Irish Theatre Awards

The ''Irish Times'' Irish Theatre Awards recognise outstanding achievements in Irish theatre.

History

The awards were founded in 1997 by ''The Irish Times''. Awards were established in numerous categories, ranging from design, to acting, to overall production. The goal was to promote adventuresome theatre, both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.

Description

In addition to the awards for specific excellence, the judges also present a special award for leadership in the overall community.

The nominations are announced every January and the awards are presented the following month in a prominent invitation-only ceremony. In 2022, the nominations for 2021 will be announced in May and the ceremony will take place early in the summer.

By year

2010 awards

(Winners in bold):

Best Actor
* Louis Lovett, as B and Brian in ''B For Baby'' at the Abbey Theatre
* Malcolm Adams, as Tim Hartigan in ''Slattery's Sago Saga''
* Marty Rea, as Hamlet in ''Hamlet''
* Karl Shiels, as Quinn in ''Penelope''

Best Actress

* Olwen Fouéré, as the woman in ''Sodome'', My Love
* Hilary O'Shaughnessy, as the tour guide in ''Berlin Love Tour''
* Eileen Walsh, as Medea in ''Medea''
* Aoife Duffin, as Winnie Butler in ''Christ Deliver Us!''

Best Supporting Actor
* Laurence Kinlan, as Mossy Lannigan in ''Christ Deliver Us!''
* Joe Hanley, as Fluther Good in ''The Plough and the Stars''
* Ronan Leahy, as Tutor/Messenger in ''Medea''
* Conor MacNeill, as Lyokha in ''Plasticine''

Best Supporting Actress

* Andrea Irvine, as Lady Macduff in ''Macbeth''
* Eleanor Methven, as Miss Prism in ''The Importance of Being Earnest''
* Karen Ardiff, as Mrs Cregan and Sheelagh Mann in ''The Colleen Bawn''
* Brid Brennan, as Madge in ''Philadelphia, Here I Come!''

Best Director
* Selina Cartmell, for ''Medea'', produced by Siren Productions
* Jo Mangan, for ''Slattery's Sago Saga'', produced by Performance Corporation
* Wayne Jordan, for ''Christ Deliver Us!'', produced by the Abbey Theatre
* Rachel O'Riordan, for ''Over the Bridge'', produced by Green Shoot Productions

Best Set
* Aedin Cosgrvoe, for ''The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane''
* John Comiskey, for ''Sodome My Love''
* Tom Pye, for ''John Gabriel Borkman''

Best Costumes
* Bláithin Sheerin, for ''Phaedra''
* Joan Bergin, for ''John Gabriel Borkman''
* Miriam Duffy, for ''The Birthday of the Infanta''

Best Lighting
* Paul Keogan, for ''Plasticine''
* Sinéad Wallace, for ''Happy Days''
* Sinéad McKenna, for ''Medea''

Best Sound
* Dennis Clohessy, for ''Sodome My Love''
* Ellen Cranitch, for ''Phaedra''
* Philip Stewart, for ''The Early Bird''

Best Production
* Pan Pan Theatre, for ''The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane''
* Siren Productions, for ''Medea''
* Anu Productions, for ''World's End Lane''
* Rough Magic Theatre Company, for ''Phaedra''

Best New Play
* ''What's Left of the Flag'', by Jimmy Murphy
* ''Slaterry's Sago Saga'', by Arthur Riordan
* ''National Anthem'', by Colin Bateman
* ''B for Baby'', by Carmel Winters

Best Opera Production
* Opera Ireland, for ''Roméo et Juliette'', by Charles Gounod
* Opera Theatre Company, for '' The Diary of Anne Frank'', by Grigory Frid
* Wexford Festival Opera, for ''Virginia'', by Saverio Mercadante
* Dumbworld/Brian Irvine Ensemble, for ''Postcards from Dumbworld'', by Brian Irvine

Judges Special Award
* Project Brand New
* Theatre Upstairs
* Carysfort Press
* Louise Lowe/Anu Productions

2011 awards

(Winners in bold):

Best Actor

* Patrick O'Kane as John Proctor in ''The Crucible''
* Cillian Murphy as Thomas Magill in ''Misterman''
* Paul Reid as Farrell Blinks in ''Man of Valour''
* Philip Judge as Older Man in ''Trade''

Best Actress

* Charlie Murphy as Eliza in ''Pygmalion''
* Amy Conroy as Gina Devine in ''Eternal rising of The Sun''
* Marie Mullen as ''Woman in Testament''
* Aisling O'Sullivan as Maggie Polpin in ''Big Maggie''

