Coliseum challenges major venues and stars for awards

Scarlett Brookes in a scene from “Educating Rita” at the Coliseum. She is pictured with Steven Elliott, the only other actor in the play

Theatres and theatre companies across Greater Manchester go head to head today with the announcement of the shortlists for this year’s Manchester Theatre Awards.

Nominees include Scarlett Brookes for best actress for her title role in the Oldham Coliseum’s acclaimed recent production of “Educating Rita”; Ben Porter as best supporting actor for his role in the Coliseum’s comedy “Boeing Boeing”, locally-written musical play “Dreamers” for the best ensemble award, Coliseum visiting production “Nirbhaya” for best new play, and “Educating Rita” again, this time for the major award of best production.

Oldham panto favourite Fine Time Fontayne is also nominated — against singing star Michael Ball, among others — as best actor in a visiting production for his role as the Fool in Northern Broadsides’ “King Lear” at the Lowry.

The local nominees face competition from the likes of major theatre and TV stars such as city darling Maxine Peake, nominated both as an actress and a writer, and even a brilliantly staged production of “Lord of the Flies”, complete with its own on-stage aeroplane fuselage!

The winners will be revealed on March 4 at a celebrity event in the city’s new HOME theatre and cinema complex. Nominations run across 20 categories and dozens of productions chosen by a panel of 10 of the region’s leading theatre reviewers. For the second year there is also a Youth Panel award, chosen by a team of young city theatre enthusiasts.

Yet again Manchester’s Royal Exchange and Bolton’s Octagon Theatre dominate many of the major categories, but the Lowry in Salford is in front with 16 nominations overall.

The city’s Opera House and Palace Theatre venues share the nominations for best musical, with several of the shortlisted shows having had their premiere in the city.

Lucy O’Byrne – the former theatre usher who last year was runner-up on TV’s The Voice – is on the shortlist for her role as Maria in “The Sound of Music” at The Lowry.

See the shortlist at www.manchestertheatreawards.com