Octagon dominates leading categories at Manchester Theatre Awards

The Octagon Theatre dominates the leading categories for its productions of Journey’s End, Separation, Duet For One, Early One Morning, Hobson’s Choice and Love Story.

Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre also has a raft of nominations, including Bolton's Maxine Peake for best actress for her performance in the title role of Hamlet.

The Octagon has two nominations for best production — Journey’s End, directed by David Thacker, and Separation, directed by Elizabeth Newman.

Rob Edwards, who appeared in Duet For One and Separation, and Michael Shelford, who was in Early One Morning, are nominated for best actor.

The best actress category will see three Octagon stars — Duet For One and Separation's Clare Foster; Love Story's Lauren Samuels and Natalie Grady, who appeared in Hobson’s Choice — battle it out with Suranne Jones, for her role in Orlando at the Royal Exchange, as well as Maxine Peake.

The Octagon's nominations for best actor in a supporting role are David Birrell, in Journey’s End, Colin Connor in Early One Morning, and Michael Shelford, in Hobson’s Choice.

The theatre's other nods are Love Story, in the best musical category; Journey’s End for its design; This May Hurt A Bit, by Stella Feehilly, for best new play; Amaka Okafor, in Bird, for best studio performance and Alice In Wonderland, as well as This May Hurt A Bit, for best ensemble.

Ms Newman, the Octagon's associate director, said: We are proud to be a Greater Manchester theatre and feel very honoured to be nominated for these awards.

"I am thrilled that all of the productions I directed last year at the Octagon have been recognised by the MTA.

"This is a brilliant endorsement of our work and high praise to our creative teams, actors and production department.

"Everyone at the Octagon in every department works so hard to produce and share high quality theatre with Bolton and beyond.”

Mr Thacker, the Octagon's artistic director, said: “I’m delighted that once again the Octagon’s work has been so strongly endorsed by the Manchester Theatre Awards.

"To have received nominations in all the major categories - production, acting, and design - recognises the work of all the exceptionally talented and dedicated people who create our productions.

"I’m particularly pleased that Elizabeth Newman’s work has been so strongly recognised.

"Not only has she been nominated in the Best Production category, but actors in Separation, Duet for One, Love Story, and Alice in Wonderland have all had their work recognised.

"She has made an outstanding contribution to the Octagon’s work, this year and every year.”

Octagon regular Mr Shelford added: “I’m delighted to be nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for Early One Morning and Hobson’s Choice respectively.

"Both were productions I was humbled to be included in in the first instance, so to be recognised for my part is just wonderful.

"I’m also thrilled to see Journey’s End nominated for Best Production. So many talented individuals worked to create the exceptional piece of theatre that it was, and I’m delighted to see them acknowledged collectively.” 

Among the famous names shortlisted for awards are Robert Lindsay, who starred in the premiere performance of musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Manchester Opera House before it went on to acclaim in the West End, and Sir Anthony Sher, who appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Henry IV Parts I and II at The Lowry, Salford Quays.

Veteran comedy entertainer Barry Humphries is among nominations for Best Special Entertainment for his farewell performance at Manchester Opera House.

Other awards cover nominations, from best dance and opera performances to the region's fringe scene.

The winners will be announced on stage at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music on Friday, March 13.

Manchester Theatre Award nominations

Best Actor

• Rob Edwards, in Duet For One and Separation, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Michael Hugo, in Around The World In 80 Days, at the Royal Exchange
• Harry McEntire, in Billy Liar, at the Royal Exchange
• Dan Parr, in Britannia Waves The Rules, at the Royal Exchange
• Michael Shelford, in Early One Morning, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Best Actress

• Clare Foster, in Duet For One and Separation, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Natalie Grady, in Hobson’s Choice, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Suranne Jones, in Orlando, at the Royal Exchange
• Maxine Peake, in Hamlet, at the Royal Exchange
• Lauren Samuels, in Love Story, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

• David Birrell, in Journey’s End, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Colin Connor, in Early One Morning, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Daragh O’Malley, in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, at the Royal Exchange
• Michael Shelford, in Hobson’s Choice, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Nuno Silva, in Little Shop Of Horrors, at the Royal Exchange

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

• Claire Benedict, in Hamlet, at the Royal Exchange
• Gillian Bevan, in Hamlet, at the Royal Exchange
• Molly Gromadzki, in Orlando, at the Royal Exchange
• Katie Moore, in Billy Liar, at the Royal Exchange

Best Actor in a Visiting Production

• Joshua Jenkins, in The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, at The Lowry
• Robert Lindsay, in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, at the Opera House
• Cassidy Little, in The Two Worlds Of Charlie F, at the Opera House
• Steven Miller, in Shakespeare's Othello, at The Lowry
• Antony Sher, in Henry IV Parts I and II, at The Lowry
• Al Weaver, in The Pride, at the Opera House

Best Actress in a Visiting Production

• Jane Asher, in Moon Tiger, at The Lowry
• Emily Butterfield, in An August Bank Holiday Lark, at Oldham Coliseum
• Lisa Dwan, in Not I, Footfalls and Rockaby, at The Lowry
• Katherine Kingsley, in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, at the Opera House
• Emma Williams, in Annie Get Your Gun, at the Opera House

Best Production

• Angel Meadow, directed by Louise Lowe and company for ANU Productions and HOME, at Edinburgh Castle, Ancoats
• Around The World In 80 Days, directed by Theresa Heskins, for the Royal Exchange
• Close The Coalhouse Door, directed by Kevin Shaw for Oldham Coliseum
• Journey’s End, directed by David Thacker for Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Romeo And Juliet, directed by Walter Meierjohann for HOME, at Victoria Baths
• Separation, directed by Elizabeth Newman for Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Best Visiting Production

• The Curious Incident Of the Dog In The Night-Time, from the National Theatre, at The Lowry
• The Events, from Actors Touring Company, at Number One First Street
• Not I, Footfalls and Rockaby, from the Royal Court Theatre, at The Lowry
• The Pride, from Jamie Lloyd Productions, at the Opera House
• Shakespeare's Othello, from Frantic Assembly, at The Lowry

The Brynteg Award for Best Musical

• 20th Century Boy, at the Opera House
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, at the Opera House
• Jersey Boys, at the Palace Theatre
• Little Shop Of Horrors, at the Royal Exchange
• Love Story, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Robert Robson Award for Dance

• Beauty Of The Beast, from Company Chameleon, at The Lowry
• Cinderella, from Northern Ballet Theatre, at the Palace Theatre
• Le Corsaire, from English National Ballet, at the Palace Theatre
• Dracula, from Mark Bruce Productions, at Contact Theatre
• Lord Of The Flies, from New Adventures, at The Lowry

Opera

• Götterdämmerung, from Opera North, at The Lowry
• Life On The Moon, from English Touring Opera, at Buxton Opera House
• The Coronation Of Poppea, from Opera North, at The Lowry
• The Girl Of The Golden West, from Opera North, at The Lowry
• The Jacobin, from Buxton Festival, at Buxton Opera House

Design

• Angel Meadow, at HOME, the Edinburgh Castle, Ancoats
• Journey’s End, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Little Shop Of Horrors, at the Royal Exchange
• Romeo and Juliet, at HOME at Victoria Baths
• The Life And Times Of Mitchell And Kenyon, at Oldham Coliseum

Best Newcomer

• Emily Barber, in Billy Liar, at the Royal Exchange
• Wil Coban, in Romeo And Juliet, at HOME at Victoria Baths
• Dominic Myerscough, in Icarus, at the Lowry Studio
• Maeve O’Sullivan, in Close The Coalhouse Door, at Oldham Coliseum

Best New Play

• An August Bank Holiday Lark, by Deborah McAndrew, at Oldham Coliseum
• In My Bed, by Rebekah Harrison, at 24:7 Theatre Festival, New Century Hall
• This May Hurt A Bit, by Stella Feehilly, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Watching Goldfish Suffocate, by David Degiorgio and Craig Hepworth, at the Great Northern Playhouse

Best Studio Production

• Amsterdam, from Afrique Performs, at Contact Theatre
• He Had Hairy Hands, from Kill The Beast Company, at the Lowry Studio
• Solfatara, from Atresbandes at the Lowry Studio
• The C Project, from Working Progress Theatre Company at the Lowry Studio

Best Fringe Production

• In My Bed, from Milk And Two Sugars Company, for 24:7 Theatre Festival, at New Century Hall
• Life’s A Gatecrash, from PACT Theatre Company at The Kings Arms, Salford
• The Tongue Twister, from 24:7 Theatre Festival, at New Century Hall
• Thick As Thieves, from Hard Graft Theatre Company, at ReTale, Oldham Mumps
• Watching Goldfish Suffocate, from Vertigo Theatre, at the Great Northern Playhouse

Best Studio Performance

• Ellie Kendrick, in Pests, at the Royal Exchange Studio
• Sinèad Matthews, in Pests, at the Royal Exchange Studio
• Amaka Okafor, in Bird, at the Bill Naughton Studio, Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Best Fringe Performance

• Jarreau Benjamin, in Len Johnson Fighter, at the Kings Arms, Salford
• David Degiorgio, in Watching Goldfish Suffocate, at The Great Northern Playhouse
• Caitlin Howard, in The Alphabet Girl, at the Kings Arms, Salford
• OIivia Sweeney, in In My Bed, at 24:7 Theatre Festival, New Century Hall
• John Weaver, in Afterglow, at 24:7 Theatre Festival, New Century Hall

Best Ensemble

• Alice In Wonderland, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Angel Meadow, at HOME, the Edinburgh Castle, Ancoats
• Close The Coalhouse Door, at Oldham Coliseum
• Romeo And Juliet, at HOME, Victoria Baths
• This May Hurt A Bit, by Out Of Joint Theatre Company, at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Best Special Entertainment

• Barry Humphries, in Eat, Pray, Laugh at the Opera House
• Best of BE Festival, at Number One First Street
• Cirque Berserk, at The Lowry
• In The Night Garden, at the Trafford Centre
• Robin Cousins’ Ice, at The Lowry