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CRITICS' AWARDS FOR THEATRE IN SCOTLAND
CATS AWARDS 2020
WINNERS & NOMINEES
With all the difficulties created by Covid-19, the CATS judges remained aware of the tremendous work created in 2019/20 (theatres closed down in March 2019). With no hope of holding a live judging meeting, far less a CATS Awards celebration, we took to working online to finalise our shortlist and winners for the year. Awards were presented to recipients during the 2022 ceremony at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow.
Image © Infinite Blue Designs
Here are the winners and nominees for the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2020.
Best Male Performance
George Costigan (Francis Hardy)
Faith Healer, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Image © Douglas McBride
Image © Douglas McBride
Barrie Hunter (Jim McLean)
Smile, Dundee Rep Ensemble
Image © Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Image © Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
James McArdle (Peter Gynt)
Peter Gynt, Edinburgh International Festival and National Theatre of Great Britain
Image © Manuel Harlan
Image © Manuel Harlan
Tom McGovern (Thomas Barclay)
The Signalman, A Play, a Pie and a Pint in association with the Traverse Theatre
WINNER - Best Male Performance
Image © Leslie Black
WINNER - Best Male Performance
Image © Leslie Black
Best Female Performance
Nicole Cooper (Hamlet)
Hamlet, Bard in the Botanics
Image © Tom Duncan
Image © Tom Duncan
Anna Russell-Martin (Anais Hendricks)
The Panopticon, National Theatre of Scotland
WINNER - Best Female Performance
"During lockdown, I had a lot of time to think about what made my experience with The Panopticon so special. As always, it was being able to work with incredibly talented , hardworking and passionate people. More than ever, it’s essential that we fight for this industry and the remarkable artists who make it. It’s clear just how much we’re starving for theatre right now, and to be a part of a ceremony dedicated to celebrating it is a huge honour."
Anna Russell-Martin, actor
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
WINNER - Best Female Performance
"During lockdown, I had a lot of time to think about what made my experience with The Panopticon so special. As always, it was being able to work with incredibly talented , hardworking and passionate people. More than ever, it’s essential that we fight for this industry and the remarkable artists who make it. It’s clear just how much we’re starving for theatre right now, and to be a part of a ceremony dedicated to celebrating it is a huge honour."
Anna Russell-Martin, actor
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Kirsty Stuart (Duchess)
The Duchess (of Malfi), Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Citizens Theatre
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Kirsty Stuart (Grace)
Faith Healer, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Image © Douglas McBride
Image © Douglas McBride
Best Ensemble
How Not To Drown
ThickSkin and Traverse Theatre Company, co-produced with Tron Theatre and Lawrence Batley Theatre
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
The Importance of Being Earnest
Perth Theatre
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Tay Bridge
Dundee Rep Ensemble
Image © Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Image © Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Thank You Very Much,
Manchester International Festival and National Theatre of Scotland
WINNER - Best Ensemble
"On behalf of the performers of Thank You Very Much – Dan Daw, Tanja Erhart, Vicky Malin and myself Claire Cunningham – I would like to say a profound thank you (very much!) for this award. At this time in particular, where none of us know when we will be with, and be close with, audiences again it feels particularly touching to feel remembered and to know that our presence burned vividly in the memories of those who shared space with us during our shows. As disabled artists, at a time when there is genuine fear among our wider community of being forgotten or of categorisation as ‘vulnerable’ or even ‘expendable’, this recognition of our presence and contribution feels especially vital. We would like to acknowledge that, as the visible ensemble of the work, this award also carries beyond us to the whole ensemble involved in making & staging Thank You Very Much and extend our own thanks to them for their care, talent and support in crafting the world we truly revel in performing within. Thank you sincerely to the CATS award panel for brightening all our days with this news."
Claire Cunningham, writer, actor, director
Image © Hugo Glendinning
WINNER - Best Ensemble
"On behalf of the performers of Thank You Very Much – Dan Daw, Tanja Erhart, Vicky Malin and myself Claire Cunningham – I would like to say a profound thank you (very much!) for this award. At this time in particular, where none of us know when we will be with, and be close with, audiences again it feels particularly touching to feel remembered and to know that our presence burned vividly in the memories of those who shared space with us during our shows. As disabled artists, at a time when there is genuine fear among our wider community of being forgotten or of categorisation as ‘vulnerable’ or even ‘expendable’, this recognition of our presence and contribution feels especially vital. We would like to acknowledge that, as the visible ensemble of the work, this award also carries beyond us to the whole ensemble involved in making & staging Thank You Very Much and extend our own thanks to them for their care, talent and support in crafting the world we truly revel in performing within. Thank you sincerely to the CATS award panel for brightening all our days with this news."
Claire Cunningham, writer, actor, director
Image © Hugo Glendinning
Best Director
Ken Alexander,
The Signalman, A Play, a Pie and a Pint in association with the Traverse Theatre
Image © Leslie Black
Image © Leslie Black
Matthew Lenton
The Metamorphosis, Vanishing Point, Tron Theatre and Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Matthew Luton
Solaris, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Malthouse Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Image © Mihaela Bodlovic
Elizabeth Newman
Faith Healer, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
WINNER - Best Director
"It was a real honour and privilege to direct Brian Friel’s Faith Healer with such a brilliant creative team and the most extraordinary group of talented actors – George Costigan, Kirsty Stuart and Richard Standing. The piece meant so much to us all, not least George who suggested we make the play together several years ago. The entire team at Pitlochry Festival Theatre worked so hard to make this production such a wonderful experience for everyone involved. We also loved working with Eden Court to reach new audiences. It was a truly fantastic experience to tour the Highlands and islands in our little van. We all know, our islands are a place of inspiration and magic so there was something rather fortuitous that when I heard the news I was sitting in a van on the Isle of Lewis… I had been thinking about what we could do next in these strange times, so needless to say, it was an important moment to receive the recognition of this award. And more than anything it just told me: just keep going. Thank you to everyone at CATS, the brilliant artists, theatre teams and, of course, audiences who continue to stick with us during this time."
Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Image © Douglas McBride
WINNER - Best Director
"It was a real honour and privilege to direct Brian Friel’s Faith Healer with such a brilliant creative team and the most extraordinary group of talented actors – George Costigan, Kirsty Stuart and Richard Standing. The piece meant so much to us all, not least George who suggested we make the play together several years ago. The entire team at Pitlochry Festival Theatre worked so hard to make this production such a wonderful experience for everyone involved. We also loved working with Eden Court to reach new audiences. It was a truly fantastic experience to tour the Highlands and islands in our little van. We all know, our islands are a place of inspiration and magic so there was something rather fortuitous that when I heard the news I was sitting in a van on the Isle of Lewis… I had been thinking about what we could do next in these strange times, so needless to say, it was an important moment to receive the recognition of this award. And more than anything it just told me: just keep going. Thank you to everyone at CATS, the brilliant artists, theatre teams and, of course, audiences who continue to stick with us during this time."
Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Image © Douglas McBride