The Stage has announced its guide to the 100 most influential people in UK theatre with ATG’s Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire topping the list for the third year running, while the Bush theatre was named London’s Theatre of the Year in the Stage 100 Awards.
This year’s list also welcomes newcomers Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, Josie Rourke, Artistic Director designate of the Donmar Warehouse and Matilda The Musical composer Tim Minchin into the illustrious top 20.
Following ATG’s joint Chief Executives, husband and wife team Panter and Squire, are Nicholas Hynter, Artistic Director of the National theatre, and the venue’s Executive Director Nick Starr, who share the number two spot. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Michael Boyd and Vikki Heywood share third place, while the most successful entrants historically, theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh, tie in fourth place.
Alistair Smith, Deputy Editor of The Stage, said: “ATG has cemented its place at the top of The Stage 100 – they are now UK theatre’s undoubted commercial super power.” He also praised the subsidised sector noting that “productions from subsidised theatres – like Matilda and One Man, Two Guvnors – are really dominating proceedings and it has been a particularly strong year for the National, RSC and Chichester Festival Theatre.”
As well as the Bush theatre, recipients of this year’s Stage 100 Awards are Chichester Festival Theatre (Regional Theatre of the Year), London’s Jermyn Street theatre (Fringe Theatre of the Year), the National Theatre (Producer of the Year) and Musical Theatre Academy (School of the Year).
As part of its efforts to recognise the outstanding organisations and individuals working in theatre today, The Stage 100 Awards has also launched the Unsung Hero Award with See Tickets’ Edwin Shaw, chaperone Heather Miller and Glasgow Citizen’s Theatre’s long-serving employee Frances Coyle each awarded the new accolade.
Visit The Stage’s website for a full list of the Stage 100 and details of each winner.
CM