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FEATURE | Great British Theatres Awards 2026: Celebrating the Spaces That Bring Us Together
AD | Tickets gifted.
The magnificent Central Hall Westminster played host to the Great British Theatres Awards 2026, celebrating the buildings, communities and individuals who keep British theatre alive and thriving. From grand auditoriums to intimate rural venues, the awards recognised the people who ensure these spaces remain accessible and relevant to their communities.
West End star Marisha Wallace proved an enthusiastic and entertaining host. Opening with a rousing rendition of Cabaret, Wallace treated the audience to several musical performances, including a number from her forthcoming musical about legendary soul singer Etta James.
Other musical interludes ranged from My Fair Lady to an exciting urban reimagining of Peter Pan, demonstrating the diversity of musical theatre.
But the real stars of the evening were the theatres themselves. The awards encompassed an impressive range of categories, reflecting the different ways in which theatre buildings enrich our lives.
London's @sohoplace took home the Great New Build Award, while Glasgow's Citizens Theatre was recognised for Great Renovation, celebrating the restoration of a theatrical landmark.
The Great Amateur Theatre Award went to Sherborne Studio Theatre, acknowledging the vital contribution of amateur companies to Britain's theatrical landscape, while The Dipping House in Stoke-on-Trent won Great Found Space, demonstrating how imaginative repurposing can breathe new life into unexpected locations.
One particularly inspiring example came from the National Theatre, winner of the Great Use of Space Award. Its Natural Dye and Wellbeing Garden has transformed a terrace into a space supporting environmentally friendly costume production, biodiversity and creativity. It's a wonderful illustration of how overlooked corners of a theatre can be reimagined.
The sheer variety of projects was remarkable, demonstrating that a theatre's value extends far beyond what happens on stage. Some theatres had reinvented their foyers as places where people could gather, work, socialise or simply keep warm, without purchasing a ticket.
Presenters included Sue Pollard and Denis Lawson. Playwright James Graham presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, recognising her leadership of the campaign to save Oldham Coliseum Theatre in Greater Manchester and her longstanding contribution to British theatre.
Throughout the ceremony, the acceptance speeches were heartfelt and united by a common theme: theatre matters. Not simply as entertainment, but as a place where communities come together, stories are shared and creativity flourishes.
Perhaps most importantly, these are the places where the next generation of theatre-makers will discover their passion.
Somewhere in a small regional theatre, a child will be watching their first play. Elsewhere, an aspiring actor will be taking their first tentative steps onto a stage, a young playwright will be hearing their words spoken aloud for the first time, and a future director will be learning their craft in a community production.
Behind these spaces are dedicated individuals working tirelessly, often with little recognition, to keep the doors open and the lights on.
The Great British Theatres Awards was an inspiring reminder that our theatres are far more than buildings. They are repositories of cultural memory, centres of community life and places of possibility.
Their preservation isn't simply about protecting our heritage. It's about investing in our future. Because the next generation of great British theatre-makers needs somewhere to begin.
