Royal & Derngate Nominated for Two TMA Awards

Royal & Derngate’s Artistic Director Laurie Sansom has been nominated as Best Director for both Beyond the Horizon and Spring Storm. These two lesser known plays by Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams respectively were presented as the theatre’s Young America season, and subsequently transferred to London’s National Theatre for a four month sell-out run. In the Best Lighting Design category, Chris Davey also has been nominated for his work on Beyond the Horizon.

Following on from last year’s success when Royal & Derngate productions and co-productions scooped three TMA awards, it has been another busy year for the theatre. Currently it’s co-production of the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical Tell Me On A Sunday, starring Claire Sweeney, is touring the country, and its production of Peter Quilter’s End of the Rainbow, with Tracie Bennett as the legendary Judy Garland, is about to transfer to the West End.

“We’re delighted that Royal & Derngate’s work is gaining a truly national reputation,” commented the theatre’s Chief Executive Martin Sutherland, “and pleased that the people of Northampton continue to enjoy first class theatre on their doorstep.”

The theatre’s next Made In Northampton production is The Duchess of Malfi, adapted and directed by Laurie Sansom. The production, which incorporates the music of Renaissance composer Carlo Gesualdo, runs from Friday 15 to Saturday 30 October.

The TMA Awards are presented in association with The Stage and are the only national awards celebrating the best in regional theatre, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Lyric Hammersmith on Sunday 7 November.