Coliseum misses out

Oldham Coliseum: missed out

Despite five nominations Oldham Coliseum came away from this year’s Manchester Theatre Awards with no prizes — in a year dominated by Bolton Octagon theatre and its outgoing artistic director David Thacker.

The awards — at Manchester arts complex HOME on a snow-ravaged Friday afternoon — saw several guests and presenters fail to arrive in time, including the party from the Coliseum, who missed awards chairman Kevin Bourke note the impending retirement of the theatre’s front of house legend, David Rustidge, in his opening remarks.

One of the country’s most distinguished theatre directors, and the first-ever Professor of Theatre at Bolton University, David Thacker was honoured with the Special Achievement trophy.

It topped off a tremendous final year as artistic director at the Octagon since a further six awards went to productions or individual performers from plays he directed in 2015 - a record haul for one director.

Theatres across the area received nominations in 20 categories, chosen by a panel of 10 of the region’s leading theatre critics. For the second year there was also a Youth Panel award, chosen by a team of young city theatre enthusiasts.

Stage and TV actress Maxine Peake, a previous winner of a Leading Actress trophy, was narrowly beaten in that category this year, but also found her first self-penned play “Beryl”, about champion cyclist Beryl Burton, nominated in both the Visiting Production and New Play categories.

The city’s Opera House and Palace Theatre venues were guaranteed a winner in the Musical category since all nominees were from shows they had staged. In the event it was “The Bodyguard — The Musical” that took first prize.

Two of the stars of the current Royal Exchange theatre’s “Husbands & Sons”, Joe Armstrong and Louise Brealey, won the Visiting Actor and Actress trophies for their appearance in “Constellations” at the Lowry last year. The play also won Best Visiting Production.

The ceremony was again hosted by comedian Justin Moorhouse, and there was entertainment from comedian and animator Howard Read; performers Jessica Parker and Josh Tevendale from the musical “Avenue Q”, and Bury folk singer Jennifer Reid.

For more information go to www.manchestertheatreawards.com




Manchester Theatre Award 2015 winners



Actor In A Leading Role

Colin Connor (A View From The Bridge”, Octagon Theatre, Bolton)



Actress In A Leading Role

WINNER: Barbara Drennan (”A View From The Bridge” and “The Family Way”, Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Scarlett Brookes was a nominee for her role in “Educating Rita” at Oldham Coliseum



Actor In A Supporting Role

WINNER: David Birrell (”An Enemy Of The People”, Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Ben Porter was a nominee for his role in “Boeing Boeing” at Oldham Coliseum



Actress In A Supporting Role

Natasha Davidson (”A View From The Bridge”, Octagon Theatre, Bolton)



Actor in a Visiting Production

Joe Armstrong (“Constellations”, The Lowry)



Actress in a Visiting Production

Louise Brealey (“Constellations”, The Lowry)



Performance in a Studio Production

Carla Langley (“Cuddles”, Royal Exchange Studio)



Performance in a Fringe Production

WINNER: Colin Connor (“Mr. Smith”, Kings Arms, Salford); Ben Bland was a nominee for his role in “Grass”, by Hard Graft Theatre Company at Mumps Shop, Oldham



Ensemble

WINNER: “Noises Off” (Octagon Theatre, Bolton); The Coliseum’s production of original play “Dreamers” was a nominee



Production

WINNER: “An Enemy of the People”, directed by David Thacker (Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Oldham Coliseum’s “Educating Rita”, directed by Iqbal Khan, was a nominee



Visiting Production

“Constellations” (the Royal Court Theatre at The Lowry)



Studio Production

“Lungs” (The Roundabout at The Lowry)



Fringe Production

“The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” (Kings Arms, Salford)



Musical

“The Bodyguard — The Musical” (Palace Theatre)



Dance

“Lest We Forget” (English National Ballet at the Palace Theatre)



Opera

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Royal Northern College Of Music)



Design

“Tree Of Codes” (Opera House — Manchester International Festival)



New Play

WINNER: “The Rolling Stone” by Chris Urch (Royal Exchange); “Nirbhaya” by Yael Farber, shown at Oldham Coliseum and Contact Theatre, Manchester, was a nominee



Special Entertainment

“Bridging the Gap” (The Gap Theatre Project at Halle St Peters)



Youth Panel Award
“The Shrine of Everyday Things” (Contact Young Company at Contact)



Special Achievement Award
Professor David Thacker, former artistic director at Octagon Theatre, Bolton



Stage Door Award For Excellence

24:7 Theatre Festival