Organised by the industry bible, the awards recognise excellence in the UK’s theatres and took place at The Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre on Monday (January 20).
The Theatre Building of the Year category celebrated the country’s newest or newly redeveloped venues within the last 12 months, and was won by The 50-seat independent puppet theatre which opened in Hampstead last September.
Judges described the theatre, which is dedicated to family productions, magic shows and silent cinema, as “small but perfectly formed”.
They said owners Zina Drouche and Dylan McNeil created a programme of high-quality in-house productions “inhabiting the space where childhood meets adulthood, engaging minds of all ages”.
At a time when many new arts ventures struggle to get off the ground, they felt it brilliantly identified and fulfilled a unique need and was a standout success story.
Housed in a former pottery shop, the Well Walk Theatre was lovingly restored into a cafe, bookshop and downstairs theatre pays homage to the building’s Victorian origins, and the Robert-Houdin Theatre in Paris, where pioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès began his career as a magician.
Dylan McNeil told the Ham&High last month they were thrilled to be nominated for the award adding said: “Opening the Well Walk Theatre just a few months ago was a labour of love, and this recognition is a huge boost for our small but mighty team.”
Theatre of the Year category went jointly to Richmond’s Orange Tree Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse.
Producer of the Year was Michael Harrison Entertainment whose recent achievements include bringing Starlight Express to Wembley and Sunset Boulevard to the West End.
And newest category Campaign of the Year, was won by Park Theatre in Finsbury Park in recognition of the sell-out run last January of Korean comedy drama Kim’s Convenience.
The campaign, led by the theatre’s in-house marketing team, was described by the judges as a “standout example of reaching new and underserved audiences” and achieved a 98.8% capacity of which 53% were first-time attenders to the theatre.
The Stage editor Alistair Smith, said: “What sets these awards apart is their inclusivity – honouring excellence 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.”
