The Bridge Theatre, Manchester’s Royal Exchange and Sadler’s Wells are among the nominees for The Stage Awards 2018.
A theatre show told through WhatsApp and the National Theatre’s new captioning technology have also made the shortlist for the annual awards, which celebrate the achievements of theatres and individuals across the UK over the past year.
The Believers Are But Brothers, which ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was directed by Javaad Alipoor and Kirsty Housley, used mobile messaging service WhatsApp to tell a story of radicalisation.
It is nominated in the innovation category, introduced last year, alongside the National Theatre’s Open Access Smart Capture glasses, which project captions on to glasses for use by d/Deaf audience members, and Liverpool’s Everyman for bringing back repertory theatre.
In the venue categories, the London theatre of the year nominees are the Almeida, the Barbican and the National Theatre.
Birmingham Hippodrome, the Royal Exchange and the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff make up the shortlist for regional theatre of the year, while the Hope Mill in Manchester, the Orange Tree in Richmond and Edinburgh’s Summerhall are nominated for fringe theatre of the year.
Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr‘s Bridge Theatre in London, which opened in October, is nominated for theatre building of the year alongside the recently redeveloped Bush Theatre in west London and new arts centre Storyhouse in Chester.
Producer Michael Harrison, London dance venue Sadler’s Wells and Hull City of Culture are nominated for producer of the year, while the school of the year category is made up of two youth theatre projects and a secondary school.
The Royal Exchange’s young company and Scottish Youth Theatre, based in Glasgow, are up against Sandringham School in St Albans.
The theatre company behind Golem, 1927, has toured several shows across the globe in the past year, earning it a nomination for the international award. It is shortlisted alongside Spanish theatre venue Cervantes Theatre, in Southwark, and Scottish arts organisation for young people Imaginate, for delivering the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival.
The sustainability award shortlist is made up of the Arcola Theatre in east London, for its environmental work, costume recycling service the Attic, and the Mill at Sonning for its hydroelectric power scheme.
Alistair Smith, editor of The Stage, said: “I’m delighted that The Stage Awards, in association with Integro Insurance Brokers, once again celebrate the achievements of theatres from across the UK that aren’t recognised at other ceremonies. The diversity of this year’s shortlist highlights the theatrical talent among organisations of all sizes.”
The awards, which take place on January 26 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, also include an unsung hero prize, announced on the day.
The awards are judged by The Stage’s senior editorial team, following consultation with leading figures in the industry and a public nomination process.