Manchester Theatre Awards
The Manchester Theatre Awards were established in 2011 to replace the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.The MEN awards, created in 1981 by Alan Hulme, the paper's theatre critic, had long been recognised as the most important theatrical prize-giving outside London and were an important part of the Greater Manchester theatrical calendar. When the Manchester Evening News withdrew its support, the critics already involved, led by Alan Hulme and his MEN successor Kevin Bourke, and with the support of the Greater Manchester theatres, set up a new organisation to carry on the awards. The first winners, for 2011, were announced on 14 March 2012.
Winners and nominations
2017
Winners of the 2017 awards were announced on 9 March 2018 at The LowryActor In A Leading Role: Kenneth Alan Taylor, The Father, Oldham ColiseumActress In A Leading Role: Janet Suzman, Rose, HOME (Manchester)Actor In A Supporting Role: Andrew Sheridan, People, Places & Things, HOME (Manchester) Actress In A Supporting Role: Katie West, Uncle Vanya, HOME (Manchester) Actor in a Visiting Production: Danny Mac, Sunset Boulevard, Palace TheatreActress in a Visiting Production: Sheridan Smith, Funny Girl, Palace TheatrePerformance in a Studio Production: Rhodri Meillir, How My Light Is Spent, Royal Exchange StudioPerformance in a Fringe Production: Alexandra Maxwell, The Loves Of Others/Freaks, Greater Manchester FringeEnsemble: The Suppliant Women, Royal Exchange Production: The Father, Oldham ColiseumVisiting Production: The Weir, Oldham CoilseumStudio Production: Man On The Moon, Contact TheatreFringe Production: Moth, Hope Mill TheatreMusical: Sunset Boulevard, Dance: English National Ballet double bill, Palace TheatreOpera: The Snow Maiden, Opera North, The LowryDesign: Jenny Melville and Lysander Ashton, Paul Auster's City of Glass, HOME New Play: Narcissist In The Mirror, Rosie Fleeshman, Greater Manchester Fringe', Special Entertainment: Dick Whittington, The Palace Youth Panel Award: Singin' in the Rain, RNCM Young CompanyNewcomer: Scott Hunter, Yank!, Hope Mill Theatre
2016
Winners of the 2016 awards were announced on 17 March 2017 at HOME (Manchester)Actor In A Leading Role: Daniel Rigby, Breaking the Code, Royal Exchange, ManchesterActress In A Leading Role: Julie Hesmondhalgh, Wit, Royal Exchange, ManchesterActor In A Supporting Role: Daniel Crossley, Sweet Charity, Royal Exchange, ManchesterActress In A Supporting Role: Natalie Dew, Breaking the Code, Royal Exchange, Manchester Actor in a Visiting Production: Rufus Hound, Wind in the Willows, The LowryActress in a Visiting Production: Aiofe Duffin, A Girl is a Half-formed Thing, The Lowry Actor in a Studio Production: Joseph Quinn, Wish List, Royal Exchange StudioActress in a Studio Production: Erin Doherty, Wish List, Royal Exchange StudioPerformance in a Fringe Production: Joyce Branagh, Boomtown Gals Ensemble: Singin' in the Rain, Octagon Theatre, BoltonProduction: Breaking the Code, Royal Exchange, ManchesterVisiting Production: The James Plays, The Lowry Studio Production: Wish List, Royal Exchange Studio Fringe Production: The Trial, Hope Mill TheatreMusical: Sweet Charity, Royal Exchange, ManchesterDance: Akram Khan's Giselle, Palace TheatreOpera: Andrea Chenier, Opera North, The LowryDesign: Singin' in the Rain, Ocatagon Theatre New Play: The Emperor, HOME (Manchester)Special Entertainment: The Peony Pavilion, The LowryYouth Panel Award: Nothing, Royal Exchange Theatre Young Company
- Special Achievement Award: Joseph Houston and William Whelton, founders of Hope Mill Theatre Philip Radcliffe, critic and founder member of the Manchester Theatre AwardsStage Door Award For Excellence: Take Back Theatre CollectiveBest newcomer: Norah Lopez Holden for Ghosts, HomeBest young newcomers: Samuel Torpey, Henry Harmer and Elliot Stiff for Billy Elliot. Jasmine de Goede and Lucy Doyle Ryder for ''To Kill a Mockingbird''
2015
