Source: Irish Times Website

IRISH TIMES IRISH THEATRE AWARDS FINAL NOMINATIONS 2020-21

Judges: Tanya Dean, Nicholas Grene, Lorelei Harris

Irish Times Criteria: Excellence: brilliance, superiority, distinction, quality and merit. Innovation and risk must come into the equation as theatre is all about creativity and therefore inventiveness, resourcefulness, vision, imagination, inspiration and originality.

BEST ACTOR

Domhnall Gleeson, Medicine, Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival

Stanley Townsend, Solar Bones, Kilkenny Arts Festival in partnership with Rough Magic in association with Watergate Theatre

Matthew Malone, Once Before I Go, The Gate Theatre

Shaun Blaney, In the Name of the Son, Green Shoot Productions

BEST ACTRESS

Kate Stanley Brennan, Conversations after Sex, thisispopbaby

Sarah Hanly, Purple Snowflakes and Titty Wanks, The Abbey Theatre and Royal Court

BrĂ­d NĂ­ Neachtain, Laethanta Sona, Company SJ and Abbey Theatre in association with Dublin Theatre Festival and Galway International Arts Festival

Ruth McCabe, Bedsit, Galway International Arts Festival

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Bosco Hogan, One Good Turn (The Abbey Theatre) and The Enemy Within (An Grianán Theatre)

Nigel Lindsay, Faith Healer, The Abbey Theatre

Peter Daly, The Cherry Orchard, Druid

Marty Rea, The Cherry Orchard, Druid

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Bláithín Mac Gabhann, The Seagull After Chekhov (Druid) and Our New Girl (The Gate Theatre)

Máire Ní Ghráinne, The Long Christmas Dinner, The Abbey Theatre

Niamh Cusack, Faith Healer, The Abbey Theatre

Siobhán Cullen, The Cherry Orchard, Druid

BEST DIRECTOR

Lisa May, Mojo Mickeybo, Bruiser Theatre Company

Lynne Parker, Solar Bones, Kilkenny Arts Festival in partnership with Rough Magic in association with Watergate Theatre

Sarah Jane Scaife and Raymond Keane, The Long Christmas Dinner, Abbey Theatre

Tom Creed, Conversations After Sex, thisispopbaby

BEST SET

Alyson Cummins and Pai Rathaya, Volcano, (Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects)

Francis O’Connor, The Seagull (After Chekhov) (Druid), Fidelio (Irish National Opera) and Once Before I Go (The Gate Theatre)

Ger Clancy, Laethanta Sona (Company SJ and Abbey Theatre in association with Dublin Theatre Festival and Galway International Arts Festival)

Maree Kearns, The Enemy Within (An Grianán Theatre)

BEST COSTUME

Deirdre Dwyer, The Veiled Ones (Junk Ensemble)

Lisa Zagone, The Heart of a Dog (The Everyman, Civic and John O’Brien)

Katie Davenport, Once Before I Go (The Gate Theatre) and Elsewhere (Straymaker and the Abbey Theatre in association with Miroirs Étendus and Once Off Productions)

Sarah Foley, Masterclass (Brokentalkers in collaboration with Adrienne Truscott)

BEST LIGHTING

Barry O’Brien, DruidGregory, Druid

James F. Ingalls, The Seagull (After Chekhov), The Cherry Orchard, Druid

Sarah-Jane Shiels, Hansel and Gretel (Irish National Opera, Theatre Lovett and Abbey Theatre) and Conversations After Sex (thisispopbaby)

Stephen Dodd, Volcano (Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects) and The Long Christmas Dinner (Abbey Theatre).

BEST SOUNDSCAPE

Fionn Foley, Tonic, Rough Magic Theatre Company in association with Solstice Arts Centre

Kevin McGing, Elektra, Irish National Opera and Kilkenny Arts Festival

Rob Moloney, Volcano, Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects

Teho Teardo/ Seán Carpio, Medicine, Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival

BEST MOVEMENT

David Bolger, The Cherry Orchard, Druid

Luke Murphy, Volcano, Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects

Ella Clarke, Alice and the Wolf, Barnstorm

Louise Lowe, The Book of Names, ANU Productions and Landmark Productions

BEST ENSEMBLE

DruidGregory and On the Outside , Druid

Mojo Mickeybo, Bruiser Theatre Company

The Long Christmas Dinner, Abbey Theatre

Volcano, Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects

BEST PRODUCTION

Conversations After Sex, thisispopbaby

Solar Bones, Kilkenny Arts Festival in partnership with Rough Magic in association with Watergate Theatre

The Long Christmas Dinner, Abbey Theatre

Volcano, Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects

BEST NEW PLAY

Aisling O’Mara, Next Please…, Bewleys Café Theatre

Luke Murphy, Volcano, Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects

Mark O’Halloran, Conversations After Sex, thisispopbaby

Sarah Hanly, Purple Snowflakes and Titty Wanks, Abbey Theatre and Royal Court

BEST OPERA (IN TERMS OF BEST OVERALL THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE)

Elsewhere, Straymaker and the Abbey Theatre in association with Miroirs Étendus and Once Off Productions

Fidelio, Irish National Opera

Hansel and Gretel, Irish National Opera, Theatre Lovett and Abbey Theatre

The First Child, Landmark Productions in association with Irish National Opera

JUDGES SPECIAL AWARD – FOR INVENTIVENESS, EXCELLENCE AND/OR CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY DURING COVID

Bewley’s Cafe Theatre for its sustained contribution to Irish theatre over the years, and in particular for Walkabout Theatre returning audiences to live performances outdoors in June/July 2021.

Irish National Opera for 20 Shots of Opera, for its innovative and imaginative way of exploring the form of opera when live performance was impossible.

National Campaign for the Arts for its exceptional dedication to advocacy and political engagement on behalf of the arts, particularly during Covid.

The Abbey Theatre for Dear Ireland, creating innovative opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and performance in the midst of lockdown.

THE IRISH TIMES SPECIAL TRIBUTE AWARD

Ros Kavanagh - Photo Ronan Nissenbaum
ROS KAVANAGH. PHOTOGRAPH: RONAN NISSENBAUM

Photographer Ros Kavanagh, for using his artistic skill to create an invaluable visual record of the many artists and productions that make up the history of modern Irish theatre.