For anyone who didn't see the nomination shortlist for the inaugural Theatre Critics of Wales Awards in yesterdays Western Mail, the nominations are as follows:
*Please note an adjustment due to an error (mine!) in the 'Best Production in the English' Language category.
Best production in the Welsh language:
Mae Bilin Bwrw’r Bronco – Theatr na n’Og/Wales Millennium Centre
Y Storm – Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru
Llwyth – Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedaethol Cymru
Llanast! – Theatr Bara Caws
Sgint – Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru in association with Galeri, Caernarfon
Best male performance in the Welsh language:
Danny Grehan – Llwyth (Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedaethol Cymru)
Sion Ifan – Mae Bilin Bwrw’r Bronco
Llion Williams – Y Storm (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru)
Simon Watts – Llwyth
Joshua Price – Llwyth
Best female performance in the Welsh language:
Rebecca Harries – Llanast! (Theatr Bara Caws)
Mofudd Hughes – Sgint (Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru in association with Galeri, Caernarfon)
Lisa Marged – Y Storm (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru)
Manon Wilkinson – Sgint
Sara Harris-Davies – Sgint
Best production in the English language:
Before It Rains – Sherman Cymru/Bristol Old Vic
The Radicalisation Of Bradley Manning – National Theatre Wales
Last Christmas - Dirty Protest/Clwyd Theatr Cymru
The Wizard, The Goat and The Man Who Won The War – Taliesin Arts Centre
Coriolan/us – National Theatre Wales
Best male performance in the English language:
Craig Gazey – Before It Rains (Sherman Cymru/Bristol Old Vic)
Richard Elfyn – The Wizard, The Goat And The Man Who Won The War (Taliesin Arts Centre)
David O’Toole – In Water I’m Weightless (National Theatre Wales)
Richard Lynch – Coriolan/us (National Theatre Wales)
Simon Nehan – Bruised (Clwyd Theatr Cymru)
Best female performance in the English language:
Sharon Morgan – The Utah Bride (1.618 Theatre)
Lisa Palfrey – Before It Rains (Sherman Cymru/Bristol Old Vic)
Helen Griffin – Who’s Afraid Of Rachel Roberts? (Torch Theatre)
Mari Phillips – A Clockwork Orange (Volcano)
Teifi Emerald – Wild
Best ensemble:
The Radicalisation Of Bradley Manning – National Theatre Wales
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Mappa Mundi/Torch Theatre/Theatr Mwldan
Coriolan/us – National Theatre Wales
Llwyth – Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedlaethol
Little Dogs (National Theatre Wales)
Best director:
Terry Hands – As You Like It (Clwyd Theatr Cymru)
Mike Pearson/Mike Brookes – Coriolan/us (National Theatre Wales)
Arwel Gruffydd – Llwyth (Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru)
John McGrath – The Radicalisation Of Bradley Manning (National Theatre Wales)
Erica Eirian – The Maids (Theatr Pena)
Best design:
Paul Clay – In Water I’m Weightless National Theatre Wales)
Mike Brookes/Simon Banham – Coriolan/us (National Theatre Wales)
Tim Dickel – Little Dogs (National Theatre Wales)
Mark Bailey – God Of Carnage (Clwyd Theatr Cymru)
Tom Rogers – Llwyth (Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru)
Best music and sound:
Simon Thorne – Clytemnestra (Sherman Cymru)
John Hardy/Mike Beer – Coriolan/us (National Theatre Wales)
Stitching (Company Of Sirens)
Simon Thorne – A Clockwork Orange (Volcano)
James Clarke/Dafydd James – Llwyth (Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru)
Best use of digital/online content:
Branches – National Theatre Wales
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Mappa Mundi/Torch Theatre/Theatr Mwldan
The Radicalisation Of Bradley Manning – National Theatre Wales
Coriolan/us – National Theatre Wales
In Water I’m Weightless – National Theatre Wales
Best production for children/young people:
Sexting – Arad Goch
Mae Bilin Bwrw’r Bronco – Theatr na n’Og/Wales Millennium Centre
Yesterday – Clwyd Theatr Cymru
Click – Mess Up The Mess
Grimm Tales – Theatr Iolo
Best dance production:
The Grammar Of Silence – National Dance Company Wales
The Tempest – Ballet Cymru
Gaza Blaenannerch – De Oscuro/Wales Millennium Centre
Dream National Dance Company Wales
Tir – Ballet Cymru/Cerys Matthews
The Writer’s Guild playwright award:
Tim Price – The Radicalisation Of Bradley Manning (National Theatre Wales)
Matthew Trevannion - Bruised (Clwyd Theatr Cymru)
D J Britton – The Wizard, The Goat And The Man Who Won The War (Taliesin Arts Centre)
Dafydd James – Llwyth (Sherman Cymru/Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru)
Katherine Chandler – Before It Rains (Sherman Cymru/Bristol Old Vic)
Young critics award:
Re Live – Abandoned Brothers
Incubator – Wales Millennium Centre
Cwtch Cabaret – Pontardawe Arts Centre/Citrus Arts
My Life In CIA – Give It A Name Theatre Company
A Clockwork Orange – Volcano
Best opera production:
Don Giovanni – Welsh National Opera
In The Locked Room/Ghost Patrol – Scottish Opera/Music Theatre Wales
La boheme – Welsh National Opera
Macbeth – OpraCOR Cymru
La traviata – Welsh National Opera
Best male opera singer:
David Kempster – Don Giovanni (Welsh National Opera)
Gary Griffiths – La boheme (Welsh National Opera)
Philip Joll - Tristan And Isolde (Welsh National Opera)
Jason Howard – La traviata (Welsh National Opera)
Phil Gault – Macbeth (OpraCOR Cymru)
Best female opera singer:
Rebecca Evans – The Marriage Of Figaro (Welsh National Opera)
Fflur Wyn – Jephtha (Welsh National Opera)
Camilla Roberts – Cosi Fan Tutte (Welsh National Opera)
Eldrydd Cynan – Macbeth (OpraCOR Cymru)
Catrin Aur – Don Giovanni (Mid Wales Opera)
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Thanks for your response Laurence, appreciated.
Thank you Guy. My aim was not directed at your admirable band of young critics. Anyway, good to see recognition from John McGrath who named TORCHBEARERS as one of his shows of the year. That'll do us.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss critical response to the arts in Wales. Why some work seemingly gets no reviews and others have a glut. I would also like to open up the debate as to why in Wales, the work has little or no national (UK) critical response.
Back to Torchbearers. I can only comment on behalf of The Young Critics scheme and not on behalf of the variety of other critics on the panel.
The Young Critics Scheme operates with primarily no funding. The young people pay their own travel and expenses. The scheme is helped by reduced/free tickets from companies and venues who are keen to receive a critical response to the work (positive or negative). As companies have become aware of the Young Critics Scheme they have given free tickets on the basis that a review will follow and the majority have encouraged discussion regardless of whether the critic liked the work or not.
The way the Young Critics choose the work to review, varies. They select their own work to review. They read season brochures, Twitter, Facebook, Buzz magazine etc. They often select work in genres that are new to them or of particular interest to young people. Some are recommendations and they have also put calls out on this site for companies who would like their work reviewed to get in touch and companies have done just that. I can't comment on the why's and who's of the awards list because each critic, young or otherwise, made their choices independently based on their own individual response to the work.
Its difficult Laurence, because I agree with you that TORCHBEARERS should have had a review. I also know that The Young Critics try very hard to see as much work as they can.
I have no gripe as to why TORCHBEARERS is not included anywhere on the awards list. How could it be? It was ignored by every single critic in wales - although it was reviewed by our South African counterparts when it travelled to Cape Town. I'm just curious whether you or anyone else can throw light on this oversight given that it was one of the largest and most unique productions staged in wales last year and it was classed by the Welsh Assembly as a Major Event and funded as such. This is not just an old paranoid writer sounding off but I thought the young people of the valleys and the South African townships deserved more. And i am genuinely curious but I'm sure you are as perplexed as all of us involved.
Formal invitations to the Theatre Critics of Wales Awards ceremony on Saturday 26th January at Sherman Cymru Cardiff will be sent out over the following week. If you are a nominated artist or company member or organisation it may speed the process up to contact the Young Critics at the address below.
If you have not received an invite over the next week and think you should have, please could you contact on the same address.
Many Thanks.
youngcriticswales@gmail.com
Proud that our production shortlisted. Will we be invited to the event......??
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