Winners of the 2015 awards were announced on 4 March 2016 at HOME (Manchester)Actor In A Leading Role: Colin Connor, A View From The Bridge, Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Nominations: Rob Edwards, Jonjo O'Neill and Sam SwannActress In A Leading Role: Barbara Drennan, A View From The Bridge, Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Nominations: Scarlett Brookes, Kathryn Hunter and Maxine PeakeActress In A Supporting Role: Natasha Davidson, A View From The Bridge, Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Nominations: Lauren Drummond, Anna Wheatley, Ria ZmitrowiczActor in a Visiting Production: Joe Armstrong, Constellations, The Lowry. Nominations: Michael Ball, Finetime Fontayne, Dominic MarshActress in a Visiting Production: Louise Brealey, Constellations, The Lowry. Nominations:Debbie Kurup, Lucy O'Byrne, Sophie Thompson Performance in a Studio Production: Carla Langley, Cuddles, Royal Exchange Studio. Nominations: Alex Austin, Carla Langley, Sian Reese-Williams Abdul Salis Performance in a Fringe Production: Colin Connor, Mr Smith, Kings Arms, Salford. Nominations: Ben Bland, Heather Carroll, Jeni Howarth-Williams Ensemble: Noises Off. Nominations: Dreamers, Lord of the Flies, Street Scene Production: An Enemy of the People, David Thacker, Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Nominations: Educating Rita, Rite, A View From The Bridge Visiting Production: Constellations from The Royal Court, The Lowry. Nominations: Beryl, John, Twelve Angry Men Studio Production: Lungs, The Roundabout at The Lowry. Nominations: Cuddles, Light, So Here We Are Fringe Production: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Kings Arms, Salford. Nominations: Mr. Smith at the Kings Arms, Salford, Parents Without Children at the Three Minute Theatre, We Are The Multitude at 24:7 Theatre FestivalMusical: The Bodyguard - The Musical, Palace Theatre. Nominations: Anything Goes, Guys And Dolls, Mack & MabelDance: Lest We Forget, English National Ballet, Palace Theatre: Nominations: 1984, Flex'N Manchester, Tree Of CodesOpera: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Royal Northern College of Music. Nominations: Cosi Fan Tutte, Giovanna d'Arco, The Marriage of FigaroDesign: Tree Of Codes at the Opera House. Nominations: Inkheart, Moominland Midwinter, The Oresteia, New Play: The Rolling Stone, Royal Exchange, Manchester. Nominations: Beryl, Nirbhaya Special Entertainment: Bridging the Gap, The Gap Theatre Project, Halle St Peters. Nominations: Inala - A Zulu Ballet, Ultima Vez, Bridging the Gap, Moominland MidwinterYouth Panel Award: The Shrine of Everyday Things, Contact Young Company at Contact Theatre. Nominations: On The Town, TaY Talks, The WardrobeSpecial Achievement Award: Professor David ThackerStage Door Award For Excellence: 24:7 Theatre Festival
2014
Nominations for 2014 performances were announced on 20 January 2015. The winners were announced and presented on 13 March 2015 at the Royal Northern College of MusicBest actor: Harry McEntire, Billy Liar, Royal ExchangeBest actress: Clare Foster, Duet For One and Separation, Bolton OctagonBest supporting actor: David Burrell, Journey's End, Bolton OctagonBest supporting actress: Gillian Bevan, Hamlet, Royal ExchangeBest actor in a visiting production : Sir Anthony Sher, Henry IV, Royal Shakespeare Company at The LowryBest actress in a visiting production : Katherine Kingsley, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Manchester Opera HouseBest production – Angel Meadow, Anu Productions for HOME (Manchester)Best visiting production: The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, National Theatre at The LowryThe Brynteg Award for Best Musical: Jersey Boys, Palace TheatreBest opera: Gotterdammerung, Opera North at The LowryThe Robert Robson award for dance: Le Corsaire, English National Ballet at The LowryBest design: Romeo and Juliet, HOME (Manchester)Best newcomer: Emily Barber, Billy Liar, Royal ExchangeBest new play: An August Bank Holiday Lark, Northern Broadsides at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre Best studio production: We Had Hairy Hands, The Lowry StudioBest fringe production: Thick as Thieves Best studio performance: Sinead Matthews, Pink, Royal Exchange StudioBest fringe performance: Kaitlin Howard, The Alphabet GirlBest ensemble: Angel Meadow, Anu Productions for HOME (Manchester)Best special entertainment: Barry Humphries, Manchester Opera HouseYouth Panel Award: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lowry Young Actors CompanySpecial achievement award: David SlackThe Stage Door Foundation award for excellence: Monkeywood Theatre
