White Light Sponsors Inaugural Tonic Awards

Last night saw the first ever Tonic Awards take place at the May Fair Theatre in London. Hosted by Jenni Murray, the awards celebrate the work of women in the theatre industry. Set up by Tonic Theatre, there were nine awards, seven of which were given to individuals, and two which were given to groups. Having supported a range of theatrical organisations for numerous years, White Light was one of the sponsors for the Tonic Theatre Awards.

Tonic Theatre was created in 2011 to support the theatre industry to achieve greater gender equality in its workforces and repertoires. The company’s approach involves getting to grips with the principles that lie beneath how the theatre industry functions and identifying how, in its current form, barriers can be created. It partners with leading theatre companies around the UK on a range of projects and also works within the wider creative industries such as dance, opera, literature, art and music.

The winners included Rosemary Squire, co-founder of ATG, Emma Rice, artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe, Indhu Rubasingham, artistic director of the Tricycle, Dawn Walton, artistic director of Eclipse Theatre, Jenny Sealey, artistic director of Graeae Theatre Company and theatre director Anna Newell who all received awards for their work in their respective areas. Another recipient was lighting designer Paule Constable who was presented her award by WL’s Managing Director Bryan Raven.

Bryan comments: “We have known Paule for many years now and it was fantastic to see her brilliant work achieve recognition. The whole evening was a long overdue celebration of the theatre’s leading female figures and, as a company, this is something we’re delighted to support”.

A further two awards were given to groups: Phyllida Lloyd, Harriet Walter and Kate Pakenham for the all-female Shakespeare Trilogy at the Donmar Warehouse and Vicky Featherstone, the National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre for Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour.

Lucy Kerbel, Founder and Director of Tonic Theatre, states: “I am thrilled that our inaugural Tonic Awards have been so warmly embraced by the industry. There is clearly a great desire for the contributions women are making to theatre to be recognised more widely and for them to be rightly celebrated for their achievements. I’m delighted that the Tonic Awards can form just part of this.”

Sita McIntosh, chair of Tonic’s board of trustees, said: “The Awards were the culmination of months of planning and I am delighted by the positive response and feedback that we have had from awardees, presenters, guests and the industry in general”.