Northern Stage Awarded Excellence in Touring at the UK Theatre Awards

The 2023 UK Theatre Awards winners were revealed yesterday (Sunday 8 October) in a ceremony at London’s Guildhall, hosted by Musical Theatre star Zoe Birkett.

Northern Stage, along with co-producing partners Birmingham Rep, ETT, Oldham Coliseum, tiny dragon Productions and Cardboard Citizens were proud recipients of the Excellent in Touring award for our production of I, Daniel Blake.

The judges recognised the adaptation’s integrity and authenticity for both audiences and the communities represented. All of us at Northern Stage are elated that this important and powerful show has been recognised on a national scale.

Kate Denby, Northern Stage Executive Director said:

“This production is not just a window into the world, it’s a call to action and the team worked so hard to ensure that the show told this shockingly relevant story with care and authenticity. Throughout the tour, we connected venues with local food banks and the impact of the show reached far beyond the audiences in theatres across the country.”

Mark Calvert, Director of I, Daniel Blake and company director for tiny dragon Productions said:

“As a company not yet two years old we’re utterly overwhelmed and so grateful to win the Excellence in Touring award from UK Theatre. It’s a big responsibility to honour the film but also to find ways to raise awareness of the hardship huge numbers of people in our country are facing right now. I’ve spent months visiting local food banks, and I can tell you that this is not fiction. It is reality. For me I, Daniel Blake frames the working-class experience in modern Britain – there’s hope, humour and humanity in the story, but audiences should feel angry and outraged; I know I am.”

Northern Stage received two other nominations at the awards. Actor Bryony Corrigan was shortlisted for Best Supporting Performer for her role as Katie in I, Daniel Blake. Matthew Dunster & Jimmy Fairhurst were nominated for Best Director for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a Shakespeare North Playhouse, Not Too Tame and Northern Stage co-production.

The Excellence in Touring award for Northern Stage follows awards success at the North East Charity Awards earlier this year where our Board was named Trustee Board of the Year.

Northern Stage have also been shortlisted for Small Business of Year at the Inspiring Females of the Year 2023 Awards and our Best Summer Ever programme has been shortlisted in the Fantastic For Families Awards – winners for both of these awards will be announced in November.