THE FIRST professional theatre in Rugby has been shortlisted for a regional award – just six months after it opened.
The Macready Theatre is a finalist in the 2019 Muddy Stilettos Awards Best Theatre category.
The Rugby School-owned theatre will go up against other finalists including Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, Leamington’s Spa Centre and the RSC in Stratford in a public vote.
The venue, based in a prominent Victorian building on the corner of Lawrence Sheriff Street and Little Church Street, launched last November to bring professional touring productions to the town centre – and gives a third of all touring work tickets to local state school groups for free during term time.
Theatre manager Fiona Sharp said she was thrilled to be shortlisted so early into the new venture.
She said: “Theatre uplifts spirits and changes lives so I am honoured to be creating a programme of theatre for the Rugby community.
“I hope people vote for us now. Winning such award will help raise our profile and ensure we can continue to provide a professional programme for everyone.
“We already have some Edinburgh Festival previews coming in July, which is an amazing chance for Rugby to ‘see it here first’ – and who knows, it might be the next West End hit.”
Andrew Taylor, Head of St. Gabriel’s CofE Academy, said: “The Macready Theatre is doing a huge amount to raise cultural awareness and opportunity in Rugby, and our pupils are already benefiting from this.”
Rich Warren, Operations Director of Rugby First, said: “The Macready Theatre is a fantastic addition culturally to Rugby and a big boost to Rugby town centre. Their tie in with local schools is a model for how business and the wider community can come together to deliver magical outcomes.”
Visit www.warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards to vote before the deadline of May 22.
