DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR STORYHOUSE AT 2025 UK THEATRE AWARDS

Storyhouse has been recognised nationally for its imaginative and groundbreaking work with two accolades at the 2025 UK Theatre Awards.

The Chester cultural centre received the hotly contested and hugely prestigious Award for Excellence in Inclusivity at the ceremony in London on Sunday.

Actors Rakesh Boury and Rebecca McKinnis took away the Award for Best Performance in a Musical for playing multiple roles in David Baddiel’s The Parent Agency, a co-production between Scenario Two and Storyhouse which received its world premiere at the theatre in Februarywith a UK tour to be announced soon..

The UK Theatre’s annual UK Theatre Awards, sponsored by Encore, celebrate the creative excellence and outstanding work seen on and off stage in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Among other winners at this year’s ceremony, hosted by Faye Tozer, were Jesus Christ Superstar, which won Best Musical Production; Animal Farm which received the award for Best Revival, and Welsh National Opera’s Peter Grimes which triumphed in the Best Achievement in Opera category. Along with Storyhouse, Sheffield Theatres also received two awards, while the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s director Carlos Acosta CBE was recognised for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre.

Storyhouse Chief Executive Annabel Turpin said today: 

“We’re absolutely delighted Storyhouse has been recognised with the UK Theatre Award for Excellence in Inclusivity. Inclusivity is not an add-on for us; it’s at the heart of everything we do.

“This award really reflects all the people who make Storyhouse what it is every day - our communities, our partners our artists and our audiences. Together we’ve built a space where everyone belongs, and where creativity and culture are co-created and celebrated.

“Winning this award is a huge honour but we won’t stop here, we’re committed to continuing to make sure Storyhouse is a home for everyone.

“We also want to pass on our congratulations to Rakesh Boury and Rebecca McKinnis who won Best Performance in a Musical for The Parent Agency, our co-production with Scenario Two. The Parent Agency celebrated this way is a brilliant reflection of the creativity, ambition and production quality that runs through everything we make at Storyhouse and it’s fantastic to see this recognised nationally.”

Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, co-Chief Executives of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: 

“This year’s UK Theatre Awards have again shone a spotlight on the breadth and brilliance of work taking place across the UK. From inspiring community projects to world-class productions, the talent and dedication of our members makes us immensely proud.”

Storyhouse has previously won the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre title in 2019, and the Excellence in Arts Education title in 2022 for its wide-ranging programme with and for young people.

It has also received several other UK Theatre Awards nominations since it opened in 2017, including Best Show for Children and Young People for The Secret Seven and Best Design for Jess Curtis’ set for A Little Night Music, both in 2018, and Best Musical Production for Tim Firth’s Now is Good (2022).

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