Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards announces the nominations for the Empty Space… Peter Brook Award

The Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards have announced the nominations for the Empty Space… Peter Brook Award 2026 (In Memory of Blanche Marvin), sponsored by Nica Burns.

The award is decided by a separate panel of critics selected by the Marvin family and recognises a theatre or company that embodies the spirit of Peter Brook through its use of space and relationship with its local community.

This year’s nominees are the Orange Tree Theatre, nominated by Fiona Mountford; Red Rose Chain in Ipswich, nominated by Dominic Cavendish; Royal Court Upstairs, nominated by Andrzej Lukowski; The Other Palace Studio, nominated by Mark Shenton; and Wonder Fools, nominated by Lyn Gardner.

This is the fourth year the award has been presented as part of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards. It was founded by Blanche Marvin, who died last month just short of her 101st birthday, and has been renamed this year in her memory.

Her daughter, the Oscar-nominated director and producer Niki Marvin, has taken over the running of the prize.

The Empty Space… Peter Brook Award will be presented at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards ceremony at the National Theatre on 26 March.

For the first time in the awards’ 37-year history, critics have voted to produce both longlists and shortlists.