Industry Leaders Tapped to Judge Inaugural Great British Theatre Awards

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Nominations remain open until Thursday 11th June 2026.

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The panel of judges has been announced for the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards, launched to mark Theatres Trust's 50th anniversary. The panel brings together leading voices from architecture, engineering, theatre-making, accessibility, planning and cultural leadership.

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With nominations flooding in from theatres, cultural organisations and communities across the UK, the awards shine a spotlight not on performers, but on the buildings that make creativity, community and culture possible. They recognise the vital role theatres play in the UK's cultural life and celebrate the buildings and spaces where extraordinary performances come to life and where communities gather and connect.

Nominations remain open until Thursday 11th June 2026.

Joshua McTaggart , CEO of Theatres Trust, says, "The response to the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards has been extraordinary, with applications already arriving from every corner of the UK. These awards recognise the vital role theatre buildings play in the cultural and social life of our communities. We are incredibly proud to have assembled such a distinguished judging panel. Their combined expertise and experience reflect the depth and ambition of these awards."

Mark Davy – Founder of Futurecity, a global placemaking agency established in 2007 to promote culture-driven development, Davy champions culture as the guiding narrative behind the regeneration and development of towns, cities, and regions. He places arts and culture at the centre of masterplan and design stages of developments. Davy is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Advisory Panel, Executive Director of the Land Economic Society, and a member of the NLA Expert Panel for Culture and the National Trust Regional Advisory Group.

Annie Hampson OBE – Town Planner and former Chief Planning Officer at the City of London. With 40 years' experience at senior level within planning authorities, she has overseen a wide range of development schemes and the repurposing and refurbishment of many listed buildings.

Debbie Hibberd – Vice-Chair of Little Theatre Guild and actor, writer and director, Hibberd works regularly with Rugby Theatre.

Emily Lim – an award-winning director whose work explores theatre as a form of community building and social activism. Her recent directing credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe and Brighter Still for Bradford City of Culture. She works across settings from grassroots community centres to major theatres and international festivals.

Sara Rajeswaran – former Chief of Staff to the Group CEO at Aviva plc, with nearly two decades of experience in executive advice, corporate affairs and political consultancy. Originally trained in classical voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she has performed at many of the UK's leading regional theatres.

Michèle Taylor MBE – Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon and one of the UK's leading disability equality strategists. For over 30 years she has worked with cultural and heritage organisations to embed systemic change and ensure that buildings, policies and practices are accessible and inclusive for disabled people.

Obioma Ugoala – acclaimed actor, writer and workshop facilitator whose theatre credits include originating the role of George Washington in the original West End production of Hamilton and Kristoff in the original London cast of Disney's Frozen. He has also performed extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in productions at Shakespeare's Globe and The Donmar Warehouse . Alongside his acting career, Obioma is the author of The Making of a Man (and why we're so afraid to talk about it), exploring identity, masculinity and race in modern Britain.

Nicola Walls – an experienced architect with a passion for the performing arts. During her time at PagePark Architects, she led the redevelopment of major venues including Eden Court in Inverness, Theatre Royal and Kelvingrove Bandstand in Glasgow, Symphony Hall Birmingham and Leeds Playhouse. Since 2024 she has worked as Inclusive Design Manager at the University of Edinburgh, building on her longstanding commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

Andrew Wylie – Partner at Buro Happold with more than 25 years' experience leading the design of museums, galleries and theatres in the UK and internationally. His projects range from heritage landmarks such as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to major new cultural destinations including Aviva Studios in Manchester. A structural engineer by training, he specialises in complex new-build and refurbishment projects.

The awards feature ten open categories recognising excellence in theatre buildings, including Great New Build, Great Renovation, Great Green Theatre and Great Community Connection. Two additional honours - the Great British Theatre 2026 award and the Great British Theatres Lifetime Achievement Award - will be selected by the judging panel.

The shortlist of nominees will be announced in September, with the winners revealed at the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards ceremony at Central Hall Westminster on Monday 2nd November 2026.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Mark-Davy-Annie-Hampson-OBE-and-More-Will-Judge-The-Great-British-Theatre-Awards-20260521)._