2017 Shortlist

Best Male Performance

Sponsored by STV

  • Brian Ferguson (Bernard 1, 2 and Michael Black), A Number, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in partnership with Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • Robert Jack (Benedick), Much Ado About Nothing, Dundee Rep Ensemble
  • Billy Mack (Willy Loman), Death of a Salesman, Dundee Rep Ensemble
  • Gerry Mulgrew (Krapp), Krapp’s Last Tape, Tron Theatre, Glasgow and Paul Brotherston

Best Female Performance

Sponsored by the Scottish Drama Training Network:

  • Lucy Briggs-Owen (Lydia Languish), The Rivals, Citizens Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
  • Nicole Cooper (Coriolanus), Coriolanus, Bard in the Botanics
  • Louise McCarthy (Bernadette), Cuttin’ a Rug, Citizens Theatre
  • Gemma McElhinney (Kelly Butcher) GamePlan, (Rosie Seymore) FlatSpin and (Paige Petite) RolePlay, Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Best Ensemble

Sponsored by Equity

  • Death of a Salesman, Dundee Rep Ensemble
  • The Lonesome West, Tron Theatre, Glasgow
  • A Number, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in partnership with Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • The Rivals, Citizens Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse 

Best Director

  • Ian Cameron, Andy Cannon, Andy Manley and Shona Reppe, Black Beauty, Red Bridge and Traverse Theatre Company 
  • Joe Douglas, Death of a Salesman, Dundee Rep Ensemble
  • Zinnie Harris, A Number, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in partnership with Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • Wils Wilson, Wind Resistance, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Edinburgh International Festival and supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund

Best Design

Sponsored by the Scottish Drama Training Network

  • Fred Meller (designer) and Ben Ormerod (lighting designer), A Number, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in partnership with Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • Francis O’Connor (designer), Tim Mitchell (lighting designer) and Jamie Macdonald (video designer), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
  • Shona Reppe (designer) and Simon Wilkinson (lighting designer), Black Beauty, Red Bridge and Traverse Theatre Company 
  • Neil Warmington (designer) and Sergey Jakovsky (lighting designer), Death of a Salesman, Dundee Rep Ensemble

Best Music and Sound

  • John Browne (composer and musical director) and Stephen Deazley (vocal leader), The Suppliant Women, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Actors Touring Company
  • Jonathan Gill (musical director), Richard Price (sound designer) and Gareth Williams (composer), The 306: Dawn, National Theatre of Scotland, 14–18 Now and Perth Theatre in association with Red Note Ensemble
  • Nikola Kodjabashia (composer), Death of a Salesman, Dundee Rep Ensemble
  • Pippa Murphy (sound designer), Karine Polwart (composer and musical director), Ben Seal (live sound) and Mark Whyles (live sound), Wind Resistance, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Edinburgh International Festival and supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund

Best Technical Presentation

Sponsored by BECTU

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
  • Coriolanus Vanishes, Fire Exit and Tron Theatre, Glasgow
  • Dr Stirlingshire’s Discovery, Grid Iron and Lung Ha Theatre Company supported by RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • The 306: Dawn, National Theatre of Scotland, 14–18 Now and Perth Theatre in association with Red Note Ensemble

Best Production for Children and Young People

Sponsored by Young Scot

  • Black Beauty, Red Bridge and Traverse Theatre Company
  • Dr Stirlingshire’s Discovery, Grid Iron and Lung Ha Theatre Company supported by RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • Mikey and Addie, Andy Manley and Red Bridge
  • The Story of the Little Gentleman, Catherine Wheels

Best New Play

  • Andy Cannon, Andy Manley and Shona Reppe, Black Beauty, Red Bridge and Traverse Theatre Company
  • David Greig, The Suppliant Women, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Actors Touring Company
  • Kieran Hurley, Heads Up, Show and Tell and Kieran Hurley
  • Karine Polwart, Wind Resistance, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Edinburgh International Festival

Best Production

  • Black Beauty, Red Bridge and Traverse Theatre Company
  • Death of a Salesman, Dundee Rep Ensemble
  • A Number, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in partnership with Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • Wind Resistance, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Edinburgh International Festival and supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund

The CATS judging panel for 2017 was made up of: Mary Brennan (The Herald), Irene Brown (edinburghguide.com), Mark Brown (The Sunday Herald and the Daily Telegraph), Anna Burnside (Daily Record), Paul F Cockburn (BroadwayBaby), Neil Cooper (The Herald), Michael Cox (Across the Arts), Thom Dibdin (The Stage and AllEdinburghTheatre.com), Mark Fisher (The Guardian), Joyce McMillan (The Scotsman), David Pollock (The Independent), Allan Radcliffe (The Times), Amy Taylor (The Public Reviews and TVBomb), Gareth K Vile (The List) and Joy Watters (Across the Arts).