Online publication Northern Soul has announced the shortlist for its second annual awards, which "celebrate outstanding contributions to culture, arts and creative enterprise in the North".
Established in 2017 by former Times journalist Helen Nugent of online culture and enterprise magazine Northern Soul, the awards champion the work of organisations—including cultural venues, festivals, food operators, galleries, museums, exhibitions and businesses—that "excite and influence Northern audiences, capture and promote Northern identity, and place the region in the national and international spotlight."
Amongst the nomination categories are a few dedicated specifically to theatre in the North. Under Theatre Production of the Year, the nominees are The Big I Am at Liverpool Everyman, Our Town at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, She Bangs the Drums from Contact Young Company and Sh!t Theatre, The Newspaper Boy from Dibby Theatre for Queer Contact Festival, The Bear from Pins & Needles at Sale Waterside, Burnout at 3MT in Manchester, Toast at The Lowry in Salford, Summer Holiday at the Bolton Octagon and Bread & Roses at Oldham Coliseum.
Fringe Production of the Year is between Freak from MAP Productions, Burnout from Selina Helliwell, Blackpool, What a Shit Place to Die from Absolute Scenes, Trollope from Writer’s Reign Theatre, A Fine Life from ABW Productions, #BeMoreMartyn: The Boy with the Deirdre Tattoo from Hope Theatre Company and The Newspaper Boy from Dibby Theatre.
For Small Theatre of the Year, the nominees are Salford Arts Theatre, 53two and Hope Mill Theatre, whereas Large Theatre of the Year is between Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, Liverpool Everyman and the Palace Theatre and Opera House in Manchester.
Venue of the Year—not just for theatres—will be contested by The Lowry in Salford, Waterside in Sale, The Met in Bury, Palace Theatre and Opera House in Manchester, The Printworks in Manchester and The Shankly Hotel in Liverpool.
There are also nominations for The Lowry under Gallery of the Year, Festival of the Year and Exhibition of the Year, The Met for Festival of the Year and Small Business of the Year and Z-arts for Small Business of the Year.
Nugent said, “our Northern cultural scene is stimulating and life enhancing. It brings us together, it gives us pride in our region and it is an industry that needs recognition and support for the role it plays in attracting people to visit, to live here and to do business here. It is the lifeblood of the economy.”
The full shortlist is on the Northern Soul web site. The ceremony will take place on 15 November 2018 at Manchester Cathedral.