Northampton’s Royal and Derngate and Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre both picked up accolades at the UK Theatre 2016 Awards ceremony at London’s Guildhall while an actor with the RSC was recognised for best performance in a play.
Royal and Derngate’s co-production with English Touring Theatre and Rose Theatre Kingston of The Herbal Bed won the award for best touring production while the Belgrade won the promotion of diversity award.
Peter Whelan’s play about the secret life of Shakespeare’s daughter, The Herbal Bed, was directed by Royal and Derngate artistic director James Dacre.
He said, “we’re really proud of the recognition that Royal and Derngate’s work is achieving, both locally and nationally. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank our co-producing partners and everyone who has contributed to making this production such a success.”
In 2015, Royal and Derngate won a UK Theatre Management Award for best presentation of touring theatre.
Over the past year, the Belgrade Theatre has succeeded in increasing the representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic people among its workforce as well as offering work placements and internships for young people starting a career in the theatre industry.
The theatre also runs a free, ten-week playwriting programme, Critical Mass, which aims to develop writers from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Belgrade associate director Justine Themen said, “we’re particularly pleased to have been presented with the award. We’ll continue to build on these strong foundations to ensure that the Belgrade Theatre is home to all the communities of the city of Coventry.”
Pappa Essiedu who took the lead in Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford picked up the award for best performance in a play.