Wales Theatre Awards announce nominations

The much-anticipated 17 shortlists were announced at Aberystwyth Arts Centre by the Centre’s Artistic Director Gareth Roberts and Wales Theatre Awards Director Mike Smith.

The winners and highly commended will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at Sherman Cymru on Saturday, January 31 at 7pm.

Nominated by critics who have reviewed performances throughout the year, these awards recognise excellence in performances created and presented in Wales.

The shortlists for the categories that include productions, performances, writing, direction, design and sound range include work from the large and small companies, large and small scale work, English, Welsh and, with opera and dance, productions that span many and no languages.

Mike Smith, Wales Theatre Awards Director, said: "At the awards ceremony we will also be launching a new Critics Fund to make sure artists and audiences benefit from the debate, discussion and feedback provided by critics by enabling far more reviewing and supporting the next generation”.

The WTAs have been developed from the previous Theatre Critics of Wales Awards and continue to include young and new critics in the nominating and judging. The WTAs and the Fund are totally independent and run by a new, voluntary, not-for-profit-company, Arts Awards Ltd.

He added, “More than 30 critics from across Wales, working in English and in Welsh, across genres and media platforms have nominated performances they have reviewed through the year. Six groups of judges now have the ridiculously difficult task of selecting the three highly commended and the overall winner in each category.”

Awards Shortlist

Best Show for Children and Young People

As You Like It, Taking Flight Theatre Company

Gwyn, Cwmni'r Frân Wen

Luna, Theatr Iolo, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Theatre Hullabaloo

Maudie’s Rooms, Roar Ensemble, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Sherman Cymru

Best Sound and/or Lighting

Contractions, Dyfan Jones & Nick Beadle, Iain Goosey Productions in partnership with/mewn partneriaeth â Chapter

Moses & Egypt, Fabrice Kebour, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru

Purlieus, Joe Fletcher, National Dance Company Wales/Cwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru

Song, Laura Lima, James Tyson & Ranters Theatre, International Performance Festival Cardiff/ G?yl Berfformio Ryngwladol Caerdydd

Best Design and/or Costume

Adventures in the Skin Trade, Neil Davies, Theatr Iolo

Killing of Sister George, Holly McCarthy, Theatr Pena, in co-production with/mewn cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Riverfront in association with/ar y cyd â Torch Theatre/Theatr y Torch

Mametz, Jon Bausor & Lucy Martin, National Theatre Wales, co-commissioned by/comisiynwyd ar y cyd â 14-18 NOW

Under Milk Wood: an Opera , Simon Banham, Taliesin Arts Centre, coproduction with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Le Chien qui chante & Companion Star, in association with/ar y cyd â Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru

Best Male in an Opera Production

Barry Banks, William Tell, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Grand Théâtre de Genève, Houston Grand Opera & Teatr Wielki, Warsaw.

David Kempster, William Tell, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Grand Théâtre de Genève, Houston Grand Opera & Teatr Wielki, Warsaw.

Johnny Herford, The Trial, Music Theatre Wales, A co-commission and co-production by/ mae cyd-comisiynu a chyd-gynhyrchu gan: Music Theatre Wales, The Royall Opera l, Theater Magdeburg & Scottish Opera

John Tomlinson, Moses und Aron, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru

Best Female in an Opera Production

Claire Booth, Moses in Egypt, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Houston Grand Opera

Helen Sherman, Carmen, Mid Wales Opera/Opera Canolbarth Cymru

Mary Elizabeth Williams, Nabucco, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Stuttgart Opera

Sarah Tynan, Boulevard Solitude, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru

Best Opera Production

Acis & Galatea, Mid Wales Opera/Opera Canolbarth Cymru, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama/Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd A Drama Cymru with members of/ gyda aelodau o Brecon Baroque.

