2012 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards Set for January 15

The 2012 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards will take place on Tuesday 15 January 2013 at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End, hosted by Critics' Circle Drama Section Chairman Mark Shenton, with regular guest speaker comedian Arthur Smith introducing proceedings in his own inimitable style.

Since the Awards' inception in 1989 the theatre critics, consisting entirely of respected and influential working journalists, have prided themselves on offering something unique on the packed theatre awards circuit: each member of the Drama Section independently casts their vote based on personal choice, free of any discussion or industry influence, ensuring a highly democratic voting process.

The ceremony itself is an important and well loved fixture in the annual theatrical calendar, with critics, creatives, performers and the media convivially coming together to celebrate the best of British theatre.

The Critics' Circle celebrates its Centenary Year in 2013, having been founded by drama critics in 1913.

Section Chairman Mark Shenton said:

"In 2013, the Critics' Circle is celebrating its centenary -- and the drama section, which launched the circle in the first place, is happy to kick off the year with the first of the year's celebrations with our annual awards ceremony, which is probably the most beloved and truly respected of all the annual theatre prize events every year. Unlike the suddenly proliferating public award ceremonies via assorted websites, which are often popularity contests not based on the need to have seen the shows at all but on how widely people can draw on their Facebook and Twitter followers to vote for them, these are voted for by the people whose job it is to go to the theatre -- three, four or more times a week. So they actually mean something. But more than that, the ceremony itself gives the theatre industry an opportunity to come face-to-face with the critics who judge their work in an informal, friendly setting, where we both realise that we're after the same thing, but from different perspectives: making work of true excellence and acknowledging and promoting it."

The ceremony is presented in association with Nyman Libson Paul Chartered Accountants, leading entertainment specialists, who commented: "Nyman Libson Paul is delighted to support the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. This is our 9th year as main sponsor and our relish for recognising the talent within British theatre remains undiminished."

The Awards are supported by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres.

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