Theatres Trust Launches Inaugural Great British Theatres Awards

To celebrate its 50thanniversary, Theatres Trust has launched the inaugural Great British  Theatres Awards – a nationwide spotlight on the buildings and spaces where extraordinary  performance comes to life and communities gather to connect.  

Theatres play a vital role in the UK’s cultural life. They are places where stories are shared and  creativity flourishes; they bring communities together, support regeneration and placemaking  and contribute significantly to local and national economies. While many awards rightly  celebrate the talented people who bring theatre and performance to life, the Great British  Theatres Awards are about something different: the spaces themselves – the buildings where  the magic happens. 

The awards shine a light on theatres across the country, offering a unique and exciting  celebration of the theatre industry. 

Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust, comments,In our 50thyear, it feels vital to bring the  sector together to champion the places and spaces where theatre happens. From grassroots  community venues to landmark new builds, our theatres are more than just auditoriums, they  are civic landmarks, cultural engines, and the beating heart of communities across the country.  This is our moment to recognise them with pride. 

The Great British Theatres Awards will recognise excellence across 10 open award categories,  alongside two Judges’ Awards. Public nominations are welcomed and theatre owners, theatre  operators, local authorities, architects and theatre consultants are encouraged to make a  nomination for a theatre they think deserves recognition in one, or more, of the categories.  

The 10 Open Categories are: 

• Great New Build – Awarded to a newly built theatre or a new extension to an existing  theatre. Open to projects completed in the past 5 years.
• Great Renovation – Awarded to a theatre retrofit or refurbishment project, which has  adapted an existing theatre to meet the needs of modern and future audiences and  performances. Open to projects completed in the past 5 years.
• Great Amateur Theatre – Awarded to an amateur theatre that’s making great use of its  building. Open to amateur theatres that have carried out refurbishment projects in the  past 5 years.
• Great Found Space – Awarded to a live performance venue created in a found or  repurposed space, rather than a traditional or purpose-built theatre. Open to venues  that have opened or been repurposed in the past 5 years.
• Great Community Connection – Awarded to a theatre that is going above and beyond to  open its doors and offer a warm welcome to everyone, whether that’s through  adaptation to its building, programming or outreach work.
• Great Use of Space – Awarded to a theatre making innovative or unconventional use of a  space or spaces in a theatre building. It could be temporary or permanent, on a grand  scale or a just a small corner used imaginatively.
• Great Placemaking Partner – Awarded to a local authority that truly values culture and is  investing in cultural infrastructure to meaningfully benefit its local community.  • Great Green Theatre – Awarded to a theatre that has put environmental sustainability at  the heart of the building, whether through changes to the theatre itself, its operations  or its performances.
• Great Public Space – Awarded to a theatre with a space beyond the auditorium that is  well-loved and well used by the community or a specific user group.
• Great British Theatres Shining Star – Awarded to an individual or a group of individuals  who have made an outstanding contribution to create, save or adapt a theatre building  for the community.

In addition to the ten public categories, the panel of expert judges will crown one theatre as the  Great British Theatre 2026. This will be awarded to one building that best exemplifies the spirit  of the Great British Theatres Awards.  

The judges will also present the Great British Theatres Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising  exceptional long-term contribution to theatre buildings and cultural infrastructure. 

Entries will open on Thursday 16thApril via Theatres Trust’s website. The online application  process will consist of a 500-word statement accompanied by a PDF of supporting materials. The  deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday 11thJune. 

The shortlist of nominees will be announced in September, when tickets for the awards  ceremony will go on sale. The inaugural Great British Theatres Awards will take place on 2nd November at Central Hall Westminster.  

The Great British Theatres Awards form a centrepiece of Theatres Trust’s 50thanniversary year,  celebrating five decades of protecting and championing the UK’s theatre buildings and looking  ahead to the next generation of spaces. 

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