Best Supporting Actor

* John Olohan as Byrne in ''Big Maggie''
* Rory Nolan as Commissioner in ''The Government Inspector''
* Frankie McCafferty as Ivan in ''The Seafarer''
* Bob Kelly as Martin O Bonnassa / Osborne O'Loonassa / Gentleman / Others in ''The Poor Mouth''

Best Supporting Actress

* Dearbhla Molloy & Ingrid Craigie as Eileen and Kate in The Cripple of ''Inishmaan''
* Aoife Duffin as Abigail Williams in ''The Crucible''
* Karen Ardiff as Aase / Green-Clad in ''Peer Gynt''
* Caitriona Ní Mhurchú as Masha in ''16 Possible Glimpses''

Best Director

* Conall Morrison for ''The Crucible''
* Louise Lowe for ''Laundry''
* Niall Henry for ''The Poor Mouth''
* Gavin Quinn for ''All That Fall''

Best Set

* Paul O'Mahony for ''Pygmalion''
* Jamie Vartan for ''Misterman''
* Sabine Dargent for ''The Crucible''

Best Costumes

* Joan O’Clery ''for Peer Gynt''
* Peter O'Brien for ''Pygmalion''
* Gaby Rooney for ''The Lulu House''

Best Lighting

* Adam Silverman for ''Misterman''
* Aedin Cosgrove for ''All That Fall''
* Ciaran Bagnall for ''Guidelines''

Best Sound

* Jimmy Eadie for ''All That Fall''
* Mel Mercier for ''Sétanta''
* Carl Kennedy and Tarab for ''Peer Gynt''

Best Production

* The Lyric Theatre, Belfast for ''The Crucible''
* Landmark Productions and Galway Arts Festival for ''Misterman''
* ANU Productions for ''Laundry''  
* Pan Pan Theatre for ''All That Fall''

Best New Play

* Fight Night written by Gavin Kostick and directed by Bryan Burroughs for Rise Productions in association with ''Bewleys Cafe Theatre''
* No Romance written by Nancy Harris and directed by Wayne Jordan for ''The Abbey Theatre''
* Trade written by Mark O’Halloran, directed by Tom Creed for ''Thisispopbaby''
* Silent written by Pat Kinevane, directed by Jim Culleton for ''Fishamble''

Best Opera Production

* Opera Theatre Company, for ''The Magic Flute'', by Mozart
* NI Opera, for ''Tosca'', by Giacomo Puccini
* Wexford Festival Opera, for ''La Cour de Celimene'', by Ambroise Thomas
* Wexford Festival Opera , for ''Maria'', by Roman Statkowski

Judges Special Award

* Val Sherlock
* The Lyric Theatre
* Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre
* Landmark Productions

2012 awards

(Winners in bold):

Best Actor

* Declan Conlon as Christy in ''The House''
* Aaron McCusker as Algernon Moncrieff in ''The Importance of Being Earnest''
* Marty Rea as Michael in ''A Whistle in the Dark''
* Garrett Lombard as Tom in ''Conversations on a Homecoming''

Best Actress

* Catherine Walker as Maeve Brennan in ''The Talk of the Town''
* Eileen Walsh as Betty in ''A Whistle in the Dark''
* Cathy Belton as Mary in ''The House Keeper''
* Caitriona Ennis as Young Girl in ''The Boys of Foley Street''

Best Supporting Actor

* Gavin Drea as Des in ''A Whistle in the Dark''
* Aaron Monaghan as Liam in ''Conversations on a Homecoming''
* Lorcan Cranitch as William Shawn in ''The Talk of the Town''
* Owen Roe as Shelley Levene in ''Glengarry Glen Ross''

Best Supporting Actress

* Jacqueline Boatswain as Mrs Muller in ''Doubt – A Parable''
* Eleanor Methven as Mother in ''The House''
* Marie Mullen as Missus in ''Conversations on a Homecoming''
* Grace Kiely as Millie in ''The Mai''

Best Director

* Annabelle Comyn for ''The House''
* Louise Lowe for ''The Boys of Foley Street''
* Andrew Flynn for ''Port Authority''
* Oliver Mears for ''The Turn of the Screw''

Best Set

* Jamie Vartan for ''A Village Romeo and Juliet''
* Joe Vanek for ''Orfeo''
* Naomi Wilkinson for ''Alice in Funderland''

Best Costumes

* Richard Kent for ''Titanic (Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioner’s Enquiry, 1912)''
* Peter O’Brien for ''The Talk of the Town''
* Lisa Zagone for ''Pagliacci''

