The countdown has begun to the most dramatic night of the year, the Wales Theatre Awards annual celebration of the best in theatre, opera and dance across the nation.This year the awards event is being held outside Cardiff for the first time with Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea University, hosting the sparkling ceremony. This highlight of the arts calendar includes the presentation of much coveted trophies in 20 categories and also an evening of entertainment from some of Wales’ finest new and established performers. The awards are a valuable way of showing appreciation and providing recognition for the huge variety of work done by all practitioners of the theatrical community in Wales, whatever the size, language or discipline of the companies involved. The awards evening is also recognition of the contribution of arts writers and critics. Performers, writers, directors, singers and actors are nominated by critics who have reviewed performances that have been created and presented in Wales. Awards Director Mike Smith said, “Over Christmas and New Year critics across Wales have been making up their minds about what shows, writers, individual artists and companies to nominate for the 2017 awards. Once all the nominations have been made, small groups of judges will then have the incredibly difficult task of selecting shortlists and ultimately the winners for each category from these nominations.” Last year’s winners included actresses Sophie Melville and Carys Eleri, choreographers and dancers Gwyn Emberton and Eddie Ladd, directors Kate Wasserberg and Rachel O'Riordan, opera director David Pountney and actors Christian Patterson and Rhodri Evan. It was a particularly strong year for Cardiff’s pub theatre The Other Room. Mike added, “What sets the WTAs apart is the diverse range of work that our critics see and nominate and this means our past winners have not only been large scale works from large companies but also small-scale shows and edgy new works that are frequently overlooked (if seen at all) in other award schemes. There is also no cost to take part and it is purely up to the critics to choose what is put forward for consideration. Sybil Crouch, Head of Cultural Service, Swansea University, said, “I'm delighted that this event which celebrates the best performing arts talent in Wales is venturing out of Cardiff. We look forward to offering a warm Swansea welcome at Taliesin to what promises to be another great evening for the performing arts. “Reviewing is also crucial for the health of the arts and the Wales Critics Fund is playing an important role in making sure artists, venues and audiences benefit from the analysis, opinion and feedback that reviewers provide.” Many of the reviewers are supported by a unique fund, Wales Critics Fund, that helps make sure artists and audiences benefit from the debate, discussion and feedback provided by critics working across Wales by enabling far more reviewing across Wales and by supporting the next generation of reviewers. The awards nominators include most of Wales’ best-known professional critics along with new writers, students and bloggers working in English and in Welsh and is run by a not-for-profit Cardiff-based company, Arts Awards Ltd. Supporters of the Fund range from the large national companies including Welsh National Opera, National Dance Company Wales, Ballet Cymru, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and National Theatre Wales to individual venues including Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales Millennium Centre and performing arts universities including University of Wales Trinity St David. Kate Wasserberg, Artistic Director at The Other Room, said, “The Wales Theatre Awards have become a really important date in the diary for the whole arts community in Wales. We at The Other Room were absolutely delighted to win four awards in 2016 and the recognition and profile this has given us is invaluable. The Awards celebrate the richness of the cultural landscape in Wales, and draw much needed attention to the beautiful work being made by the many fantastic companies here - a vital service to the community.” Leonora Thomson, Managing Director, Welsh National Opera, said, “Welsh National Opera is delighted to be a partner and supporter of the Wales Theatre Awards and Wales Critics Fund. They are important as they encourage independent reviews and help support writers, both critical in the development of the arts.” Clare Williams, Executive Director of Hijinx, said, “Theatres thrive when there is a culture of critical evaluation and debate. The Wales Theatre Awards provide this platform.” Betsan Llwyd, Artistic Director, Theatr Bara Caws, said, “The awards are a valuable way of showing appreciation and providing recognition for the huge variety of work done by all practitioners of the theatrical community in Wales, whatever the size, language or discipline of the companies involved.” Mike Smith explained that the Wales Critics Fund enables reviewers who do not have access to other payment or funding to apply for tickets, travel costs and, where necessary, accommodation costs to attend and review performances across Wales. The WTA and the WCF is the UK’s first project to not only include new and established critics in a theatre awards scheme but works to develop new reviewing capacity, mentor writers, give tickets, travel and accommodation bursaries and help provide platforms for their reviews. As the Fund has no Arts Council funding, to ensure editorial and critical independence, it relies on support and the more financial support the more it can achieve. The shortlists for the categories that include recognition for actors, singers, dancers, producers, writers and designers will be announced in mid-January at a special event and the winners will be revealed at the awards evening hosted by Taliesin Arts Centre on Saturday, February 25. Tickets will be available to purchase in mid-January. Critics who would still like to nominate please email walestheatreawards@gmail.com to be sent the nominations form. Nominations close Friday, January 13. For sponsorship opportunities please email walestheatreawards@gmail.com For more information visit: www.walestheatreawards.com |
| Mike Smith web site: www.walestheatreawards.com |
| Mike Smith e-mail: rtb1206@gmail.com |
Thursday, January 12, 2017 |
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