Hall for Cornwall wins first ever TMA Renee Stepham Award

Published Friday 16 May 2008 at 16:25 by Lalayn Baluch

Truro venue Hall for Cornwall has picked up the first ever Renee Stepham Award for the Presentation of Touring Theatre, at this year’s Theatrical Management Association’s Management Awards.

The theatre scooped the prize, named after legendary booker Stepham who died last year, for increasing the variety of productions available to its audience and for actively establishing partnerships with touring companies.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, TMA president Derek Nicholls said: “This award recognises excellence in presenting touring productions. It celebrates the contribution made to the cultural life of the UK by presenting venues, their companies and producers with whom they work.”

Wales Millennium Centre was named the most welcoming regional venue for establishing a high level of customer care, particularly its community involvement programme which, according to Nicholls, boosts the organisation’s international profile.

Meanwhile, Alan Corkhill, Salisbury Playhouse theatre manager, received the award for Manager of the Year for his dedication to the venue during unstable times and providing continuity to the company. Corkhill, who has been with the organisation for 42 years, announced he will soon be retiring and described the prize as the “icing on the cake”.

York Theatre Royal picked up the prize for Achievement in Marketing and Jan Ryan of UK Arts International received the Eclipse Award for outstanding work in producing culturally diverse theatre and dance.

“It is now the fourth year of the awards and is public recognition to the individuals and teams who work behind the scenes and contribute to the experience of theatre-going throughout the UK,” Nicholls added.

“The awards celebrate the excellence in management in theatre, opera and dance. The nominations received for the 2008 awards were a testimony to the high standard of work in theatres and companies throughout the country. The nominations were plentiful and it was obvious from their quality that time and trouble had been taken by the people who compose the nominations.”