Acclaimed stage and screen actor Bill Paterson to present 2014 CATS

Acclaimed stage and screen actor Bill Paterson is to present the 2014 Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) it was announced today, 3 June 2014. Glasgow-born Paterson, who is currently working on the new screen drama Outlander, will join the cream of Scottish theatre at the Citizens in Glasgow this coming Sunday 8 June.

“We are delighted that Bill is able to join us for the 2014 Awards this weekend at the Citz,” says Joyce McMillan, co-convenor of CATS. “Bill is a true star of stage and film who began his professional career at the Citizens, with the Theatre for Youth company that later became TAG, and was a member of the legendary first 7:84 Scotland company that created and performed The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black Black Oil. It will be such a thrill to have him with us on Sunday."

"This has been a good year for Scottish theatre," says Bill Paterson, "and I am delighted to be able to celebrate it on Sunday!"

Known for his many film and TV appearances including The Singing Detective, The Crow Road, Sea of Souls and Criminal Justice, Paterson is also a committed stage actor. A founder member of 7:84, he was also a member of the company which performed John Byrne’s first play, Writer’s Cramp. Paterson was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance as Schweik in Schweik in the Second World War. He is also a patron of Scottish Youth Theatre and his book of Glasgow stories, Tales from the Back Green, was published in 2008.

Previous presenters of the CATS include Alan Cumming, Vicky Featherstone, Maureen & Johnny Beattie and John Byrne.

The 2014 Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland ceremony will take place at the Citizens Theatre at 3.30pm on 8 June. Among the leading productions up for awards are Dragon, Huff, Crime and Punishment and the Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler with Blythe Duff nominated for the Best Female Performance award for the second year in a row. A few remaining tickets priced £15/£10 (students) are available from the box office, by telephone on 0141 429 0022 and online at www.citz.co.uk

For further information the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland visit:
http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com