The Award:

The Stephen Joseph Award itself is a miniature theatre-in-the-round in polished bronze. Designed and made by ANDREW SANDERS.

This award is made annually to mark Stephen Joseph’s birth and to celebrate the achievements of a person or company that embodies the kinds of innovative theatre he cared so passionately about, with a close relationship between performer and audience at its heart.

The award is open for submissions with the deadline of 16th October 2023.

How to nominate:

Who and what are eligible for the Award?

It can be a living individual or a twenty-first century company or a non-traditional performance environment. In each case, the work produced will have demonstrated a creative and adventurous relationship between performance and audience. Submissions are welcome from theatres large or small, long-established companies or emerging artists.

Preference will be given to work produced or environments created in the United Kingdom, and to work whose creativity and achievement have been widely acknowledged. Submissions from artists/organisations who submitted in 2022 but were unsuccessful will be accepted in 2023 so long as they are fresh submissions.

What are the criteria?
The nominated individual, company or space will have demonstrated:

1. A high level of creative skill and innovation in creating the theatrical experience/s
2. Work created for or in non-traditional, adaptable or in-the-round performance spaces

The creation of live theatrical events in which traditional barriers between actor and audience are removed or challenged.

What evidence is needed?
This can be any combination of – production photos, video clips, designs, newspaper or media reviews, and testimonials.

Who can nominate?
Anyone with a good knowledge of the nominee. This can include members of the theatre/company being nominated, the nominee him or herself; or members of the general public.

When do nominations close?
Monday 16th October

How to submit?
Send your nominations to the ABTT at admin@abtt.org.uk  Please include:

1. Your contact details
2. Details of the nominee (with contact details where possible) and a short 250 word statement clearly explaining why the individual, company or performance environment is being put forward for the award
3. A short 250 word statement from a seconder: someone else with personal knowledge or experience of the work or person being nominated
4. Supporting evidence such as photos, video clips, designs, reviews, and testimonials.

When will the awards be presented?
Friday 8th December at the ABTT Christmas Party at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, London.