There was jubilation at Dundee Rep this weekend at the news that it heads the field in this year’s shortlists for the CATS awards.

The theatre has received nominations in all but one of the categories in the 2008 Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland.

The awards celebrate professional theatre in Scotland and the winners will be announced in three weeks’ time.

The Rep’s chief executive and artistic director James Brining said, “We are absolutely delighted that our work in the last year has been recognised in this way.

“We have a very dedicated and talented staff at the Rep and these nominations are a measure of just how strong and committed the team is.”

The Rep has received 13 nominations in what is the sixth year of the CATS.

Four Dundee Rep product- ions are shortlisted—a brace each for directors James Brining and Dominic Hill, who has taken his leave of Dundee for Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre.

They are Peer Gynt, a vast reworking of Ibsen’s classic play; Sunshine on Leith, a new musical featuring the music of The Proclaimers; Beckett’s Happy Days; and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Peer Gynt has six nominations—Keith Fleming and Gerry Mulgrew jointly for best male performance; best ensemble; best design (Naomi Wilkinson); best use of music and sound (Paddy Cunneen); best director; and best production.

There are five nominations for Sunshine on Leith— best ensemble; best use of music and sound (Hilary Brooks); best technical; best director; and best production.

Alison Peebles has been nominated for best female performance in Happy Days while Jack and the Beanstalk is shortlisted in the best show for children and young people category.

Meanwhile, Glasgow’s Citizens’ Theatre is nominated in five categories, as is Edinburgh’s Wee Stories, the company that has been enthralling children and young people with innovative productions for over a decade.

“I am delighted that of just over 30 funded producing companies in Scotland, more than half feature somewhere on this year’s shortlists,” said CATS co-convener Joyce McMillan.

“I think that shows the strength in depth of Scottish theatre and the fact that although there are some obvious front-runners among the nominees, even the smallest professional companies can produce work that competes with the best.

“We believe Scottish-based theatre companies make a great contribution to the life of this country every year and we are pleased to play a part in making sure that their achievement is recognised and enjoyed by everyone.”

The role of the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) as a co-producer, working with both venue-based and touring companies, is clearly reflected in the nominations.

Six productions—which together garnered 15 nominations—were supported by the NTS, including collaborations with Dundee Rep, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Wee Stories, Edinburgh International Festival, NVA and Tam Dean Burn’s Burnt Goods.

“The National Theatre of Scotland was established not only to produce its own shows but also to promote the great work already being done by theatre companies here in Scotland,” explained co-convener Mark Fisher.

“So it’s gratifying that so many fantastic shows in the past year have been NTS co-productions.”

It was also a bumper year for new plays and scripts, with 103 works premiered across the country.

The shortlist for best new play features Educating Agnes—Liz Lochhead’s most recent adaptation of Moliere—and David Greig’s Being Norwegian.

Alan Wilkins makes the shortlist with Carthage Must be Destroyed—only his second play—and the final nomination goes to D.C. Jackson’s The Wall.

The 2008 CATS awards ceremony will be staged in Glasgow in the spectacular surroundings of Oran Mor.

Part of the annual West End Festival, the ceremony will take place on June 15.

Tickets for the ceremony —priced £15—are available in person from Oran Mor or from Tickets Scotland at 239 Argyle Street, Glasgow, telephone 0870 220 1116.

The awards panel is made up of regular theatre reviewers in Scotland, including Joy Watters, from The Courier.