The nominations for the tenth Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland were announced today, with the National Theatre of Scotland emerging as the big winners with twelve nominations in eight of the ten categories.
An indication of the success of new plays in Scotland is contained in the statistic that out of the 202 productions that were considered, 123 were eligible for the Best New Play category, and 36 were created for children and young people.
Critic for The Scotsman and co-convener for CATS Joyce McMillan said, "This year's CATS nominations celebrate a dazzling range of work, created by more than 20 companies across Scottish theatre. The list emphasises the growing creative impact of the National Theatre of Scotland, both through its own distinctive work and in co-productions with other companies; it also celebrates the continuing high achievement of Dundee Rep, and a fine start to Dominic Hill's directorship at the Citizens Theatre.
"And through nominations for events like the National Theatre of Scotland's Five Minute Theatre, Untitled's Salon Project and Magnetic North's Pass the Spoon, it also reflects the exciting ways in which theatre is changing, with artists exploring the myriad possibilities of online technology, and boldly venturing into the borderlands between theatre and installation, theatre and music, theatre and visual art."
This year will see the inauguration of a new special award for an outstanding contribution to theatre in Scotland known as The CATS Whiskers. Co-convenor Mark Fisher said, "As this is the 10th edition of the CATS awards, we felt it was time to celebrate those contributions to theatre in Scotland that go beyond the scope of our existing awards. The CATS Whiskers Award is our way of giving an extra round of applause to the most remarkable achievements."
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Tron Theatre in Glasgow on 10 June at 3PM for which tickets will be available to the public.
The full list of nominees is:
Best New Play
- David Harrower, A Slow Air, Tron Theatre Company
- Kieran Hurley, BEATS, The Arches
- Ronan O'Donnell, Angels, A Play, a Pie and a Pint
- Andrew O'Hagan, Vicky Featherstone, John Tiffany, Paul Flynn, Deborah Orr and Ruth Wishart, Enquirer, National Theatre of Scotland and the London Review of Books
Best Male Performance
- Stuart Bowman, Detective, Watching the Detective, A Play, a Pie and a Pint
- Stephen Clyde, Bottom, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Bard in the Botanics
- Stephen Kennedy, Edward, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Perth Theatre
- Michael Nardone, John Morrison, Men Should Weep, National Theatre of Scotland
Best Female Performance
- Maureen Beattie, Sister Ursula Mary, 27, National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Lyceum Theatre
- Sally Reid, Mona, Days of Wine and Roses, Theatre Jezebel and the Tron Theatre Company
- Ann Louise Ross, Mill Laverello, Further than the Furthest Thing, Dundee Rep Theatre
- Susan Vidler, Young Woman, Knives in Hens, National Theatre of Scotland
Best Ensemble
- A Christmas Carol, National Theatre of Scotland
- Enquirer, National Theatre of Scotland and the London Review of Books
- King Lear, Citizens Theatre Company
- Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Perth Theatre
Best Director
- James Brining, Further than the Furthest Thing, Dundee Rep Theatre
- Dominic Hill, Betrayal, Citizens Theatre Company
- Graham McLaren, A Christmas Carol, National Theatre of Scotland
- Rachel O'Riordan, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Perth Theatre
Best Design
- Graham McLaren (set), Gavin Glover (puppets), Paul Claydon (lighting), A Christmas Carol, National Theatre of Scotland
- Colin Richmond (set), Chris Davey (lighting), Betrayal, Citizens Theatre Company
- David Shrigley, Nick Millar, Alice Wilson and Susie Hunter (production design) Simon Wilkinson (lighting), Pass the Spoon, Magnetic North Theatre Productions in collaboration with Red Note Ensemble
- Neil Warmington (set), Philip Gladwell (lighting), Elizabeth Ogilvie (water), Further than the Furthest Thing, Dundee Rep
Best Music and Sound
- Jon Beales, My Fair Lady, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
- Paddy Cunneen, King Lear, Citizens Theatre Company
- David Fennessy (composer), Kenny Macleod (sound design), Pass the Spoon, Magnetic North Theatre Productions in collaboration with Red Note Ensemble>
- Johnny Whoop, BEATS, the Arches
Best Technical Presentation
- A Christmas Carol, National Theatre of Scotland
- Five-Minute Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland
- Further than the Furthest Thing, Dundee Rep
- The Salon Project, Traverse Theatre Company and Untitled Projects
Best Show for Children and Young People
- The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean, Shona Reppe Puppets
- Kes, Catherine Wheels in association with Brunton Theatre
- Tall Tales for Small People, National Theatre of Scotland and Communicado
- Too Many Penguins, Frozen Charlotte and the MacRobert, Stirling
Best Production
- A Christmas Carol, National Theatre of Scotland>
- Further than the Furthest Thing, Dundee Rep Theatre
- King Lear, Citizens Theatre Company>
- The Salon Project, Traverse Theatre Company and Untitled Project