UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has announced the call for nominations for the Stephen Joseph Award 2025, as an ongoing tribute to Stephen Joseph’s contribution to our theatre culture.
This Award recognises innovative and inclusive theatre excellence in today’s British theatre and celebrates the variety of ways contemporary theatre and its practitioners continue to break new ground in engaging audiences.
Now open for 2025 submissions, a wide variety of practice is eligible including the ongoing work of a theatre company, a specific production, an individual theatre artist or director, or an innovative theatre building design or performance space.
Submissions are welcome from theatres, practitioners, or the general public as long as nominations are accompanied by suitable evidence.
In 2024, the Stephen Joseph Award was presented to Frozen Light, a dynamic Norwich-based company for revolutionising multi-sensory theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Amber Onat Gregory co-artistic director, Frozen Light said of receiving the award: “At the heart of Stephen Joseph’s practice lay the close and fundamental relationship between performer and audience. This is absolutely central to our work at Frozen Light. Winning this award recognises the absolute need for sensory theatre to reach an audience who need theatre that works in a different way.”
Stephen Joseph was one of the most influential theatre practitioners of the last century. He was a founding member of ABTT and the Society of Theatre Consultants and promoted new writing, architectural standards and technical excellence and pioneered theatre in the round and adaptable staging. At the heart of his practice lay the close and fundamental relationship between performer and audience. The award serves to honour this legacy.
Nominations close on Monday 13 October 2025. The award will be presented on Friday 5 December 2025 at the ABTT Christmas Party at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London.