Tayside theatres in running for critics' awards
Tayside theatre is well represented in the shortlist for the annual Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland, with nominations in seven categories.
A scene from Dundee Rep's A Christmas Carol. (Photo by Douglas Robertson/Dundee Rep)
- By Joy Watters, arts reporter
- Published in the Courier : 14.05.10
- Published online : 15.05.10 @ 05.42pm
Dundee Rep has half a dozen reasons to celebrate with A Christmas Carol and Elephant Man each receiving three nominations.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre's musical Whisky Galore! has been nominated twice, for Ken Alexander as best director and for best use of music and sound.
Perth Theatre is nominated in the best technical presentation category for its production of Jane Eyre.
Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre leads the field with 10 nominations across six of the categories.
Its artistic director Dominic Hill (co-artistic director at Dundee Rep until moving to the capital) is competing against himself in the best director category for The Dark Things and The Goat. Also nominated is Dundee Rep associate director Jemima Levick for Elephant Man.
The Rep's Kevin Lennon is nominated for best actor (male) for his portrayal of John Merrick in Elephant Man, while designers Alex Lowde and Colin Grenfell are shortlisted for best design for the same production.
A Christmas Carol is nominated for best production, best ensemble and best technical presentation.
For the first time, the shortlist includes a show rooted in the visual arts as much as in theatre with The Darktown Cakewalk: Celebrated from the House of FAME, performed as part of the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art, nominated for best ensemble and best use of music and sound.
Another CATS first is the addition of an all-inclusive company with Lung Ha's nomination in the best ensemble category for Huxley's Lab, a collaboration with Grid Iron.
Co-convener Mark Fisher said, "It has been a bumper year for great theatre in Scotland and we were spoilt for choice when it came to making our selections."
CATS newcomers include playwrights Alan Bissett for Turbo Folk (A Play, a Pie and a Pint) and Kieran Hurley for Hitch (The Arches), while Lung Ha's Theatre Company, Theatre Modo, the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art and Giant have also appeared on the shortlist for the first time.
The CATS, in its eighth year, is a highlight of the theatrical calendar in Scotland, celebrating the actors, directors, playwrights and other artists who have made the most thrilling contributions to the industry over the past 12 months.
The ceremony will be held at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on June 13 with a panel comprising regular theatre reviewers in Scotland.
The event is open to the public.
For more information and to see the full shortlist visit www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com
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