2013
Best Actor: Kenneth Branagh, Macbeth, Manchester International FestivalBest Actress: Cush Jumbo, A Doll's House, Royal Exchange Best Supporting Actor: Ray Fearon, Macbeth, Manchester International FestivalBest Supporting Actress: Shirley Darroch, Chicago, Oldham ColiseumBest Actor in a Visiting Production: Julian Glover, Maurice's Jubilee, Opera HouseBest Actress in a Visiting Production: Catherine Kinsella, Rutherford and Son, The LowryBest Production: Macbeth, Manchester International FestivalBest Visiting Production: War Horse, National Theatre at The LowryBest Musical: Singin' In The Rain, Opera HouseBest opera: Otello, Opera North, The LowryThe Robert Robson award for dance: Michael Clark Triple Bill, The LowryBest Design: The Old Woman, Manchester International Festival, Palace TheatreBest Newcomer: Freya Sutton, Hairspray, The LowryBest New Play: Away From Home, 24:7 Theatre FestivalBest Studio Production: Brilliant Adventures, Royal Exchange StudioBest Fringe Production: The Best, Lass O'GowrieBest Studio Performance: Robert Lonsdale, Brilliant Adventures, Royal Exchange StudioBest Fringe Performance: Rob Ward, Away From Home, 24:7 Theatre FestivalBest Ensemble: Chicago, Oldham ColiseumBest Special Entertainment: Dick Whittington, Opera HouseSpecial Achievement Award - Chris Honer, Library Theatre, ManchesterThe Stage Door Foundation award for excellence: Lip Service
2012
Best Production: Wonderful Town, directed by Braham Murray for the Royal Exchange at The LowryBest Studio Production: Black Roses, Royal Exchange StudioBest New Play: Snookered by Ishy Din, Oldham ColiseumBest Visiting Production: Julius Caesar, Royal Shakespeare Company at The LowryBest Fringe: All The Bens by Ian Townsend, 24:7 Theatre FestivalBest Special Entertainment: Star Cross'd, Oldham ColiseumBest Design: Wonderful Town for the Royal Exchange at The LowryBest Opera: Don Giovanni, Opera North, The LowryBest Actress in a Visiting Production: Siân Phillips, Cabaret, The LowryBest Actor in a Visiting Production: Ray Fearon, Julius Caesar, Royal Shakespeare Company at The LowryBest Actor: Christopher Ravenscroft, The Winslow Boy, Bolton OctagonBest Actress: Maxine Peake, Miss Julie, Royal ExchangeBest Performance in a Studio Production: Julie Hesmondhalgh, Black Roses, Royal Exchange StudioBest Supporting Actor: Christopher Villiers, The Winslow Boy, Bolton OctagonBest Supporting Actress: Natalie Grady, The Daughter-in-Law, the Library TheatreBest Newcomer: Tamla Kari, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Royal ExchangeBest Ensemble: Arabian Nights, the Library TheatreBest Musical: The Lion King, Palace TheatreBest Dance: Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty, The LowrySpecial Award: Porl Cooper
2011
Best Production: The Price, directed by David Thacker for Bolton OctagonBest Actor: Con O'Neill, A View From The Bridge, Royal ExchangeBest Actress: Margot Leicester, Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, Bolton OctagonBest Actor in a Supporting Role: Kenneth Alan Taylor, The Price, Bolton OctagonBest Actress in a Supporting Role: Shannon Tarbet, Mogadishu, Royal ExchangeBest New Play: Secret Thoughts by David Lodge, Bolton OctagonBest Newcomer: Matthew Tennyson, Beautiful Thing, Royal ExchangeBest Studio Performance: Matthew Ganley, God Wept And The Devil Laughed, Lowry StudioBest of the Fringe: Sherica, Balloon Head and Shred Productions, 24:7 Theatre FestivalBest Design: Hard Times design Judith Croft; light Nick Richings; sound Peter Rice, Library Theatre at Murrays' MillsBest Musical: Ghost the Musical, Manchester Opera HouseBest Visiting Production: One Man, Two Guvnors, National Theatre at The LowryBest Actor in a Visiting Production: Rory Kinnear, Hamlet, National Theatre at The LowryBest Actress in a Visiting Production: Sharon D Clarke, Ghost the Musical Manchester Opera HouseBest Special Entertainment: The Life and Death of Marina Abramović, Manchester International Festival, The LowryOpera: The Portrait, Opera North, The LowryDance: Cinderella, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The LowrySpecial Award: For outstanding contribution to North West theatre – Braham Murray