The nominations have not yet been announced but Edinburgh will be hosting the ceremony for the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) for the first time. It was announced yesterday that the 2009 awards are to be presented in a ceremony at the Festival Theatre on the evening of Sunday 14 June.
"Scotland is justifiably proud of its strong theatre tradition," says Joyce MacMillan, theatre critic and co-convenor of the CATS Awards. "The annual CATS ceremony is a special opportunity to celebrate this with both the theatre professionals and, equally importantly, the public whose ongoing support is vital for the future of Scottish theatre. We are delighted to be coming to Edinburgh for the first time this year and to be staging the event at the Festival Theatre."
John Stalker, Chief Executive of Festival City Theatres Trust, says: "Such is the range of exciting theatre being produced in Scotland today - it is great to have this excellent work recognised by the CATS awards. The Festival Theatre is delighted to be hosting the prestigious event this year and offering theatregoers a great opportunity to rub shoulders with Scotland's award-winning theatre artists."
Previous winners of CATS, including The Wonderful World of Dissocia (2005), Black Watch (2007), Blackbird (2007) and Peer Gynt (2008), have gone on to be staged across the world to critical and public acclaim spreading the word about the quality of work produced in Scotland. For further information of the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland visit www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com.
Tickets priced £15 (includes entertainment, award ceremony, drinks and light refreshments) are available from the Festival Theatre Box Office:
In person at 13/29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9FT,
by telephone on 0131 529 6000
on-line via www.eft.co.uk/book_tickets