Sheffield Theatres have taken four of the 2013 UK Theatre Awards from the TMA, and all of the performance awards, unusually not separated into "actor" and "actress" categories, were won by women.
The first ever public voted Most Welcoming Theatre Award, with the 55,000 votes cast weighted according to seating capacity, has gone to the little-known Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter, with an underground performance space seating 60 and attached cocktail bar. The Bike Shed won a Peter Brook Empty Space Award in 2011.
As was announced last week, Simon Callow was presented with The Stage Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre.
The awards were announced and presented at a ceremony at London's Guildhall on Sunday 20 October hosted by musical theatre performer Michael Xavier.
Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the TMA and the Society of London Theatre, said: “It has been a year of great achievement for theatre throughout the length and breadth of the UK, as demonstrated by the range of nominations celebrating skill and variety, both on and off stage. All the shortlists were hotly contested and we offer special congratulations to the winners.”
UK Theatre Awards 2013 winners
Best New Play: Bull by Mike Bartlett, a Sheffield Theatres production
Best Performance in a Play: Cush Jumbo for Nora in A Doll's House, a Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester production
Best Supporting Performance: Siân Phillips for This Is My Family, a Sheffield Theatres production
Best Musical Production: This Is My Family directed by Daniel Evans, a Sheffield Theatres production
Best Performance in a Musical: Janie Dee for Hello, Dolly!, a Curve, Leicester production
Best Show for Children and Young People: The Borrowers, a Northern Stage, Newcastle production, and Mister Holgado, a Unicorn Theatre production
Best Director: Blanche McIntyre for The Seagull, a Headlong and Nuffield, Southampton production in association with Derby Theatre
Best Design: Jonathan Fensom and Charles Balfour for The Accriington Pals, a Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester production
Best Touring Production: The Full Monty, a Sheffield Theatres production, presented by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers
Achievement in Dance: independent dance artist Wendy Houstoun for her solo 50 Acts
Achievement in Opera: Welsh National Opera for the productions of Lulu and Lohengrin, conducted by Lothar Koenigs
The Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre: Scottish Opera
Achievement in Marketing: Northern Ballet
Theatre Employee / Manager of the Year: Brenda Walliss of Princess Theatre, Torquay
Promotion of Diversity: Contact Theatre Manchester
My Theatre Matters! UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre in association with Classic FM: The Bike Shed Theatre
The Stage Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre: Simon Callow