Best Lighting

* Nick McCall for ''The Great Goat Bubble''
* Simon Corder for ''L’arlesiana''
* Thomas Kluth for ''The Barber of Seville''

Best Sound

* Carl Kennedy for ''Doubt - A Parable''
* Little John Nee for ''Sparkplug''
* Tom Speers for ''Macklin: Method and Madness''

Best Production

* Druid Theatre Company for ''DruidMurphy''
* WillFredd Theatre and Absolut Fringe Festival for ''Farm''
* AC Productions for Pinter X 4
* The Abbey Theatre and THISISPOPBABY for ''Alice in Funderland''

Best New Play

* Quietly written by ''Owen McCafferty''
* The House Keeper written by ''Morna Regan''
* The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle written by ''Ross Dungan''
* Halcyon Days written by ''Deirdre Kinahan''
Best Opera Production
* Pagliacci composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo for ''Everyman Palace Theatre and Cork Operatic Society''
* The Turn of the Screw composed by Benjamin Britten for ''Northern Ireland Opera''
* FLÅTPÄCK composed by Tom Lane for Ulysses Opera Theatre
* A Village Romeo and Juliet composed by Frederick Delius for ''Wexford Festival Opera''
Judges Special Award
* Karl Shiels
* Blue Teapot Theatre Company
* Stephen Rea
* Tom Creed and the city of Cork

2013 awards

(Winners in bold):

Best Actor

* Lewis J Stadlen for ''The Price''
* Cillian Murphy for ''Ballyturk''
* Rhys Dunlop for ''Punk Rock''
* Ciaran Hinds for ''Our Few and Evil Days''

Best Actress

* Judith Roddy for ''Pentecost''
* Marie Mullen for ''Bailegangaire''
* Aoife Duffin for ''A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing''
* Sinead Cusack for ''Our Few and Evil Days''

Best Supporting Actor

* Simon O’Gorman for ''Sive''
* Des Keogh for ''Dreamland''
* Mark Lambert for ''Twelfth Night''
* Ian Toner for ''Punk Rock''

Best Supporting Actress

* Kate Gilmore for ''Breathless''
* Bríd Ní Neachtain for ''Sive''
* Aisling O’Sullivan for ''Bailegangaire''
* Caitriona Ennis for ''Spinning''

Best Director

* Conall Morrison for ''Sive & She Stoops to Conquer''
* Enda Walsh for ''Ballyturk''
* Selina Cartmell for ''Punk Rock''
* Jimmy Fay for ''Pentecost''

Best Set Design

* Paul Wills for ''Our Few and Evil Days''
* Jamie Vartan for ''Ballyturk''
* Alyson Cummins for ''Pentecost''
* Mario Beck for ''Waiting in Line''

Best Sound Design

* Carl Kennedy for ''Mr Foley the Radio Operator''
* Teho Teardo/ Helen Atkinson for ''Ballyturk''
* Fergus O’Hare for ''Punk Rock and Pentecost''
* Tom Lane & Rob Moloney for ''Between Trees and Water''

Best Costume Design

* Peter O’Brien for ''An Ideal Husband''
* Catherine Fay for ''Breaking Dad and Our Few and Evil Days''
* Mike Britton for ''How Many Miles to Babylon''
* Niamh Lunny for ''Heartbreak House''

Best Lighting Design

* Chahine Yayrovan for ''The Vortex and Punk Rock''
* John Comiskey for ''Sive''
* Adam Silverman for ''Ballyturk''
* Ciaran Bagnall for ''Pentecost''

Best Production

* Landmark Productions for ''Ballyturk''
* Lyric Theatre for ''Punk Rock''
* Wildebeest Theatre Company for ''On the Wire''
* Abbey Theatre for ''Our Few and Evil Days''

Best New Play

* Dreamland by ''Jim Nolan''
* Conservatory by ''Michael West''
* The Mariner by ''Hugo Hamilton''
* Our Few and Evil Days by ''Mark O’Rowe''
* Petals by ''Gillian Greer''

Best Opera

* Der Vampyr by Heinrich Marschner, ''directed by Michael Barker-Caven and John O’Brien for Everyman and Cork Operatic Society''
* The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten, ''directed by Michael Barker-Caven for Irish Youth Opera and Wexford Festival Opera''
* Silent Night by Kevin Puts, directed by ''Tomer Zvulun for Wexford Festival Opera''
* Macbeth by William Shakespeare, directed by ''Oliver Mears for Northern Ireland Opera''  

