Stage star and pop sensation Faye Tozer will host this year’s UK Theatre Awards sponsored by Encore, set to take place on Sunday 20 October at 8Northumberland Avenue. The UK Theatre Awards celebrate the very best of theatre across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Awards are given for creative excellence and outstanding work both on and off stage, including the coveted UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award and the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre accolade.

Faye  is best-known as a member of BRIT Award-winning pop band Steps, who had number one hits with Tragedy and Stomp, and sold over 25 million records worldwide. Their 10th album Platinum Collection – celebrating 25 years – reached an impressive No.1 in the official charts and they recently completed their 10th UK Arena tour.

No stranger to the stage, Faye has also built a stellar career in theatre, with credits including the brand-new production of 101 Dalmatians (UK Tour), 42nd Street(UK Tour) Singin’ In The Rain (Sadler’s Wells, Toronto and UK Tour), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre), In The Spotlight (UK Tour), Over The Rainbow (Tour), Me And My Girl (UK Tour), Love Shack (UK Tour), Saucy Jack And The Space Vixens (The Leicester Square Theatre) and Tell Me On A Sunday (UK Tour).

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Hall for Cornwall, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Polka Theatre have been shortlisted for the 2024 ‘UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award’. The winner will be revealed at the UK Theatre Awards, which is set to take place on Sunday 20th October at 8 Northumberland Avenue. This annual event celebrates the creative excellence and outstanding work seen in theatres across the UK.

UK Theatre member venues were invited to apply for the coveted award, with applications judged on how welcoming each venue is in the areas of ‘place’, ‘people’ and ‘programme’. The panel considered everything from the venues’ buildings and commitment to accessibility, to outreach projects and interactions with theatregoers, staff, freelancers and the local community.

With applications from all over the UK, the three finalists were selected from a large number of submissions. The judging panel will now visit the venues in person to determine the overall winner. Visits often involve meeting staff, having a tour of the building, taking part in a scheduled activity, speaking to audience members or visiting the onsite café or restaurant.

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Monday 18 September: It has been announced that Mark Gatiss is the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award. He will be honoured at the UK Theatre Awards ceremony, taking place on Sunday 8 October at London’s Guildhall. The UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards to honour and celebrate outstanding achievements in theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by UK Theatre members.

Gatiss is a writer, director, producer, author and actor, and regional theatre has been at the heart of his long and varied career. From directing productions like The Unfriend at Chichester Festival Theatre and The Way Old Friends Do at Birmingham Rep, to starring in productions like the Madness Of King George III and his own adaptation of A Christmas Carol (both at the Nottingham Playhouse), it is clear to see his commitment to making world class productions in regional theatre, which he acknowledges as ‘the lifeblood of the industry’.

He is also an Olivier Award winning actor, and his stage work includes Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse), The Boys In The Band (Park/Vaudeville Theatres) and Three Days In The Country (National Theatre: Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role). In December he will be reprising his role as Sir John Gielgud in The Motive and The Cue which transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre.

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Thursday 14 September: Today, the nominees for this year’s UK Theatre Awards have been announced. The UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards to honour and celebrate outstanding achievements in theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by UK Theatre members.

With nominees across the UK, this year’s shortlist showcases the creativity, originality and resilience of theatre. Leading the nominations, both with acknowledgements across five categories, are Lyric Theatre Belfast and Sheffield Theatres. Lyric Theatre Belfast’s nominations include Best Design, Best Director, Best New Play, Best Play Revival and Best Show for Children and Young People, while Sheffield Theatres is represented in Best Musical Production, Best Play Revival, Best Performance in a Musical and Best Performance in a Play.

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Musical Theatre star Zoe Birkett will host this year’s UK Theatre Awards, set to take place on Sunday 8 October at London’s Guildhall. The UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards to honour and celebrate outstanding achievements in theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by UK Theatre members.

Zoe has built an impressive career as an actress and singer and is currently in rehearsals for The Witches at the National Theatre, playing the role of Pippa. She has built a stellar reputation and garnered an array of rave reviews for her performances in an abundance of hit West End shows, including The Great British Bake Off Musical, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Hair, Rent and Tommy, as well as originating the female lead in in Thriller Live. Zoe has just finished starring as Rachael Marron in The Bodyguard UK Tour, and in 2022 she won the BroadwayWorld UK / West End award for ‘Best Supporting Performer in a Musical’ for her portrayal of ‘Arabia’ in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

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Today, UK Theatre announces the nominees for this year’s UK Theatre Awards, the only nationwide awards to honour and celebrate outstanding achievements in theatre throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by UK Theatre members.

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Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich have been unveiled as the shortlisted venues for this year’s UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award at the UK Theatre Awards, which returns on Sunday 23 October for the first time since 2019.

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The search is on for the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre, with venues around the country invited to compete for this accolade ahead of this year’s UK Theatre Awards. Applications, which are now open to all UK Theatre member venues until 1 July, will be judged on how theatres can demonstrate they are welcoming in three distinct areas; ‘place’, ‘people’ and ‘programme’ – looking at the building itself, the relationship with audiences and everyone interacting with the venue, and the creative work offered.

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