There was a big win for the Lowry’s smallest space when its Studio theatre won a top award in London.
The Salford venue was recognised for supporting emerging talent at the industry-leading London awards ceremony, collecting the Peter Brook / Mobius Award on Tuesday, recognising a year of innovative and challenging performances.
Led by the venue’s theatre programmer, Porl Cooper, the award was presented live on stage at the National Theatre and came with a £1000 contribution towards the continuing early development of companies and writers by The Lowry.
The smallest theatre space is routinely given over to new theatre companies and performers, where they are supported and encouraged to bring new ideas.
The Empty Space… Peter Brook Awards, named after the innovative British theatre and film director, was founded in 1989 by the theatre critic Blanche Marvin to recognise smaller theatre productions.
Previous awards have been presented to the likes of Stephen Daldry, the Oscar-nominated director of Billy Elliot, and Michael Grandage, former artistic director of London’s Donmar Warehouse.
Robert Robson, artistic director at The Lowry, said: “We are delighted to receive national recognition for what for us is a ground-breaking programme in the Studio. Through the work we do with emerging artists in the Studio, we are able to create exciting new work which otherwise might not be possible in our area and across the north west.”
The Lowry’s team has been scouring the country’s rehearsal spaces and theatre festivals to find the latest talent, resulting in UK and world premières of shows, many of which make their way to bigger stages and national tours.
Theatre Ad Infinitum’s internationally-acclaimed Translunar Paradise was The Lowry’s sixth such production, enjoying four packed out performances last September.
Following a year of awards and sell-out dates across the UK and beyond, the company returned for an in-demand encore of the production in The Lowry’s larger Quays Theatre.
Ad Infinitum has credited The Lowry with playing a substantial role in the company’s development, saying: “Their artistic, risk-taking and supportive approach is what makes The Lowry stand out from other venues as a fundamental development hub for young artists in the UK.”
The Lowry overcame competition from the Battersea Arts Centre and its Scratch Nights, which see artists in residence produce and perform their latest work.
Opening in 2004, the Studio is a purpose-built space in which rehearsals and productions by professional theatre and dance companies take place alongside community and education events, workshops and learning courses.
As well as providing a third, flexible theatre space capable of seating 140 people, the Studio has also been used for weddings by arts-loving couples.