Judges Special Award

* Limerick City of Culture: Former programmers and the current administration for using the city in the most imaginative way to rebrand Limerick as a beacon of artistic endeavour
* Lyric Theatre: For a consistently high standard of productions in a most welcoming venue
* The Lir: For producing skilled graduates of a very high calibre
* Stage managers and technicians: For keeping the show on the road after opening night and for loyal support to cast and creatives

2014 awards

Best Actor

* Denis Conway for his role as Irish Man in the Gate Theatre production of Tom Murphy’s ''The Gigli Concert''
* Adrian Dunbar for his role as Tommy in the Dublin Theatre Festival and Lyric Theatre production of Conor McPherson’s ''The Night Alive''
* Mark O'Halloran for his role as Donal Davoren in the Abbey Theatre/ Lyric Theatre production of Sean O’Casey’s ''The Shadow of a Gunman''
* Marty Rea for his role as King Richard 11 in DruidShakespeare

Best Actress

* Cathy Belton for her role as Sal  in the Galway International Arts Festival production of ''The Matchbox'' by Frank McGuinness
* Derbhle Crotty for her role as King Henry 1V in DruidShakespeare
* Susan Lynch for her role as Hester Swane in the Abbey Theatre production of ''By the'' ''Bog of Cats'' by Marina Carr
* Aisling O'Sullivan for her roles as Hal/King Henry V in DruidShakespeare

Best Supporting Actor

* Peter Campion for his role as Katurian in the Decadent, in association with the Lyric Theatre, production of Martin McDonagh’s ''The Pillowman''
* Brian Gleeson for his role as Sean in the Landmark Productions in association with MCD, production of Enda Walsh’s ''The Walworth Farce''
* Laurence Kinlan for his role as Doc in the Dublin Theatre Festival and Lyric Theatre production of ''The Night Alive'' by Conor McPherson
* Rory Nolan for his role as Falstaff in DruidShakespeare

Best Supporting Actress

* Clare Barrett for her role as Aoife/Margaret Gaj in the Rough Magic production of ''The Train'' by Arthur Riordan and Bill Whelan               
* Dawn Bradfield for her role as Mona in the Gate Theatre production of  ''The Gigli Concert''             
* Amy McAllister for her role as Minnie Powell  in the Abbey Theatre and the Lyric Theatre production of Sean O’Casey’s ''The Shadow of a Gunman''                
* Abigail McGibbon for her role as Sandra in the Rough Magic production of ''Everything  Between Us'' by David Ireland.

Best Director

* Grace Dyas for the THEATREclub production of ''The Game''
* Garry Hynes for DruidShakespeare          
* Wayne Jordan for the Abbey Theatre and Lyric Theatre production of Sean O’Casey’s ''The Shadow of a Gunman'' and for the Abbey Theatre production of a new version of ''Oedipus'' by Sophocles          
* Pat Kiernan for the Corcadorca and Eat My Noise production of ''Gentrification'' by Enda Walsh     

Best Set Design

* Sarah Bacon for the Abbey Theatre production of ''The Shadow of a Gunman''
* Aedín Cosgrove for the Abbey Theatre production of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''
* Francis O'Connor for DruidShakespeaqre                                   
* Ciaran O'Melia for the Gate Theatre production of Shakespeare’s ''Romeo and Juliet''

Best Sound Design

* Denis Clohessy for the Brokentalkers and junk ensemble production of  ''It Folds''
* Gregory Clarke and Conor Linehan for DruidShakespeare
* Jimmy Eadie for the Dead Centre production of ''Chekov’s First Play''
* Tom Lane for the Abbey Theatre production of ''Oedipus'' by Sophocles in a new version by Wayne Jordan

Best Costume Design

* Sarah Bacon the Abbey Theatre production of ''The Shadow of a Gunman''
* Catherine Fay for the Gate Theatre production of ''Romeo and Juliet''
* Monica Frawley for the Abbey Theatre production of ''By the Bog of Cats''
* Doreen McKenna and Francis O'Connor for DruidShakespeare

Best Lighting Design

* Aedín Cosgrove for the Abbey Theatre production of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream  ''
* Sinéad Wallace for the Abbey Theatre production of ''Oedipus''
* Sarah Jane Shiels for the Brokentalkers and junk ensemble production of ''It Folds'' and ANU Production of  ''PALS – The Irish at Gallipoli''        
* Adam Silverman for the Landmark Productions and Wide Open Opera production of ''The Last'' ''Hotel           ''

