CATS awards make Dundee Rep country's most successful theatre
Dundee Rep has picked up three prizes at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland — and there was also success for Perth Theatre.
Jemima Levick picks up the best director award from Karen Dunbar and Jonathan Mills.
- By Joy Watters, arts reporter
- Published in the Courier : 14.06.10
- Published online : 14.06.10 @ 08.38am
The Rep and the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh took home six out of the 10 CATS prizes at a glittering ceremony in Edinburgh.
It means the Rep has won more awards than any other theatre since the inception of CATS, taking 15 across the categories.
There was good news for another Tayside theatre as best technical presentation went to Perth Theatre for Jane Eyre.
It was the Rep's production of The Elephant Man, staged last October, that brought success in three categories including best director for Jemima Levick.
It was third time lucky for the Rep associate director, who has received two previous nominations in the category.
Kevin Lennon took best male performance for his role as John Merrick in the same play, while Alex Lowde (set) and Colin Grenfell (lighting) were presented with the award for best design.
Kevin had double reason for celebration — marking his 31st birthday and welcoming his parents from Ireland for the ceremony.
In his acceptance speech he said, "I would like to thank director Jemima Levick and of course my mum and dad, who are here today.
"It's been a great experience but then Dundee Rep is a very special community."
Receiving her award. Jemima said, "You're only as good as the people you're working with. I would really like to thank (Rep artistic director and chief executive) James Brining because it was his idea to do it."
Set designer Alex Lowde said, "A huge thank you to everyone at the Rep. Dundee Rep is a really special place to work."
This is the second year running that the same design team has taken the award and also the fourth year in a row that the Rep has been successful in this category.
Celebrating the Perth Theatre award, Jane Spiers, chief executive of Horsecross Arts, said, "We are delighted that the theatre has won a critics award for technical excellence, especially against strong competition from fellow nominees the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep.
"It is a tribute to our creative director Ian Grieve and, of course, to the high standards and professionalism of the Perth Theatre technical team who bring their expertise to bear daily in delivering excellence at this busy venue."
The Traverse took best new play and best production for Ursula Rani Sarma's The Dark Things, while Sian Thomas received the award for best female performance for her role in The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?
Nominated for the first time, all-inclusive theatre company Lung Ha's won the best ensemble award for Huxley's Lab, a co-production with Grid Iron which ran as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The National Theatre of Scotland's Mr Write was named best production for children and young people.
Alasdair Macrae took the award for best use of music and sound for The Government Inspector, a co-production by Communicado Theatre Company and the Tron Theatre.
Now in its eighth year, the awards presentation took place at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh and was attended by some of the leading figures in Scottish theatre. Guest presenters were director of the Edinburgh International Festival Jonathan Mills and actress and comedienne Karen Dunbar.
Add a comment