Moses und Aron, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru

The Trial, Music Theatre Wales, A co-commission and co-production by/ mae cyd-gomisiynu a chyd-gynhyrchu gan: Music Theatre Wales, The Royal Opera, Theater Magdeburg & Scottish Opera

Under Milkwood: an opera, Taliesin Arts Centre, coproduction with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Le Chien qui chante & Companion Star, in association with/ar y cyd â Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru

Best Playwright in the English Language

Alan Harris, The Future for Beginners, LiveArtShow & Wales Millennium Centre

Mark Jenkins, Downtown Paradise, Welsh Fargo Stage Company

Matthew Bulgo, Last Christmas, Dirty Protest

Owen Sheers, Mametz, National Theatre Wales, co-commissioned by/gomisiynwyd ar y cyd 14-18 NOW

Best Playwright in the Welsh Language

Carmen Medway Stephens, translated by/cyfieithu gan Sharon Morgan, Priodferch Utah, Theatr 1.618

Caryl Lewis, Y Negesydd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, in partnership with/mewn partneriaeth â Theatr Felinfach

Siôn Eirian, Garw, Theatr Bara Caws

Dafydd James, Fe ddaw'r byd i ben, Sherman Cymru, Cwmni Richard Burton, Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru/ The Richard Burton Company, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Best Dance Production

Caitlin, Light, Ladd & Emberton

My People, Gwyn Emberton, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Aberystwyth Arts Centre/Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth

Same Flame/ Week of Pines, Ballet Cymru, co-production with/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda Riverfront.

Transition Jem and Ella Treays, co-production between/cyd-gynhyrchiad gyda National Theatre Wales, Theatr Iolo and RunRagged Productions

Best Director

Betsan Llwyd, Garw, Theatr Bara Caws

Kate Wasserberg, Contractions, Iain Goosey Productions in partnership with Chapter Arts Centre

Michael McCarthy, The Trial, Music Theatre Wales

Terry Hands, Under Milk Wood, Clwyd Theatr Cymru

Best Female Performance in the English Language

Catrin Aaron, Contractions, Iain Goosey Productions in partnership with/mewn partneriaeth â Chapter

Jannah Warlow, Tender Napalm, Company of Sirens in association with/ar y cyd â Theatr Iolo & Chapter

Sara Lloyd-Gregory, Contractions, Iain Goosey Productions in partnership with/mewn partneriaeth â Chapter

Sian Howard, Ghosts, Clwyd Theatr Cymru

Best Male Performance in the English Language

Chris Gordon, Romeo & Juliet, Sherman Cymru

Daniel Llewelyn Williams, Not About Heroes, Clwyd Theatr Cymru

Jordan Bernarde, Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco, Waking Exploits

Rhodri Miles, Clown in the Moon, Miles Productions in association with/ar y cyd â Cahoots Theatre Company

Best Female Performance in the Welsh Language

Eiry Thomas, Garw, Theatr Bara Caws

Sara Lloyd Gregory, Y Negesydd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru

Rhian Blythe, Blodeuwedd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru

Gwawr Loader, Garw, Theatr Bara Caws

Best Male Performance in the Welsh Language

Aled Pedrick, Y Negesydd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, in partnership with/mewn partneriaeth â Theatr Felinfach

Carwyn Jones, Dros Y Top, Theatr Bara Caws

Gwion Aled, Dros Y Top, Theatr Bara Caws

Rhys Parry-Jones, Garw, Theatr Bara Caws

Best Production in the Welsh Language

Ectoplasm, Jon Gower

Garw, Theatr Bara Caws

Priodferch Utah, Theatr 1.618

Y Negesydd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru mewn partneriaeth â/in partnership with Theatr Felinfach

Best Production in the English Language

Beneath the Streets, Punchdrunk Enrichment and Hijinks Theatre

Hiraeth, Buddug James Jones

Mametz, National Theatre Wales co-commissioned by/comisiynwyd ar y cyd 14-18 NOW

Roberto Zucco, August 012

Best Ensemble

Adventures in the Skin Trade, Theatr Iolo

Dros Y Top, Theatr Bara Caws

Under Milk Wood, Clwyd Theatr Cymru

WNO Chorus, Moses und Aron, Welsh National Opera/Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru