The winners of this year's Irish Times Theatre Awards have been announced, after the cancellation of this year's awards ceremony due to the Covid-19 crisis.
The Irish Times revealed the winners online and via the paper's print edition, awarding the Best Production award to Brokentakers' The Examination, a documentary performance work exploring mental health and human rights in the Irish prison system.
Lisa Tierney-Keogh's This Beautiful Village, commissioned by the Abbey Theatre, was named Best New Play, while Brian Doherty won Best Actor for roles in Rough Magic's production of Marina Carr's Hecuba and Red Kettle's production of Jim Nolan's The Red Iron, and Aoibhéann McCann named Best Actress for her role as Blanche Du Bois in the Lyric Theatre Belfast production of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
The Judges' Special Award went to Dublin Fringe Festival, for 'facilitating the development of a new generation of theatre artists', and Galway-based company Macnas received a Special Tribute Award for their achievements over the past three decades.
A message from Irish Times Theatre Awards 2020 host Jonathan White
See the full list of winners below.
SPECIAL TRIBUTE AWARD
Macnas
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Bread not Profits, Gúna Nua
IRISH TIMES IRISH THEATRE AWARDS WINNERS 2019
BEST PRODUCTION
The Examination by Feidlim Cannon and Gary Keegan, Brokentalkers and UCD School of History
BEST OPERA PRODUCTION
Abomination: A DUP Opera by Conor Mitchell, Belfast Ensemble and Outburst Arts
BEST DIRECTOR
Jim Culleton
For 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
BEST ACTOR
Brian Doherty
In the role of Agamemnon in Hecuba by Marina Carr, Rough Magic in association with the Dublin Theatre Festival and in the role of Dog in The Red Iron by Jim Nolan, Red Kettle Theatre Company
BEST ACTRESS
Aoibhéann McCann
In the role of Blanche Du Bois in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, a Lyric Theatre production
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ian-Lloyd Anderson
In the role of Donal in The Beacon by Nancy Harris, a Druid and Gate Theatre Co-production
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Liz Fitzgibbon
In the roles of Josie, Marie and others in Dublin Will Show You How by Tracy Martin, the Abbey Theatre in a co-production with The Complex
BEST NEW PLAY
Lisa Tierney-Keogh
This Beautiful Village, the Abbey Theatre
BEST ENSEMBLE
The Travels of Jonathan Swift
Adapted from the Writings of Jonathan Swift by Conall Morrison, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company
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
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
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Enda Kenny
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, a Lyric Theatre Production
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
BEST SOUNDSCAPE
Denis Clohessy
The Alternative by Michael Patrick and Oisin Kearney, Fishamble: the New Play Company in association with Draoícht, 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 and 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
JUDGES’ SPECIAL AWARD
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.
SPECIAL TRIBUTE AWARD
Macnas
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Bread not Profits, Gúna Nua
