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
Bríd Ní 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
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.