SMA National Stage Management Awards make a welcome return in 2024 at ABTT Theatre Show Alexandra Palace – 5th June 2024 at 1 :30 PM with drinks reception following . (ABTT Theatre Show is 5-6 June 2024)
SMA National Stage Management Awards Winners 2024!
SMA National Stage Management Awards made a welcome return in 2024 to standing room only in the Londesborough Room at ABTT Theatre Show Alexandra Palace – 5th June 2024 at 1 :30 PM with drinks reception following . (ABTT Theatre Show is 5-6 June 2024).
National Stage Management Awards 2024 WINNERS!
The SMA Awards are sponsored by The Stage and recognise excellence and outstanding work by stage and live events managers and teams in 2022-2024
Awards were announced in five categories this year:
- The first category is The Antonia Collins Award For early career stage managers
Named for Antonia who sadly passed away last summer, and sponsored by her Bamboo Manager Project
The award recognises significant and notable start in stage management work in theatre shows and live events for stage managers starting their careers
The winner is EL WALDOCK a graduate of GSA (University of Surrey) who has been working in the industry since summer 2023
The 2024 winner received a ‘shooting star’ trophy and also a £120 gift voucher kindly provided by Flints, as well as one year free SMA membership
- The second category is the STAGE ELECTRICS Team Award for stage management in regional and subsidised theatre .
The award recognises teams of any size distinguishing themselves through excellent teamwork, and technical skills and performance above the usual high standard in a show or season
The 2024 winner is LORD OF THE RINGS SM TEAM – Watermill Theatre
Cat Pewsey – CSM Katie Newton – DSM Natalie Toney – ASM Fern Bamber – ASM Leila Stephenson - ASM
The winning team received an SMA trophy and free one year SMA memberships .
- A further announcement in this category is A Special Recognition Award 2024 for All the Stage Management Teams who have worked with National Theatre Wales since its inception in 2010
The nomination (by NTW Head of Production David Evans) lists the names of nearly 100 stage managers and also credits the many others who worked on short contracts, as students and as volunteers.
David Evans received a framed certificate in recognition of the many amazing achievements of NTW stage managers on behalf of, and to be shared by all nominees.
- The third Category is SMA Stage Management Achievement Award for Fringe and Small Scale
For teams and individual SMs showing exceptional skills and performance in small scale theatre shows, festivals and live events where the creative use of limited resources and different challenges and
exceptional achievement in smaller scale work is taken into account and recognised
The 2024 winner is ANNA TOWNLEY – DSM A Mirror – Almeida Theatre
The winner received a framed Original Hamlet cartoon (created by by Harry Venning) and free one year SMA membership
- The fourth category is the Clear-Com Stage Management Team Award for West End and Commercial touring
For teams of any size distinguishing themselves through excellent teamwork and exceptional skills and performance above the normal high standard in a show, tour or season.
The 2024 winner is KING AND I SM team - UK tour and West End
Nicky Barrett – SM Amber Leadbetter – DSM Lindsay Innes – ASM Ben Dalton - ASM Nick Evans Jade Tye -Tech Swings Josh Howes ASM
The Winning team received a framed Original Hamlet cartoon (created by by Harry Venning) and free one year SMA memberships
The SMA pays tribute to our colleague Stephen Diamond -CSM who unfortunately became ill and subsequently passed away whilst working on this production.
Respected by all who worked with him, Steve was a skilled and highly regarded professional who will be very sadly missed.
- The fifth category is the SMA David Ayliff Award for Lifetime Achievement in Stage Management Sponsored by Terry Lee Dickson
Recognising exceptional work and a lasting legacy over a working lifetime in stage or live events management and / or training and mentoring
The 2024 winner is JOHN BLUNDEN -DSM, SM, teacher and trainer
John’s nomination by Adam Harrison was supported by very many colleagues, and noted his immense professionalism, unique skills and passion for his work- brilliantly executed always with a sense of humour .
John received an SMA trophy and free one year SMA membership
- Finally SMA Announced a further final lifetime achievement presentation :
David Ayliff Special Lifetime Achievement Award 2024
Presented to commemorate and celebrate the work of Antonia Collins: International stage management specialist & educator, for her work and lasting legacy in stage management and SM training in Wales and across the world
Antonia sadly passed away suddenly last summer, leaving a huge void and a lasting legacy of stage management expertise and training and mentoring
The award – a special crystal trophy- was received by Andy Collins – Antonia’s partner – on behalf of her family.
Supporting Excellence in Performance
Contact SMA to nominate or find out more.
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” Sustainable Production: SMA is committed to supporting sustainable production and theatre practice in the UK and we make regular contributions to the Theatre Green Book . Our judges will take account of good sustainable practice and initiatives when reviewing nominations in every category of the SMA National Stage Management Awards “
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