• The Peter Brook Awards 2017

    The Empty Space … Peter Brook Award is presented annually by London TheatReviews with the V&A Theatre Dept and National Theatre Studio. It is awarded for the body of work and in recognition of the pioneering concepts/ innovations, in the spirit of Peter Brook, achieved by venues that perform in smaller theatre spaces and receive little or no public funding. The categories also include regional theatres and innovative theatre companies without walls but in inventive spaces.

    Nominees for Empty Space…Peter Brook Award 2017
    Sponsor: Peter Brook Theatre Awards Trust

    1. Hope Mill Theatre – is an exciting new theatre in Manchester that specialises in musicals. Founded by artistic directors, Joseph Houston and William Whelton, their much admired production of Hair transferred to The Vaults and their production of Yank ran for 7 weeks at the Charing Cross Theatre.
    2. Orange Tree Theatre – is a unique in the round theatre which has been going strong since 1971. Under Paul Miller’s artistic direction it has grown by leaps and bounds, mixing co-productions such as Winter Solstice and The March on Russia with their own acclaimed work like An Octaroon.
    3. The Other Room – is Cardiff’s vibrant pub theatre run by artistic director, Dan Jones. It produces new work by Welsh and Wales-based artists as well as great modern plays such as Sinners Club, Seanmhair, Escape the Scaffold and hang.
    4. Roundabout – is the world’s first pop-up, plug-and-play theatre from Paines Plough artistic directors, George Perrin and James Grieve. It takes plays to places that don’t have theatres. Roundabout flat packs into a lorry and pops up all over the country, putting on outstanding plays such as Black Mountain, Out of Love, How To Be A Kid and Every Brilliant Thing.
    5. Tara Arts – creates theatre that is a terrific synthesis of East and West. Artistic director, Jatinder Verma, puts on productions that reflect modern multicultural realities such as Macbeth, Bollywood Jack, Paradise of the Assassins and Combustion. Next year, it will tour an adapted Marivaux farce, The Game of Love and Chai.
    6. The Yard – is a groundbreaking venue led by artistic director, Jay Miller. It is committed to telling contemporary stories in contemporary ways. Its shows have transferred to the National Theatre, been turned into TV series and toured the UK. It has put on extraordinary work like Removal Men, Now 17, Big Guns, First Drafts and the soon to return poignant production of This Beautiful Future.

    Nominees for Dan Crawford Innovation Award 2017
    Sponsor: Nica Burns, Nimax Theatres Ltd.

    1. Company Three – is a wonderful company made up of teenagers. Guided by artistic director, Ned Glasier, they put on plays about teenage issues, helping them to better understand themselves and the world around them. Their recent work includes Boat at BAC, The Future at The Yard Theatre and Brainstorm at the National Theatre.
    2. Crying Out Loud – is a pioneering creative producer that nurtures artists working in the circus, physical theatre and installation arenas. Artistic director, Rachel Clare, presents exceptional events at festivals, in venues and site specific locations in the UK and around the world.
    3. Taking Part – is an innovative Young Vic programme, initiated by artistic director, David Lan, that works with young people and local communities. It puts on large scale community productions, works with local community groups and arranges for young people to learn about theatre-making and participate in school productions at the Young Vic.

    Nominees for Peter Brook/Equity Ensemble Award 2017
    Sponsors: Peter Brook Theatre Awards Trust & Equity

    1. Les Enfants Terribles – is an ensemble company that creates breathtaking visual work with its use of props, puppetry and live music. Artistic director, Oliver Lansley, is constantly pushing the envelope with shows such as The Terrible Infants, The Vaudevillains, Alice’s Adventures Underground and Dinner at the Twits.
    2. Rhum and Clay – is an ensemble company that makes stunning visual, physically-led theatre. Run by joint artistic directors, Julian Spooner and Matt Wells, the company tours the UK extensively. Their shows such as 64
      Squares, Hard-Boiled: The Fall of Sam Shadow, Testosterone and Electronica have garnered rave reviews.
    3. The Everyman Company – is a superb new ensemble company at the Liverpool Everyman. Artistic director, Gemma Bodinetz, and executive director, Deborah Aydon, wanted to bring back the old repertory system. They hired 14 actors for 5 plays: Fiddler on the Roof, The Conquest of the South Pole, The Story Giant, The Sum and Romeo & Juliet. Their first season was such a resounding success that they are bringing it back again next year.

    Nominees for Peter Brook/Royal Court Theatre Support Award 2017
    An award to provide a studio theatre with professional expertise in a specific needed area
    Sponsor: Vicky Featherstone, Royal Court Theatre

    1. The Playground Theatre – is a wonderful new theatre under the leadership of artistic directors, Peter Tate and Anthony Biggs. They want to create a cultural hub for artists and their community. They are in need of guidance about fund-raising and technical support to help them grow.
    2. Theatre503 – focuses primarily on new writers, operating a writers’ residency programme and an international playwriting award. Artistic director, Lisa Spirling, does this without any regular subsidy. She needs assistance with further developing their writers as well as touring resources to finance their theatre programme.
    3. Union Theatre – is well known for producing marvellous musicals. It does so, on tiny budgets, relying on private donations to survive. Artistic director, Sasha Regan, has to wear many hats to keep it going. She is in need of professional advice about developing the space and publicity.

    Categories: Theatres

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