Curve shortlisted for Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards

It has been today announced that Leicester’s Curve has been shortlisted for Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards 2023.

The annual awards celebrate excellence in British theatre, with categories including Theatre of the Year, Theatre Building of the Year, Producer of the Year and the Innovation Award.

The shortlist and ultimate winners are decided by a judging panel comprising Baz Bamigboye (entertainment columnist and international editor, Deadline Hollywood), David Benedict (columnist, The Stage and critic, Variety), Lyn Gardner (associate editor, The Stage), Matthew Hemley (news editor, The Stage), Sam Marlowe (reviews editor, The Stage), Amanda Parker (columnist, The Stage, and arts consultant) and Georgia Snow (chief reporter, The Stage).

As a Theatre of the Year nominee, Curve has been recognised by the panel as a “regional producing powerhouse”. Over the last year Curve has produced or co-produced A Chorus Line, the tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Akram Khan’s Jungle Book: Reimagined, Graeae’s The Paradis Files, Oh! What a Lovely War (performed by De Montfort University students), Maggie May, a 26-week run of Grease at the Dominion Theatre in the West End, the UK Theatre Award-winning revival of Billy Elliot the Musical, a community production of Finding Home: Leicester’s Ugandan Asian Story at 50, Frantic Assembly’s Othello, the England and Wales tour of The Color Purple and its current Christmas musical, The Wizard of Oz.

The nomination also highlights the range of initiatives delivered by Curve over the last year to engage with local audiences. The panel highlights its Neighbour Hubs programme, a long-term and in-depth engagement initiative which aims to develop and sustain high quality creative opportunities for communities who are facing economic and social disadvantage, its Curve Youth and Community Companies and its programme of accessible performances.

Winners of The Stage Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony on Monday 30 January 2023 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London.

Speaking about the nomination, Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:

“All of us at Curve are thrilled to be nominated for Theatre of the Year and proud to be nominated alongside the other brilliant venues. We are grateful to the eminent judging panel, who recognise the diversity and breath of the work being generated in Leicester (which regularly tours the UK and travels the globe) and its connection and relevance to our communities.”

This Christmas audiences can enjoy the Made at Curve production of The Wizard of Oz, now running until Sunday 8 January 2023. Directed by Nikolai Foster and featuring rising star Georgina Onuorah as Dorothy, the musical includes additional music and songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, alongside iconic originals from the MGM film.

To find out more about Curve and The Wizard of Oz, visit www.curveonline.co.uk

For more information on The Stage Awards, visit www.thestage.co.uk/awards