The nominations for this year's Irish Times Theatre Awards, celebrating the finest in theatrical achievement across Ireland in 2019, and making a vivid case for the rude health of the medium.
While several of the major Irish production companies - The Abbey, The Gate, Druid, The Lyric, Fishamble and Rough Magic - feature heavily in the nominations, emerging talent on and off-stage are front and centre on this year's shortlist. Notably, all of this year's Best New Play candidates, Dylan Coburn Gray (Citysong) Tracy Martin (Dublin Will Show You How), Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney (The Alternative) and Lisa Tierney-Keogh (This Beautiful Village), are first-time nominees in the category.
The three judges for 2019 are Anthony Roche, UCD; Jessica Traynor, poet and writer, and Rowena Neville, arts consultant. During the course of the year the judges have seen almost 200 productions in conventional theatres and site-specific locations throughout the country. Nominations across all 16 categories covered 184 shows, and 815 individual performances.
It has also been announced that Galway-based theatre company Macnas will receive the 2019 Special Tribute Award at this year's award ceremony, which will take place at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on April 5th.
Irish Times Theatre Awards - the nominations in full
BEST ACTOR
Brian Doherty in the role of Agamemnon in Hecuba by Marina Carr, Rough Magic
AND
Dog, The Red Iron by Jim Nolan, Red Kettle Theatre Company
Aaron Monaghan in the role of Jonathan Swift, The Travels of Jonathan Swift adapted from the writings of Jonathan Swift by Conall Morrison, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company
Seamus O'Rourke in the role of Thomas/Son, Trad by Mark Doherty, Livin’ Dred Theatre Company presented by the Abbey Theatre
James Riordan in Selvage by James Riordan, Brú Theatre
BEST ACTRESS
Aoibhéann McCann as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, a Lyric Theatre Production
Rachel O’Byrne as Penelope in These Stupid Things by Hugh Travers, White Label Production in association with the Festival of Curiosity and Science Foundation Ireland
Sonya O’Donoghue in the role of Effie in Iphigenia in Splott by Gary Owen, Conflicted Theatre
Eileen Walsh in the role of Laura in Beginning by David Eldridge, a Gate Theatre production
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Malcolm Adams in the role of Polonius in Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Mill Productions
Ian-Lloyd Anderson in the role of Donal in The Beacon by Nancy Harris, a Druid and Gate Theatre Co-production
Christopher Grant as Michael in A Queer Céilí at the Marty Forsythe by Dominic Montague, Kabosh in association with OUTing The Past and presented as part of LGBT History Month and Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics
Matthew Malone in Faultline by Anu Productions, a Gate Theatre co-production
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Clare Barrett in the roles of Fr Rice and Sal in Trad by Mark Doherty, Abbey Theatre presents Livin’ Dred Theatre Company
AND
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, adapted by Nathan O’Donnell and Ronan Phelan, Rough Magic and Kilkenny Arts Festival
Amy Conroy in Citysong by Dylan Coburn Gray, an Abbey Theatre and Soho Theatre Co-production
Liz Fitzgibbon in the roles of Josie, Marie and others Dublin Will Show You How by Tracy Martin, the Abbey Theatre in a co-production with The Complex
Geraldine Plunkett in the role of Mrs Loftus in The Afters by Ger Gallagher, Dolmen Theatre
BEST DIRECTOR
Jim Culleton, The Alternative by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney, Fishamble : The New Play Company in association with Draíocht, the Everyman Theatre, Lime Tree Theatre/Belltable, Lyric Theatre, Pavilion Theatre and Town Hall Theatre
Judy Hegarty Lovett, How It Is (Part 2) by Samuel Beckett, Gare St Lazare Ireland co-production with The Coronet Theatre (London) in association with the Everyman Theatre
Emma Jordan, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, a Lyric Theatre production
AND
Removed by Fionnuala Kennedy, Prime Cut Productions in association with Young at Art and EU Collective Plays
Ronan Phelan, Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, adapted by Nathan O’Donnell and Ronan Phelan, Rough Magic and Kilkenny Arts Festival
BEST SET DESIGN
Sarah Bacon, Citysong by Dylan Coburn Gray, an Abbey Theatre and Soho Theatre Co-production
AND
Beginning by David Eldridge, the Gate Theatre
AND
Drama at Inish by Lennox Robinson, an Abbey Theatre production
Andrew Clancy, Beckett’s Room by Dead Centre with Mark O’Halloran, a Dead Centre and Gate Theatre co-production
AND
A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings based on the short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Adapted for the stage by Dan Colley, Manus Halligan and Genevieve Hulme Beaman, Collapsing Horse
Owen MacCarthaigh, The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh, Gaiety Productions
Nicky Shaw, La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini, Irish National Opera
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Sarah Bacon, Drama at Inish by Lennox Robinson, an Abbey Theatre production
Dorota Karolczak, Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim, Northern Ireland Opera and Lyric Theatre
Enda Kenny, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, a Lyric Theatre production
Sinead Lawless, Bingo Wings by Tom Swift, Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Paul Keogan, The Big Chapel X based on The Big Chapel by Thomas Kilroy. Adapted by John Morton, Medb Lambert and Donal Gallagher, Asylum Productions and Kilkenny Arts Festival with the support of the Abbey Theatre
AND
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, the Gate Theatre
AND
Blood In The Dirt by Rory Gleeson, Landmark Productions and Keynote Productions
Sinead McKenna, Watt by Samuel Beckett, produced and directed by Tom Creed
AND
Epiphany by Brian Watkins, Druid in association with Galway International Arts Festival
Barry McKinney, The Travels of Jonathan Swift adapted from the writings of Jonathan Swift by Conall Morrison, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company
Sarah Jane Shiels, Redemption Falls freely adapted from the novel by Joseph O’Connor, a Moonfish Theatre, Abbey Theatre and Galway International Arts Festival co-production in association with Town Hall Theatre
AND
A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings, based on the short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Adapted for the stage by Dan Colley, Manus Halligan and Genevieve Hulme Beaman, Collapsing Horse
AND
Selvage by James Riordan, Brú Theatre
BEST MOVEMENT DIRECTION
Philip Connaughton, Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, adapted by Nathan O’Donnell and Ronan Phelan, Rough Magic and Kilkenny Arts Festival
Owen Lindsay, Skin Tight by Gary Henderson, Restless Ecstasy
Rachel Ní Bhraonáin, Losing Your Body by Rachel Ní Bhraonáin, Dublin Fringe Festival
Paula O’Reilly, In Our Veins by Lee Coffey, Bitter Like a Lemon and the Abbey Theatre in association with Dublin Port Company
BEST SOUNDSCAPE
Denis Clohessy, The Alternative by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney, Fishamble: The New Play Company in association with Draíocht, the Everyman Theatre, Lime Tree Theatre/Belltable, Lyric Theatre, Pavilion Theatre and Town Hall Theatre
AND
The Examination by Feidlim Cannon and Gary Keegan, Brokentalkers & UCD School of History
AND
In Our Veins by Lee Coffey, Bitter Like a Lemon and the Abbey Theatre in association with Dublin Port Company
Tom Lane, The Haircut! By Wayne Jordan and Tom Lane, the Ark
Mel Mercier and The Irish Gamelan Orchestra, How It Is (Part 2) by Samuel Beckett, co-production by Gare St Lazare Ireland and The Coronet Theatre (London) in association with the Everyman Theatre
Frank Sweeney, It Was Easy (In the End) by Grace Dyas, an Abbey Theatre and THEATREclub co-production
BEST NEW PLAY
Dylan Coburn Gray, Citysong, an Abbey Theatre and Soho Theatre co-production
Tracy Martin, Dublin Will Show You How, the Abbey Theatre in a co-production with The Complex
Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney, The Alternative, Fishamble: The New Play Company in association with Draíocht, the Everyman Theatre, Lime Tree Theatre/Belltable, Lyric Theatre, Pavilion Theatre and Town Hall Theatre
Lisa Tierney-Keogh, This Beautiful Village, the Abbey Theatre
BEST OPERA
Abomination: A DUP Opera by Conor Mitchell, Belfast Ensemble & Outburst Arts
Don Quichotte by Jules Massenet, Wexford Festival Opera
Griselda by Antonio Vivaldi, Irish National Opera with the Irish Baroque Orchestra
The Stalls by Tom Lane and Lily Akerman, Cork Opera House
BEST ENSEMBLE
The Big Chapel X based on The Big Chapel by Thomas Kilroy. Adapted by John Morton, Medb Lambert and Donal Gallagher, Asylum Productions and Kilkenny Arts Festival with the support of the Abbey Theatre
The Travels of Jonathan Swift adapted from the writings of Jonathan Swift by Conall Morrison, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in a new version by Jack Thorne, the Gate Theatre
Theatre for One, Cork Midsummer Festival and Cork Opera House present Landmark Productions and Octopus Theatricals
BEST PRODUCTION
Epiphany by Brian Watkins, Druid in association with Galway International Arts Festival
La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini, Irish National Opera
The Big Chapel X based on The Big Chapel by Thomas Kilroy. Adapted by John Morton, Medb Lambert and Donal Gallagher, Asylum Productions and Kilkenny Arts Festival with the support of the Abbey Theatre
The Examination by Feidlim Cannon and Gary Keegan, Brokentalkers & UCD School of History
JUDGES SPECIAL AWARD
The Ark: A Cultural Centre for Children
For engaging with a wide range of theatre makers, challenging them to create sophisticated work for young audiences, sometimes for the first time.
Arts and Disability Ireland
Working to ensure that the theatre is not a disabling space for artists or audiences.
The Communities of Callan, Limerick & Mullingar
For their support and involvement in the creation of theatre pieces that address painful local histories - via The Big Chapel X by Asylum Productions, Kilkenny Arts Festival and The Abbey Theatre; Bread Not Profits about the Limerick Soviet by Gúna Nua; and The Valley of the Squinting Windows from the novel by Brinsley MacNamara.
Dublin Fringe Festival
For facilitating the development of a new generation of theatre artists, giving them the opportunity to test their creativity, break boundaries and experiment, with the guidance of excellent producers, artists and theatre-makers.
