The Old Vic just launched Your Old Vic, a programme of creative, fun and inspiring events, projects and educational content to keep the theatre connected with audiences, and audiences connected with each other during these unprecedented times.

‘Today I’m very happy to announce this array of free online content which we aim to be fun, engaging, useful and supportive to our various audiences during this difficult time. We are facing a tough and even perilous year ahead, fighting for our survival like so many others in the cultural sector. But whilst our building is dormant, its heart is still beating and our sense of purpose – as an artistic powerhouse, fuelled by a spirit of fun and adventure, with an equally strong social mission – is stronger than ever.’, Matthew Warchus, the Artistic Director of The Old Vic, explained.

MATT SMITH AND CLAIRE FOY IN LUNGS © HELEN MAYBANKS

As they were rehearsing Lungs last year, Claire Foy and Matt Smith took the play on a couple of occasions to local schools in order to try it out in front of an audience before bringing it to The Old Vic’s stage. This experience gave them a chance to observe first-hand how taking theatre into schools can have a hugely positive impact.

As theatres were forced to close their doors, The Old Vic, with support from their newly-appointed Hub Ambassadors Claire Foy and Matt Smith, saw this as an opportunity to bring theatre into everyone’s homes and schools, for free. It is a resource for teachers, students, parents and guardians homeschooling, emerging talent, and anyone interested in theatre wanting to learn new skills.

The Education Hub gives audiences behind-the-scenes access to hear from artists and performers, and provides invaluable career advice, as well as resource packs for teachers, employability tips and inside guides.

‘Now The Old Vic, along with other theatres, is closed. But there is still good work we can do. Mostly through the social mission of the theatre – whilst the art on stage is on hold, we can bring our work to you at home, and in your schools. That’s the idea behind the Education Hub – a resource for teachers, students, parents homeschooling, young creatives of the future at home wanting to learn new skills; this is something that everyone can have access to, for free.’ – Claire Foy and Matt Smit

GEORGE MACKAY AND SHEILA ATIM

The Old Vic has also launched Playcrush Podcast, a brand new weekly podcast in collaboration with Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, hosted by the Sherman’s Artistic Director (and previous Old Vic Baylis Director) Joe Murphy. The first episode will air on Acast on Mon 25 May at 10am and will feature George MacKay (1917), with the second episode on Mon 01 Jun featuring Sheila Atim.

Follow the hashtag #YourOldVic for The Old Vic’s latest announcements on new content.

The 20^th annual WhatsOnStage Awards took place on Sunday night, 1 March, at the Prince of Wales theatre in London. The ceremony was broadcast, for the first time, on BBC Radio 2.

The highlight of this year’s edition was & Juliet, a musical which imagines what would have happened if Romeo had died but Juliet had lived. The show won 6 awards, the most prizes of any show this year, having been nominated for 13 awards.

MIRIAM-TEAK LEE AS JULIET, CASSIDY JANSON AS ANNE, AND MELANIE LA BARRIE AS NURSE IN & JULIET ©JOHAN PERSSON

Miriam-Teak Lee, who portrays the show’s heroine, Juliet, took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical.

& Juliet features songs by Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Pink, and Britney Spears, as well as music by celebrity songwriter Max Martin, including hits by the Backstreet Boys, Jesse J and Kesha.

However, the show didn’t win the award for Best New Musical. The prize went instead to ‘Come From Away’, which won 5 awards in total. The musical tells the incredible true story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of the September 11 terror attacks, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives.

The Old Vic picked up three acting awards, with The Crown’s Claire Foy winning Best Actress in a Play for her performance in Lungs, Andrew Scott taking home Best Actor for his portrayal of Garry Essendine, and Sophie Thompson winning Best Supporting Actress, both for Present Laughter.

ANDREW SCOTT IN PRESENT LAUGHTER ©MANUEL HARLAN, OLD VIC

Scott’s win for Present Laughter follows an impressive string of successful acting projects for the thespian over the past year, among which are the highly acclaimed TV series Fleabag, the ‘Smithereens’ episode in Black Mirror, and the Oscar-winning feature film 1917.

Another highlight of this year’s ceremony was the Best New Play award, which went, for the very first time, to a production outside of London. Life of Pi, Lolita Chakrabarti’s adaptation of Yann Martel’s Booker prize-winning book of the same name, was staged at the Sheffield Crucible. The play is set to transfer to the West End this year.

One thing to note with regards to these awards, is that the winners are decided by members of the public as opposed to critics.

MARY POPPINS AT PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, LONDON. © JOHAN PERSSON

The winners in full:

Best actress in a play – Claire Foy, Lungs

Best actor in a musical – Sam Tutty, Dear Evan Hansen

Best actress in a musical – Miriam-Teak Lee, & Juliet

Best supporting actor in a play – Hammed Animashaun, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Best supporting actress in a play – Sophie Thompson, Present Laughter

Best supporting actor in a musical – Jack Loxton, Dear Evan Hansen

Best supporting actress in a musical – Rachel Tucker, Come From Away

Best new play – Life of Pi

Best new musical – Come From Away

Best play revival – Betrayal

Best musical revival – Mary Poppins

Best direction – Jamie Lloyd, Evita

Best musical direction – Ian Eisendrath, Alan Berry and team, Come From Away

Audience award – Six

Best choreography – Kelly Devine, Come From Away

Best costume design – Paloma Young, & Juliet

Best graphic direction – Dewynters, & Juliet

Best set design – Soutra Gilmour, & Juliet

Best lighting design – Howard Hudson, & Juliet

Best sound design – Gareth Owen, Come From Away

Best video design – Andrzej Goulding, & Juliet

Best off-West End production – Falsettos

Best regional production – The Color Purple

Equity award for services to theatre – ERA 50:50