The nominations for the 2018 Journal Culture Awards, awarded by the North East regional newspaper The Journal, have been announced. Those of theatre interest are:
Newcomer of the Year
- Thought Foundation, a new arts and cultural space in Birtley, Gateshead
- Moving Parts: Newcastle Puppetry Festival
Performance of the Year
- My Knowledge Increase, My Memories Reflect, Martin Hylton and Gateway Studios
- Rumpelstiltskin, balletLORENT
- Beyond the End of the Road, November Club
Performing Artist of the Year
- Jessica Johnson, actress
- Christina Berriman Dawson, actress and writer
- Eliot Smith Dance
Writer of the Year
- Alex Oates
- Catrina McHugh
Special Award for Youth Achievement
- Team 21, the Sunderland 2021 bid
- Our Time, Team Juice
Best Event Durham
- Best Foot Forward, TIN Arts
Best Event Sunderland
- Fireflight, The Fire Station
Best Event Tyneside
- Freedom City 2017
Best Event Teesside
- Opening of The Hullabaloo, Darlington
Arts Council Award
- Curious Arts Festival 2017
- Unspoken, Newcastle Theatre Royal
- Snappy Operas, North Tyneside
Best Arts and Business Partnership
- Colmans Fish & Chips and the Customs House, South Shields
- The Cultural Spring and The Bridges shopping centre, Sunderland
- Sunderland 2021 and local businesses
The winners will be announced on 24 May at a ceremony at Hexham Abbey which will be compèred by NE actor and presenter Chris Connell.
Two awards do not have any nominees but will be announced on the night. One will go to the best event of 2017, to be drawn from the winners in each of the sub-regional categories (best event in Durham, Northumberland, Sunderland, Teesside and Tyneside), and the other to a person deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to North East culture.