On May 15, 2005 the shortlists for the ten categories of the 2004-05 CATS were announced. There is a link to each company’s website or email at its first mention.
168 productions were considered for the 2004-05 CATS, including 73 new plays and 25 productions for children/young people. By comparison, for the 2003-04 CATS a total of 140 productions were considered, 70 of which were new plays and 10 for children and young people. The ten 2004-05 award winners were announced and presented in a celebration and ceremony at the Tolbooth in Stirling on June 5, 2005.
Best Male Performance
- Liam Brennan in Othello by William Shakespeare – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh production.
- Tony Cownie as Kenny in A Madman Sings At The Moon by Mark Thomson – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh production.
- Nabil Shaban as Macheath in The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill – Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh production.
- David Tennant as Jimmy Porter in Look Back In Anger by John Osborne – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh production.
Best Female Performance
- Abigail Davies as Delia Derbyshire in Standing Wave by Nicola McCartney – Tron Theatre / Reeling & Writhing production.
- Suzanne Donaldson as Baby in Baby Doll by Tennessee Williams – Citizens Theatre Company Glasgow production.
- Christine Entwisle as Lisa in The Wonderful World of Dissocia by Anthony Neilson – Edinburgh International Festival / DrumTheatre, Plymouth in association with the Tron, Glasgow production.
- Molly Innes as Anna in One Day All This Will Come To Nothing by – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh production.
Best Ensemble
- Citizens Theatre for A Little Bit of Ruff Season.
- Citizens Theatre for A Whistle in the Dark.
- Perth Theatre for Oliver!
- Highway Diner for Works of Temporary Solace.
Best Director
- Andy Arnold for Beckett 2: The Basement Tapes – The Arches Theatre Company, Glasgow production.
- Richard Baron for Look Back In Anger – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh production.
- Anthony Neilson for The Wonderful World of Dissocia – Edinburgh International Festival /DrumTheatre, Plymouth in association with the Tron, Glasgow production..
- Sandy Thomson for Learning The Rules of Chinese Whispers – Poorboy / Crawford Arts Centre production.
Best Design
- Miriam Buether for The Wonderful World of Dissocia – Edinburgh International Festival /DrumTheatre, Plymouth in association with the Tron, Glasgow production.
- Kai Fischer (Set and Lighting) and Rebecca Minto (Costume) for Lost Ones – Vanishing Point.
- Francis O’Connor (Design) and Chris Davey (Lighting) for Anna Karenina – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh production.
- Neil Warmington (Set) and Paul Sorley (Lights) for Knives In Hens – TAG Production.
Best Music and Sound
- Jon Beales for Laurel & Hardy – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh production.
- Pippa Murphy for Standing Wave – Tron Theatre / Reeling & Writhing production.
- Philip Pinsky for Fierce – Grid Iron Production.
- Allan Tall for Zlata’s Diary – Communicado Theatre Company.
Best Technical Presentation
- Anna Karenina – Royal Lyceum Theatre.
- Beauty and the Beast – Byre Theatre.
- Beckett 2: The Basement Tapes – The Arches Theatre Glasgow.
- Lost Ones – Vanishing Point.
Best Production for Children and Young People
- Beauty And The Beast – Cumbernauld Theatre.
- Cyrano – Catherine Wheels Theatre Company.
- Tam O’Shanter – Wee Stories Theatre Company.
- The Emperor’s New Kilt – Wee Stories Theatre Company.
Best New Play
- Douglas Maxwell for If Destroyed True – Dundee Rep Ensemble/ Paines Plough Production.
- Nicola McCartney for Standing Wave – Tron Theatre / Reeling & Writhing production.
- David Greig for Pyrenees- Tron / Paines Plough production.
- Anthony Neilson for The Wonderful World of Dissocia – Edinburgh International Festival /DrumTheatre, Plymouth in association with the Tron, Glasgow production.
Best Production
- Laurel & Hardy – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
- Learning the Rules of Chinese Whispers – Poorboy / Crawford Arts Centre production.
- Look Back In Anger – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
- The Wonderful World of Dissocia – Edinburgh International Festival /DrumTheatre, Plymouth in association with the Tron, Glasgow production.
The awards panel consisted of: Mary Brennan, Mark Brown, Alan Chadwick, Neil Cooper, Steve Cramer, Robert Dawson Scott, Thom Dibdin, Mark Fisher, Thelma Good, Sarah Jones, Joyce McMillan, Kenneth Speirs and Joy Watters.