Best Production

* ''Chekhov's First Play'': a Dead Centre production of ''Chekhov’s First Play'' by Anton Chekhov
* ''The Gigli Concert: '' a Gate Theatre Production
* ''PALS – The Irish at Gallipoli'': ANU Production in association with the National Museum of Ireland and Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with the National Archives of Ireland and ICTU
* DruidShakespeare: a co-production with Lincoln Center Festival NYC of Richard 11 ( Parts 1 & 2 ) and Henry V by William Shakespeare in a new adaptation by Mark O’Rowe,  

Best New Play

* ''Scorch'' by Stacey Gregg produced by Prime Cut Productions in association with The MAC and Outburst Arts           
* ''The Night Alive'' by Conor McPherson produced by Dublin Theatre Festival and Lyric Theatre, Belfast
* ''The Matchbox'' by Frank McGuinness produced by the Galway International Arts Festival
* ''Luck Just Kissed You Hello'' by Amy Conroy produced by HotForTheatre  and Galway International Arts Festival   

Best Opera

* ''Agrippina'': the Irish Youth  Opera’s production of Handel’s ''Agrippina'', a co-production with Northern Ireland Opera in association with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Lime Tree Theatre Limerick
* ''Faust'': The Everyman and Cork Operatic Society production of Gounod’s ''Faust''
* ''Gugliemo Ratcliff'': the Wexford Festival Opera production of ''Guglielmo Ratcliff'' in association with the Italian Institute of Culture 
* ''The Last Hotel'': the Landmark Productions and Wide Open Opera production of ''The Last Hotel'' by Donnacha Dennehy and Enda Walsh  

Judges Special Award

* Druid Shakespeare for the way in which the company has assembled and enabled a group of actors to work together as a true ensemble, the pinnacle of this rare achievement being its 2015 Druid Shakespeare production                                          
* Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, Sligo, for its imaginative restoration of the theatre of W B Yeats as part of its A Country Under Wave programme                                      
* Lian Bell for leading the wakingthefeminists movement with courage and conviction, highlighting the inequalities in Irish theatre and advocating for sustainable change.                 
* Galway International Arts Festival for its consistently supportive role as co-producer to the independent theatre sector                                    

2022 awards

Best Actor
* Owen Roe for his role as Thomas in the Gate Theatre production of Sebastian Barry's ''The Steward of Christendom''
Best Actress
* Janet Moran for her role as Mal in the Fishamble: the New Play Company production of Eugene O’Brien's ''Heaven''
Best Supporting Actor
* Rory Nolan for his role in the Abbey Theatre production of Anthony Simpson-Pike's ''An Octoroon''
Best Supporting Actress
* Anna Healy for her performances in Abbey Theatre's ''Portia Coughlan'', Druid's ''The Last Return'' and, Corcadorca Theatre Company's ''The Spin''
Best Director
* Judy Hegarty Lovett for the production of ''The Realistic Joneses''
Best Set
* Aedín Cosgrove in Dead Centre's production of Good Sex
Best Costume
* Madeleine Boyd for Wexford Festival Opera's production of ''Lalla-Roukh''
Best Lighting
* James C McFetridge for Lyric Theatre's production of ''Big Man''
Best Sound
* Carl Kennedy for Gate Theatre and Theatre Lovett's production of The Tin Soldier
* Conor Linehan for Gate Theatre and Theatre Lovett's production of The Tin Soldier
* Olesya Zdorovetkska for Gate Theatre and Theatre Lovett's production of The Tin Soldier
* Louis Lovett for Gate Theatre and Theatre Lovett's production of The Tin Soldier
Best Movement
* David Bolger for Blackwater Valley Festival Opera's production of ''Orfeo ed Euridice'' and CoisCéim Dance Theatre's production of ''Go to Blazes''
Best Ensemble
* Druid's production of ''The Last Return''
Best Production
* Northern Ireland Opera's production of ''Into the Woods''
Best New Play
* Fishamble: the New Play Company's production of Heaven by Eugene O’Brien
Best Opera
* Opera Collective Ireland and Kilkenny Arts Festival's production of ''Semele''
Judges’ Special Award
* Loughlin Deegan
Best Video Design
* Mags Mulvey with Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company for Minimal Human Contact
The Irish Times Special Tribute Award
* Bosco Hogan
Audience Choice Award
* No Magic Pill

References

{{reflist

External links

Event page
for Project Brand New, HERE Arts Center

Awards established in 1997
The Irish Times
Irish theatre awards
Awards by newspapers
1997 establishments in Ireland