Irish theatre companies have garnered six nominations in this year’s UK Theatre Awards, with Belfast’s Lyric Theatre tying with Sheffield Theatres for the most potential gongs, sharing five nominations apiece.
The Lyric’s recognition comes after recent high-profile successes with its own productions while cementing its all-island profile with collaborations with other companies from north and south of the Irish border.
Its nominations include best new play category for Owen McCafferty’s Agreement; best play revival for Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane, co-produced with Prime Cut Productions; best design for Conor Murphy for Propaganda: A New Musical with the Belfast Ensemble; and best director for Garry Hynes for her Sean O’Casey Dublin Trilogy, Druid O’Casey, with the Galway-based Druid theatre company.
The Lyric’s final nomination was in the category for best show for children and young people, for its co-production with Replay Theatre Company and Belfast Children’s Festival of Mirrorball, which returns to the Lagan-side venue this week.
Also nominated, for best performance in a play, was Siobhán McSweeney for Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days for the Dublin-based Landmark Productions at Birmingham Rep.
Winners will be revealed in a ceremony at London’s Guildhall on October 8.