The winners of the Empty Space...Peter Brook Awards 2010 are...
Today was the 21st annual Empty Space...Peter Brook Awards. In a time when theatre arts funding has been slashed like the supporting characters in a horror movie, this is a nice, cheerful ceremony that celebrates theatres that have been particularly innovative and gives them much needed funding so that they can continue to do so. This year, it was hosted by Peter Wilson (producer of The Woman in Black) at the National Theatre Studio.
The main award of £2000 went to the Finborough Theatre for its energy and dedication to new plays in new spaces, despite its shoestring budget. The other nominees were Battersea Arts Centre, Watch This Space, Bristol Old Vic, Menier Chocolate Factory and the Union Theatre, and they all received a tidy £200.
£2000 also went to the winners of the Dan Crawford Innovation Award and the Peter Brook/Equity Ensemble Award, Royal Court for Local Theatre and Dreamthinkspeak respectively. The Royal Court were recognised for their constant promotion of new plays, designers and directors in the local area, and Dreamthinkspeak were awarded in order to help them create more ensemble work in studio theatres.
A smaller but perpetual award of £1500 was given to The New Diorama Theatre and Third Party Company. This award, the Mark Marvin Rent Subsidy Award, covers two weeks of rent per year in order to help companies continue showcasing their works.
At the awards were panellists Lyn Gardner (Guardian), Dominic Cavenish (Telegraph), Mark Shenton (Sunday Express and Blog) and Fiona Mountford (Evening Standard). Blanche Marvin, the founder of the award, was also there in a sparkly 1920s number (er, outfit that is, not musical number).
Image: Dreamthinkspeak's Absent
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