Category elements must be outstanding in both technical delivery and artistic merit to be nominated for a production.
Design
Costume
This needs to tell the story. It’s not about sequins or calling a costume hire company. It’s about bringing an added dimension. And less can very much be more.
Set
Realism can be good, but it is not necessarily innovative. Does the set transport the audience in a novel, exciting and creative way? We are looking for “wow”. And is the set as effective for the whole audience?
Lighting
Does the lighting rig work correctly? Does it appear to be controlled well? Can you see what you’re supposed to and not see what you shouldn’t? Are the actors’ faces lit sufficiently? Are the dancer’s bodies lit sufficiently? Is the lighting well dimensioned or do the characters look flat? Does the lighting match the mood, tempo, atmosphere correctly? Are there effects used? Does the haze work as expected? Does the lighting enhance the production?
Sound
Does the sound work correctly? Does it appear to be controlled well? Can you hear what you’re supposed to? Does it come from the right direction? Is the sound well balanced between all components (eg vocals, band, tracks and sound effects)? Are the sound effects appropriate and enhancing the production? Is the use of reverb at the right level for the space? Does the sound enhance the production?
Video
Video contribution can transform theatre into an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Whether through subtle atmospheric projections or jaw-dropping interactive visuals, video should elevate the story, complement the performances, and create unforgettable moments.
Considerations: seamless integration with storytelling, should feel like an essential part of the production not just a decorative element, enhances the story by establishing locations emotions and/or abstract concepts, innovation & technological excellence, dynamic Interaction with performers & stage design, smart use of live & pre-recorded footage, correct use of screens LED walls or projection surfaces (not onto actor’s faces).
Make Up
Has the ability to transform characters, enhance the narrative, and bring the audience into the world of the play. Whether it’s through intricate prosthetics, historical accuracy, or bold artistic choices, makeup elevates a show and can make it an award-winning production. Makeup allows actors to fully embody their characters, especially when those characters require extreme transformations—be it aging, mythological creatures, or alien worlds.
Considerations: enhancing mood and atmosphere, special effects makeup like scars bruises or age lines can help create a gritty realistic atmosphere or transport the audience to a fantastical world, subtle makeup choices such as pale skin red lips or dark circles under the eyes can reflect emotions like guilt exhaustion, or sadness adding layers to a character’s story, period accuracy & historical relevance, coordinating makeup with wardrobe and lighting, impactful and memorable looks (think Matthew Bourne’s “Swan Lake” or “Cats”).
Hair/Wigs
Hair and wigs are a crucial component in bringing a theatre production to life. When designed and applied with care, they can transform characters, define periods, set the emotional tone, and create memorable visuals that contribute significantly to an award-winning production. The right hair and wig choices can elevate the entire show, turning a good performance into an unforgettable one.
Considerations: character transformation & depth, Wigs allow for quick transformations especially in productions that require changing characters or personas mid-performance, hair and wigs are key to period authenticity, enhancing mood & emotional expression, iconic memorable visuals, creating visual contrast or uniqueness, collaboration with the costume lighting and set designers ensures that the hair and wig design fits seamlessly into the larger vision of the production, the hair designer must work with the director to ensure the hair designs support the characters and align with the emotional beats and movement styles of the production.
Writing
New Play
New Musical (Book)
The writing must be paced well and have good colloquialism for the character saying the lines. The story must be well told, interesting, and have a purpose.
Considerations: strong concept and theme, well-developed characters, engaging structure and pacing, natural and theatrical dialogue, conflict and stakes, rhythm and theatricality, emotional and intellectual impact, practicality for production.
New Musical (Music)
The music must have the same energy as the narrative where it’s employed. There must be variance throughout and spread evenly enhancing the production according to the principles of musical structure.
New Musical (Lyrics)
Lyrics must effectively tell a story, evoke emotion, and use vivid imagery and creative wordplay, all while maintaining a natural flow and resonating with the listener.
Performance in a Play
Lead Performance
Supporting Performance
Solo Performance
Duo Performance
Ensemble Performance
The demonstration of acting skills necessary for the role. Also the engagement, commitment and involvement based on an understanding of the character to project the story and emotion.
