2011 TMA Awards Are Renamed Theatre Awards UK

The Theatrical Management Association (TMA) is re-launching its annual Theatre and Theatre Management Awards as Theatre Awards UK. This is to reflect their status as the only nationwide awards to honour creative excellence and the outstanding work seen on stages throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Theatre Awards UK will be presented at a lunchtime ceremony at Banqueting House, one of London's five Historic Royal Palaces, on Sunday 30 October 2011. For the first time ever, the awards will jointly celebrate performance and management success which had previously been recognised at two separate events.

Theatre Awards UK will be hosted by the President of the TMA, Rachel Tackley, and produced by Chief Executive of the TMA, Julian Bird. Details of the compère for the event, and other special guests will be announced nearer the date.

The categories of the Awards are: Best Performance in a Play, Best Supporting Performance in a Play, Best New Play, Best Show for Children and Young People, Best Musical Production, Best Performance in a Musical, Best Supporting Performance in a Musical, Best Design, Best Director, Achievement in Dance, Achievement in Opera, Best Presentation of Touring Theatre, Achievement in Marketing, Most Welcoming Theatre, Eclipse Award for Promotion of Cultural Diversity, Theatre Employee/Manager of the Year. In addition, the TMA will honour an individual with the award of Special Achievement in Regional Theatre.

Five of the major organisations involved in theatre across the UK have agreed to sponsor the Theatre Awards UK for 2011: The Stage, W&P Longreach, Harbottle & Lewis, Dewynters and Theatre Tokens. Theatre Tokens will be donated to nominated theatres across the country for them to use in local and regional press promotion around the awards.

TMA President Rachel Tackley said: ‘I am delighted that these important annual awards are being refreshed with a name that more accurately reflects the vital work they recognise. UK Theatre is a source of immense national pride and one that is the envy of the world.'

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the TMA and the Society of London Theatre, added: ‘The re-launch of the UK's key regional theatre awards gives us an exciting opportunity to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of theatre the length and breadth of the UK. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors and Banqueting House for working with us.'

Further details can be found on the TMA website at www.tmauk.org

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