Press
Release
June
2019
Rural Touring Awards are a shining example of
the talent being seen by countryside audiences every year
National Rural Touring
Forum is delighted to announce the shortlist for NRTF Rural Touring Awards 2019. Hundreds of performing companies, individuals and groups were nominated this
year. It is always a difficult decision to shortlist and decide the winners as
the competition is so high.
The Awards celebrate the
breadth, passion and professionalism prevalent in the rural touring sector.
They also recognise the quality of the arts, the promoters, venues and wider
industry. They are an opportunity to draw attention to the quality of performance
and performing companies as well as to collaborations and the network of
individuals who go above and beyond on behalf of the health and cohesion of
their local community. The awards reward not just the winners but everyone who
has performed, organised and taken part in Rural Arts & Touring.
Winners will be announced
at the Hi-VIS: NRTF Conference 2019, being held in Bangor, Wales 2 – 4 July
2019. Hosting the awards is Kate Fox, stand up poet, who will be joined by the
nominees and many from the rural touring sector, including schemes,
programmers, directors and performers.
Awards were judged by three industry
professionals - Jude Henderson, Director - Federation of Scottish
Theatres; Ian McMillan - poet, journalist, playwright, and broadcaster; and
Kate Green, Deputy Editor - Country Life Magazine.
AWARD NOMINATIONS SHORTLIST 2019
Young Person of the Year
Jasmine Lowrie, 20 “I’m surprised by the nomination but honoured to have been nominated and glad to be making a positive impact on rural touring” Jasmin
Sam Pullen, 14
“Sam is clearly an exceptional young person with a bright future in our industry.” Judge
“I am absolutely delighted that the creativity, ambition, passion and hard work of the wonderful team behind Common Lore has been recognised through this nomination”. Sophia
Theatre company Dante or Die
Break Through Performance of the Year
Sophia Hatfield from Stute Theatre“I am absolutely delighted that the creativity, ambition, passion and hard work of the wonderful team behind Common Lore has been recognised through this nomination”. Sophia
Theatre company Dante or Die
“Working with the guest cast members in each location around the country was an absolute pleasure and an inspiration” Dante or Die
Haunted Man by Kindred Theatre
“I enjoyed the description of transforming the space into a theatre, demonstrating that rural touring isn’t always about small, intimate performances.” Judge
Karen Jeremiah, Creative Arts East
“I love the idea of her pushing the boundaries of what rural touring can be and do!” Judge
TheatrBara Caws
Special Award
Karen Jeremiah, Creative Arts East
“I love the idea of her pushing the boundaries of what rural touring can be and do!” Judge
TheatrBara Caws
“I'm excited and moved by the fact that they make shows in Welsh, creating new work in a so-called minority language and challenging the rest of us about our ideas about what art is and what it can be.” Judge
Sian Allen, Arts Alive
Sian Allen, Arts Alive
“I feel honoured and humbled and also a bit thrilled. Rural Touring is such a team effort - I don't think any one person can ever be assigned particular credit for any aspect of its gloriousness” Sian
I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost - Little Earthquake
“We are very proud rural tourers — the network gives us a unique opportunity to connect with, learn from and, most of all, entertain audiences who live outside the catchment areas of major metropolitan arts venues, up and down the country. Our “Favourite Performance of the Year” nomination has come directly from audience members who have experienced and enjoyed our work” Phil
Excalibow by Bowjangles
Favourite
Performance of the Year
I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost - Little Earthquake
“We are very proud rural tourers — the network gives us a unique opportunity to connect with, learn from and, most of all, entertain audiences who live outside the catchment areas of major metropolitan arts venues, up and down the country. Our “Favourite Performance of the Year” nomination has come directly from audience members who have experienced and enjoyed our work” Phil
Excalibow by Bowjangles
"We have been Rural Touring for a decade now and it remains one of our favourite things to do as a group. Of course, none of it would be possible without the dedication of the staff organising the scheme menus, the devotion of the volunteer promoters or the enthusiasm of the audiences who make every show we do an absolute delight. We are truly honoured to have been nominated for this award!"
Brilliance by Farnham Maltings
Brilliance by Farnham Maltings
"Hearing that your efforts and ambitions chime with peers from across the country is both humbling and hugely motivating. Knowing that it matters, as we all do, that artists can make contemporary, experimental, playful work in village halls is a truth that needs to universally be understood” Gavin Henderson, Farnham Maltings
The Northern Consortium
Touring Scheme Collaboration of the
year
Co-working and Partnerships: Five rural touring schemes in the North: Spot On (Lancashire); Cheshire Rural Touring; Arts Out West (West Cumbria); Highlights (East Cumbria, Northumberland, County Durham) and ArtERY live/liveLincs (East Riding of Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire), along with Arts Alive (Shropshire & Herefordshire), Rural Arts (North Yorkshire), form an un-constituted, informal strategic alliance
Carn toCove and Villages in Action
Carn toCove and Villages in Action
"We are really excited to be part of the rural touring awards this year, as they are becoming an established part of the NRTF year. We are really honoured to be shortlisted, as we know how much great work goes on in our sector and we are very much looking forward to meeting up with colleagues and friends at the Award Ceremony" Claire, Carn to Cove
The InnCrowd
The InnCrowd
“This is a fabulous, ground-breaking scheme bringing performance to new spaces and bringing new life and new ideas to those spaces” Judge
Gaynor Morgan Rees and Gwyneth Kensler
Voluntary Promoter or Voluntary Promoting Group of the Year
"They have obviously done an amazing job over 20 years – people like this make the world go around” Judge
David Lane
David Lane
“Thrilled and surprised to be nominated, not just for me, but also for my wonderful team of helpers. Grateful to our audiences who are prepared to give something new a try; to the brilliant performers who thrill and surprise us; and to the fab Head Office staff who are always there to help us.” David
Yvonne Brown and the committee at The Dog Inn, Belthorn
Yvonne Brown and the committee at The Dog Inn, Belthorn
"We are absolutely amazed to be nominated and short-listed for this award. With the help of Spot-on Lancashire, we have brought new and varied arts performances to Belthorn, and these have been well-received, and we intend to continue to offer these experiences. " Yvonne
More information on the awards and full explanations can be found on the NRTF website –http://www.ruraltouring.org/work/national-rural-touring-awards-2019
More information on the awards and full explanations can be found on the NRTF website –http://www.ruraltouring.org/work/national-rural-touring-awards-2019
To hear more about rural
touring please visit our website – www.ruraltouring.org and
watch our film http://www.ruraltouring.org/work/rural-touring-advocacy-film
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