Considerations: a truly brilliant, award-winning performer isn’t just a skilled actor—they transform words into magic emotions into electricity and performances into unforgettable experiences, mastery of both subtle nuance and bold expression depending on the role, the ability to fill the stage with presence and hold attention effortlessly, a strong connection with fellow actors creating chemistry and believability, clear powerful voice projection that reaches the entire audience, control over tone pitch and resonance to convey different emotions, ability to perform precise, intentional gestures that convey emotion without words.
Performance in a Musical
Lead Performance
Supporting Performance
Solo Performance
Duo Performance
Ensemble Performance
The demonstration of skills necessary for the role (vocal, acting and movement). Also the engagement, commitment and involvement based on an understanding of the musical composition and book to project the story and emotion. Also see notes for Performance in a Play.
Considerations: strong singing technique and the ability to interpret lyrics emotionally.
Specialism
Production
Performance
Design
Music
Writing/Devising
Family Panto
Eye-popping high-quality visuals that immerse audiences in the story, high-quality sound & lighting, well-paced engaging script, a phenomenal cast, smart well-written jokes, brilliant improvisation, unexpected fourth-wall breaks, show-stopping musical numbers, emotional moments that resonate, a true family experience.
Adult Panto
Clever well-paced writing with double entendres that appeal to adults, a balance between traditional panto elements and modern risqué humour, strong comedic chemistry among the cast, tailored humor that plays off audience reactions, comedy that caters to a mature audience without being crude for the sake of it, parodies of popular songs with hilarious rewritten lyrics, subverting fairy tales and myths with unexpected adult twists, a sense of mischief & unpredictability.
Immersive
Environments that feel lived-in and dynamic, the audience feels like active participants not just spectators, naturalistic performances that make audience members feel part of the world, site-specific or uniquely adapted venues that enhance immersion, dynamic interactions that reward curiosity and engagement.
Theatre for Young Audiences
Themes that are relatable and meaningful for the target age group, perhaps allowing them to recognise their own experiences or to empathise with those of others; performance and presentation that articulates with clarity sometimes difficult ideas, with or without spoken language; a tone that is not patronising; an ability to keep young audiences emotionally or sensorily invested; a meaningful, thought-provoking message and emotional depth; a considered rhythm that keeps young spectators engaged and responsive; engaging participatory elements; sympathetic sound or musical elements; impressive design work, including imaginative use of materials, puppetry and objects; sympathetic adaptation of familiar written works that bring additional value through dramatisation; access features both pertaining to the performance and in any wraparound materials or workshops; work that tests the boundaries within industry context.
Opera
A powerful emotionally gripping story, themes that are timeless yet relevant allowing modern audiences to connect, exceptional musical composition & orchestration, singers with extraordinary vocal technique range and expressiveness, gorgeous detailed costumes that reflect the time period and character personalities, perfect balance between vocals and instrumentation ensuring clarity in every phrase, emotional impact & audience connection, a sense of grandeur and catharsis that only opera can deliver.
Cabaret
Electrifying stage presence & charisma, authentic personality—audiences connect with performers who feel real raw and unapologetic, smart use of humour vulnerability, and theatricality to create a roller-coaster of emotions, audience interaction & improvisation, a well-crafted emotional arc, a feeling that no other cabaret could quite match this specific experience.
Solo Stories
Pushes artistic boundaries, emotionally captivates audiences, and leaves a lasting impact. It must be unique, thought-provoking, and technically brilliant.
Considerations: a compelling & unique concept, powerful & emotionally charged acting, stories that challenge perceptions evoke empathy or start conversations, moments that are so powerful visually striking or emotionally intense that they define the experience.
Puppetry
Circus
Jaw-dropping physical feats & skills, more than just tricks—a journey that evokes wonder excitement and emotion, incredible showmanship & audience engagement, seamless blending of multiple art forms, unique & innovative acts, high-risk acts performed with absolute confidence and calculated control, acts that challenge perceptions of the human body art and possibility.
