The Judging Process and Criteria
Who are the judges?
To be a CATS judge, a critic should:
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review theatre created in Scotland in print, on radio or TV, or online.
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write reviews throughout the year.
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see theatre across Scotland, not just in one town. (An exception may be made in the case of a critic with knowledge of an underrepresented area.)
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see professional theatre of all scales and types. (An exception may be made in the case of a critic with knowledge of an underrepresented genre.)
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see a high enough percentage of all professional theatre made in Scotland to make a meaningful contribution to the judging meeting.
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be professional about their role as a critic whether or not they are paid for their work.
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pay a small annual fee as a contribution towards CATS running costs.
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How are the judges selected?
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Membership is by invitation from the CATS judges.
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The judges appoint a membership officer whose job is to ensure that new judges are proposed to the existing judging panel in line with the criteria above. The membership officer’s recommendations are discussed at a meeting that takes place soon after the annual CATS ceremony.
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It is expected that all newspapers, magazines and websites with regular, high quality, nationwide coverage of theatre made in Scotland should be represented on the CATS panel.
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There is no limit on the number of judges.
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Judges are invited on a non-discriminatory basis and in line with equal opportunities legislation.
How long do they remain a judge?
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There is no limit to the length of time a judge may remain a member.
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If a judge’s circumstances change and they no longer meet the membership criteria above, they will be required to step down, either permanently or temporarily.
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