48 Psychosis at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Mercury Theatre, Colchester
1999 Edward Hall for Twelfth Night at The Watermill, West Berkshire Playhouse Es Devlin for the Bush Theatre's Howie The Rookie at the Bush Theatre Northern Stage
1998 Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott for Shockheaded Peter, a Cultural Industry project produced in collaboration with West Yorkshire Playhouse and Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Neil Warmington for Jane Eyre, Shared Experience Theatre in association with the Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and the Young Vic Theatre on tour Mobil Touring Theatre
1997 Janet Suzman for The Cherry Orchard, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company in a co-production with the Market Theatre, Johannesburg Robert Innes Hopkins for The Wasp Factory at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Oxford Stage Company's My Mother Said I Never Should on tour G & J Productions
1996 Mike Alfreds for Flesh And Blood, Jude The Obscure and Private Lives, Method & Madness on tourTony Tripp for Cole Porter's High Society presented by Paul Elliott by arrangement with Paul Dainty Europe Ltd. Sheffield Theatres and Warner Chappell Music Ltd, on tour Jeremy Raison, artistic director of Chester Gateway
1995 Barrie Rutter for The Cracked Pot at West Yorkshire Playhouse in association with Northern Broadsides, and for Northern Broadsides' tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream Robin Don for The Winter Guest at West Yorkshire Playhouse, co-produced with the Almeida Theatre Company
1994 Anthony Clark for The Atheist's Tragedy and The Playboy Of The Western World at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Peter J. Davison for the tours of the Almeida Theatre's production of Medea in association with Bill Kenwright Ltd and Theatr Clwyd's production of Saint Joan presented by Duncan C. Weldon
1993 David Glass for the David Glass ensemble production of Gormenghast, on tourCharles Cusick-Smith for The Plough And The Stars at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester
1992 Gregory Hersov for Romeo And Juliet and A View From The Bridge at Manchester Royal Exchange Neil Warmington (set), Ben Ormerod (lighting) and Mic Pool (sound) for Life Is A Dream at West Yorkshire Playhouse
1991 Patrick Sandford for The Winter Wife and Much Ado About Nothing at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton Simon Vincenzi for Thrse Raquin at Nottingham Playhouse

Past winning achievements in dance and opera

YearAchievement in DanceAchievement in Opera
2016Gary Clarke for CoalThe Royal Opera and Guildhall School Of Music and Drama for 4.48 Psychosis in association with the Lyric Hammersmith
2015
2014
2013Independent dance artist Wendy Houstoun for her insightful, funny solo 50 ActsWelsh National Opera for the productions of Lulu & Lohengrin, conducted by Lothar Koenigs
2012
2011
2010The Mark Morris Dance Group for L'allegro, Il Pensero Ed Il ModeratoWelsh National Opera's production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
2009The dancers of English National Ballet, who showed new strength and interpretative skills across a range of repertoryGlyndebourne for an outstanding 75th Anniversary season
2008 Theatre-Rites & Arthur Pita for Mischief Opera North for its summer Shakespeare season
2007 Birmingham Royal Ballets Stravinsky! A Celebration 2007Opera North's Peter Grimes
2006 Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo for their hilarious blend of low comedy and high glamour that lampoons and celebrates the golden age of classical ballet Welsh National Opera's Mazeppa
2005 Mark Baldwin for the creation of Constant Speed and the high calibre of his artistic directorship of Rambert Dance CompanyThe Partnership of Vladimir Jurowski and Richard Jones for Welsh National Operas Wozzeck
2004 Scottish Ballet for sure-footed modernisation under Ashley Page and dynamic performances Opera North for its Eight Little Greats season at Leeds and on tour
2003 George Piper Dances' Critics' Choice ****** programmeTristan und Isolde at Glyndebourne
2002 Christopher Hampson for Double Concerto, an outstanding new ballet in a fine year for repertory at English National Ballet Scottish Opera for Die Walküre and Siegfried
2001 Rambert Dance Company for their performance of Mats Ek's She Was BlackRichard Jones, Vladimir Jurowski and the company for Welsh National Opera's production of The Queen of Spades
2000 Tamara Rojo for her outstanding performances for English National BalletAnja Silja, Amanda Roocroft and Jir Belohlvek for leading Glyndebourne's revival of Jenufa
1999 Lez Brotherston for Northern Ballet Theatre's Carmen, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Giselle, Dracula and A Christmas CarolScottish Opera, especially for its outstanding productions of Der Rosenkavalier and Macbeth
1998 David Bintley for the choreography of Edward II, for mounting the Balanchine bill and for reviving Dame Ninette de Valois' The Prospect Before Us for Birmingham Royal BalletWelsh National Opera for Billy Budd and The Coronation of Poppea
1997 The dancers of Rambert Dance Company for their performances in Airs, Eidolon, Port For Angels and Stream The cast and production of Scottish Opera's Idomeneo

Other 2013 winners

The 2013 UK Theatre Award winners were announced on 20 October 2013.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Peter Hall dismisses furore over de sade play as immature. 24 December 2011 . London. The Independent.
  2. News: Teen drag musical wins theatre awards. Youngs. Ian. 2017-10-15. BBC News. 2017-10-17. en-GB. 2017-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018074204/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41612582. live.
  3. Web site: UK Theatre Awards 2018 winners announced WhatsOnStage. www.whatsonstage.com. en-GB. 2019-03-02. 2019-03-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044722/https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/uk-theatre-award-winners-2018-announced-_47803.html. live.
  4. Web site: TMA Theatre Award Nominations Unveiled. 24 December 2011. 11 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110611144957/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29845/tma-theatre-award-nominations-unveiled. live.
  5. Web site: TMA Theatre Winners 2009. 2010-10-06. 2012-02-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20120214122528/http://www.tmauk.org/awards/tmatheatreawardswinners2009/tmatheatrewinners2009.aspx. live.
  6. Web site: 2013 UK Theatre Awards. 22 October 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023063117/http://www.tmauk.org/downloads/UKTheatreAwardsWinnersAnnounced_PressRelease.pdf. 23 October 2013.