Dame Jenni Murray To Host Inaugural Tonic Awards

Tonic Theatre today announces the inaugural Tonic Awards hosted by Jenni Murray. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday 29 March 2017 at the Mayfair Theatre within the Mayfair Hotel. The Awards will celebrate the achievements of game-changing women who are redefining theatre and the performing arts. Attendees will be senior figures from across theatre.

Lucy Kerbel Director of Tonic said today, "I am thrilled to announce our inaugural Tonic Awards which will celebrate the achievements of women who are changing the face of our theatre industry, and projects and productions that are redefining the role of women in the performing arts. We wanted to create the Awards so that the amazing contributions of women to theatre are being highlighted publicly - not just the doom and gloom stories about underrepresentation - and so that younger women in particular have visible role models to aspire to. The Awards are being spearheaded by our Chair, Sita McIntosh."

Jenni Murray said, 'I'm really looking forward to the Awards and supporting a brilliant initiative which honours women's work in my favourite artistic endeavour - the theatre!"

Chair of Tonic's Board of Trustees Sita McIntosh commented, "Tonic spends a great deal of time focussed on challenging the lack of women at senior level in the industry, but we also think it's important to celebrate the success stories. That's why we've launched the Tonic Awards, so that we can acknowledge and celebrate the many women who are at the forefront of UK theatre. Successful women are notorious for hiding their light under a bushel. We want to point a spotlight onto them and share their inspirational stories."

McIntosh also heads up the WhatsOnStage Awards in her capacity as Chief Operating Officer of WhatsOnStage.com.

Jenni Murray DBE is a broadcaster and journalist, probably best known for presenting BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour since 1987. She has written a number of books on women including The Woman's Hour: A History of Women Since World War II, Is It Me or Is It Hot In Here: A Modern Woman's Guide to the Menopause and That's My Boy! A Guide for Parents. Her latest book, entitled A History of Britain in 21 Women (Oneworld Publications) is a history of Britain, presented as you've never seen it before, through 21 women whose lives enthral and beguile, intrigue and inspire. Murray tells the stories of the woman who refused to succumb to the established laws of society, whose lives embodied hope and change. Famous queens, forgotten visionaries, great artists and trailblazing politicians - all pushed back boundaries and revolutionised our world.

The Tonic Awards are proudly supported by the following partners:

Boom Ents: An entertainment marketing agency founded by Dawn Farrow. Boom have established a female led business with a reputation for delivering stand-out campaigns in a competitive environment. www.booments.com

Dewynters: The leading international advertising, marketing and design agency for the arts, sports and live entertainment. www.dewynters.com

JHI: A dedicated and passionate team of arts marketing professionals who enjoy doing things differently. www.jhi-marketing.com

WhatsOnStage: The UK's leading on-line source for all West End, Off West-End and regional theatre information, including reviews and tickets. www.whatsonstage.com

About Tonic Theatre

Tonic supports the theatre industry to achieve greater gender equality in its workforces and repertoires. They partner with leading theatre companies around the UK on a range of projects, schemes and creative works. Their goal is to give colleagues across the industry the tools that they need to ensure more female talent rises to the top. www.tonictheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: BBC

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