Direction
Director of a Play
Director of a Musical
Has the production been put together in a cohesive manner meshing all departments? Are the transitions smooth and seamless? Has the intention been well projected and presented?
Considerations: key moments of tension emotion and transformation, a clear visual and emotional atmosphere, all departments (lighting, sound, costumes, set design) align with the production concept, chemistry between cast members especially in key relationships, blocking & staging with purpose, build tension and emotional stakes throughout, ensure pacing supports the dramatic arc.
Musical Director
The heart and soul of a musical production, ensuring that every note, harmony, and rhythm aligns with the story, emotions, and vision of the show. An award-winning MD doesn’t just lead musicians—they elevate the production, bringing out the best in the performers and creating a seamless fusion of music and theatre. Helping actors find deeper meaning in lyrics and melodies, making performances more emotionally compelling.
Considerations: mastery of Musical Skills & Knowledge a deep understanding of music theory, orchestration and vocal technique, the ability to analyse and interpret a score bringing nuance and emotion to every note, a strong artistic vision that aligns with the director choreographer and creative team, excellent communication skills ensuring that singers musicians, and actors fully understand musical direction, a collaborative approach, working seamlessly with the director choreographer and designers to unify the production, ability to get the best out of performers, understanding how to balance instrumental and vocal elements, ability to rewrite or arrange music to suit specific performers or creative needs, ensuring that music enhances rather than overpowers the storytelling.
Choreography/Movement
Is the choreography suitable for the skill level of the performers? Is the choreography consistent throughout the production or just a few pieces? Does the choreography enhance or tell a story? Is the choreography appropriate for the production? Does the choreography mesh seamlessly into the production?
Considerations: Choreography should serve the story not just exist for spectacle, ensure movement aligns with character personalities and actor capabilities, use the full stage effectively considering sightlines and depth, choreography should heighten emotions (joy, tension, heartbreak, celebration), movement between scenes should feel fluid avoiding abrupt stops
Outstanding Production
Production award
Automatic nomination if three or more categories have been nominated.
Other
Newcomer
Fresh, electrifying, and deeply memorable to the stage. Whether an actor, director, writer, or designer, they stand out because of their skill, dedication, and ability to make a lasting impact.
Considerations: raw talent & unique presence, a natural charisma and magnetism that commands attention, exceptional skill & versatility, emotional depth & connection, something that feels fresh exciting and impossible to ignore, a lasting impression on audiences, bring fresh energy and leave audiences eager to see what they’ll do next.
Casting
Creates chemistry authenticity and a fresh perspective elevating the entire show, creating a cast that breathes life into the production, enhances storytelling, and makes the experience unforgettable.
Considerations: perfect actor-role alignment, a cast that feels cohesive natural and dynamic—they bring out the best in each other, performers whose energy and skill levels match ensuring no weak links on stage, a cast that reflects the world we live in making the production feel current and inclusive, showcasing breakout performers who bring something fresh and exciting to the industry, ensuring that chemistry enhances romantic comedic or dramatic elements, actors who understand the period style.
Musical Contribution
Contribution to a production that isn’t a musical. If the musical contribution amplifies emotion, enhances storytelling, and immerses the audience in the world of the production. An outstanding and award-winning musical contribution does more than just accompany the action; it becomes a character in its own right. Whether through an original score, breathtaking orchestrations, or emotionally charged performances, music must be the heart and soul of the show.
Considerations:
a distinctive musical identity that sets the production apart from others, music should feel essential to the plot not just a background element, emotional impact & audience connection, thoughtful instrumentation that enhances mood setting and dramatic moments, complements rather than overwhelms the performances, seamless transitions between music movement and dialogue to keep the momentum flowing, technical perfection in mixing balance and clarity ensuring the audience hears all that they should, cultural & historical relevance, transforms a theatre production into an unforgettable experience.
Access
Special Award
Special Award
To recognise outstanding achievement in an area not covered by the existing awards.
People’s Choice
Food and Drinks
Facilities
Most welcoming
Accessibility
Voted by the public, in recognition of the quality of the venue rather than the production.
