CityLife

MEN Theatre Awards: Nominations announced

The Cripple Of Inishmaan

LAST year, actor Bob Hoskins enthusiastically proclaimed that the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards was “the guv’nor” – the best awards ceremony he’d ever been to!

Today we’re announcing the nominations for this year’s awards, ranging from blockbuster musicals to the brand new, low-budget productions at the 24:7 Theatre Festival; and from the innovative international co-productions at this year’s Manchester International Festival to big-name tours and the best of local talent.

The winners will be announced to an audience of stars from stage, TV and film at this year’s glittering ceremony on Tuesday, December 8.

'Diversity'

Broadcaster Dianne Oxberry will be hosting the event at Manchester’s Midland Hotel, with full details of the thrills and fun appearing in the Manchester Evening News, in print and online, as well as on Channel M.

Aileen McEvoy, Interim Executive Director Arts Council England North West, said: “We are delighted to see such a rich and diverse range of nominations being announced for this year’s theatre awards.

“From home grown talent to visiting productions, the nominations reflect the diversity of theatre on offer to our north west audiences – showcasing the region as a distinctive centre of creative and cultural excellence.

“We look forward to hearing of the winners and congratulate all of those nominated for 2009.”

MEN Theatre Awards 2009
Nominations:

OPERA
DIE FLEDERMAUS, from Royal Northern College Of Music
LUCREZIA BORGIA, from Buxton Festival
THE MAGIC FLUTE, from English Touring Opera at Buxton Opera House
RIGOLETTO, from Clonter Opera

FAMILY
THE BFG, at the Palace Theatre
HORRIBLE HISTORIES: FRIGHTFUL FIRST WORLD WAR & WOEFUL SECOND WORLD WAR, at The Lowry
THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES, from Puppet State Theatre Company at the Royal Exchange Studio
WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, at the MEN Arena

MUSICAL
HOT MIKADO, at The Lowry
MARY POPPINS, at the Palace Theatre
OF THEE I SING, from Opera North at The Lowry
PARADISE MOSCOW, from Opera North at The Lowry
WE WILL ROCK YOU, at the Palace Theatre

VISITING PRODUCTION
BE NEAR ME, from Donmar Warehouse/National Theatre Of Scotland at The Lowry
BRIEF ENCOUNTER, from Kneehigh Theatre at The Lowry
THE CONVICT’S OPERA, from Out Of Joint/Sydney Theatre Company at the Library Theatre
THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, from Druid Theatre Company at The Lowry
THE WALWORTH FARCE, from Druid Theatre Company at The Lowry

DANCE
CARLOS ACOSTA, from Manchester International Festival at The Lowry
A LINHA CURVA, from Rambert Dance Company at The Lowry
MANON, from English National Ballet at the Palace Theatre
ROMEO AND JULIET, from Northern Ballet Theatre at the Opera House
TRIPLE BILL, from the Birmingham Royal Ballet at The Lowry

SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT
DESPERATE TO BE DORIS, from Lip Service/Library Theatre at the Library Theatre
END OF THE ROAD, from Manchester International Festival at the Royal Northern College Of Music
IT FELT LIKE A KISS, from Punchdrunk/Manchester International Festival
MACBETH, from Feelgood Productions at Heaton Park
PLATFORM 4 PICCADILLY, from X.Trax at Piccadilly Gardens

NEW PLAY
5:30, by Alistair McDowall at 24:7
AS WE FORGIVE THEM, by Richard Vergette at 24:7
LUB YOU, by Eve Steele at 24:7
PUNK ROCK, by Simon Stephens at the Royal Exchange
TRUE LOVE LIES, by Brad Fraser at the Royal Exchange
PALACE OF THE END, by Judith Thompson at the Royal Exchange Studio

DESIGN
THE CARETAKER, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
OLEANNA, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
ON THE PISTE, at Oldham Coliseum
TRUE LOVE LIES, at the Royal Exchange
THE VENETIAN TWINS, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton

STUDIO PRODUCTION
EAT ME, from Starving Artists/Queer Up North at Royal Exchange Studio
THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES, from Puppet State Theatre Company at the Royal Exchange Studio
PALACE OF THE END, at the Royal Exchange Studio

FRINGE PRODUCTION
5:30, at 24:7
AS WE FORGIVE THEM, at 24:7
FRESHERS, at 24:7
LUB YOU, at 24:7
J.B. SHORTS, at Joshua Brooks

PERFORMANCE IN A FRINGE PRODUCTION
CHRISTINE CLARE, in Freshers at 24:7
NICHOLAS OSMOND, in Phys-Ed at 24:7
JOE SIMS, in As We Forgive Them at 24:7
EVE STEELE, in Lub You at 24:7
RICHARD VERGETTE, in As We Forgive Them at 24:7

NEWCOMER
LUCY BRIGGS OWEN, in Widowers’ Houses at the Royal Exchange
AMANDA HENDERSON, in Everyone Loves A Winner at the Royal Exchange
VANESSA KIRBY, in All My Sons at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
TOM STURRIDGE, in Punk Rock at the Royal Exchange

ACTOR IN A VISITING PRODUCTION
BRIAN CAPRON, in Stepping Out at the Opera House
IAN MCDIARMID, in Be Near Me at The Lowry
AARON MONAGHAN, in The Cripple Of Inishmaan at The Lowry
MICHAEL GLENN MURPHY, in The Walworth Farce at The Lowry

ACTRESS IN A VISITING PRODUCTION
BLYTHE DUFF, in Be Near Me at The Lowry
LISA O’HARE, in Mary Poppins at the Palace Theatre
SUE POLLARD, in Annie at The Lowry
PENELOPE KEITH, in Entertaining Angels at The Lowry 

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
IAN BARRITT, in Gates Of Gold at the Library Theatre
IAN BARTHOLOMEW, in Widowers’ Houses at the Royal Exchange
CHRISTOPHER COLQUHON, in Macbeth at the Royal Exchange
OLIVER GOMM, in True Love Lies at the Royal Exchange
OSCAR PEARCE, in All My Sons at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
AMY BETH HAYES, in True Love Lies at the Royal Exchange
BECKY HINDLEY, in Martha, Josie And The Chinese Elvis at the Oldham Coliseum
CATHERINE KINSELLA, in Martha, Josie And The Chinese Elvis at the Oldham Coliseum
JESSICA RAINE, in Punk Rock at the Royal Exchange

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
KOSHA ENGLER, in Oleanna at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
RUTH GIBSON, in Independent Means at the Library Theatre
EMILY PITHON, in Blithe Spirit at the Oldham Coliseum
EVE POLYCARPOU, in Palace Of The End at the Royal Exchange Studio
ALWYN TAYLOR, in Blithe Spirit at the Oldham Coliseum

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
DANIEL CASEY, in A Number at the Library Theatre
NICK HAVERSON, in The Venetian Twins at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
TIM HEALY, in Looking For Buddy at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
COLIN STINTON, in Oleanna at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
LEON WILLIAMS, in Great Expectations at the Library Theatre

PRODUCTION
ALL MY SONS, directed by David Thacker at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
BLITHE SPIRIT, directed by Robin Herford at the Oldham Coliseum
OLEANNA, directed by Iqbal Khan at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
MARTHA, JOSIE AND THE CHINESE ELVIS, directed by Kevin Shaw at the Oldham Coliseum
PUNK ROCK, directed by Sarah Frankcom at the Royal Exchange
TRUE LOVE LIES, directed by Braham Murray at the Royal Exchange