The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond received the highly coveted award of Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards.
This popular local theatre first started out in the Orange Tree pub in the 1970s, with director Sam Walters and his friends putting on lunchtime shows to pub-goers before relocating to a disused primary school building in 1991.
Over the years the theatre has collaborated with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and has premiered works by playwrights like David Edgar and Joe White.
The theatre, which is also a registered charity, is a small venue with just 180 seats who rely on donations to create shows and to support new talent.
The awards, in association with Tysers Live, showcases the best of the theatre industry across the UK with awards celebrating the work of theatres and their staff.
The awards took place at The Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre, London on January 20, with winners across eight categories awarded.
The Orange Theatre jointly won the highly-anticipated Theatre of the Year award alongside Nottingham Playhouse, following last year’s dual winners the National Theatre and the Watermill Theatre.
This award category is open to theatres of all sizes across the UK, with both winners commended by judges for their “strong artistic leadership” with a “crowd-pleasing mix” of both revivals and new plays.
Last year the theatre showcased a range of shows such as firm favourites like Twelfth Night and Here in America, along with new releases such as Biography of a Constellation and Pink.
Alongside its shows, The Orange Tree Theatre also runs a variety of activities and workshops to “support” the local community, including their Primary Shakespeare and Shakespeare Up Close projects, which were another factor in the theatre winning the award.
The Stage editor Alistair Smith said: “We are thrilled to announce the winners of The Stage Awards 2025, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of theatres and theatre makers from every corner of the UK.
“What sets these awards apart is their inclusivity — honouring excellence across all scales, from grassroots venues to large-scale commercial productions.
“This year’s winners exemplify the resilience, creativity and innovation that define our industry, and we’re proud to shine a spotlight on their remarkable contributions to theatre.”
