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ABTT Announces Annual Award Winners

UK – The Association of British Theatre Technicians’ Annual Awards took place on Wednesday evening, 5th June, after the first day of the ABTT Theatre Show 2024 at Alexandra Palace, London. The ABTT Awards are one of the ABTT’s flagship events and hosting these awards and being able to celebrate these achievements is at the very heart of the ABTT. The evening started with drinks served outside the Londesborough Room before attendees took their positions, filling all the seats leaving standing room only, to celebrate those people and products making a difference to the industry.

Ted Moore, director of rental services, said of the awards: “TAIT are really proud to be here once again to sponsor the ABTT Awards, which I truly believe is one of the best award presentations anywhere in our industry. We wish all the nominees good luck and give congratulations to whoever the winners may be.”

The five highly sought after awards for Lighting Product, Sound Product, Engineering Product, Widget and Stand of the Year, were complemented by the announcement of the recipients of the ABTT Technician of the Year and the ABTT Award for Emerging Excellence which recognise the achievements of individuals both starting out and well-established in their backstage careers.
These sat beside the ABTT Award for Environmental Sustainability which is presented to someone who over the past 12 months has made a significant contribution to furthering environmental sustainability within the theatre industry. As well as the two newest award categories: ABTT Costume Award and ABTT Award for WHAM Design (wigs, hair and make-up).

The ABTT WHAM committee and CITEA committee commented that they “are proud to develop these two new awards and recognise the equal and often uncredited contributions that these specialists make to the creative process.”

The Jury, made up of an experienced group of working practitioners and industry peers, made the following awards:

ABTT LIGHTING PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024: Multiverse Connect Module

Judges’ comments: “City Theatrical’s Multiverse Connect Module is a clever option to allow wireless control to lights.  Either integrated into the motherboard, or externally added as an option on the front control panel; both options open possibilities for manufactures and end users to add wireless functionality for existing products, both at and post purchase.”

Gary Vilardi, VP Sales said: “We want to thank ABTT Theatre Show for recognising our Multiverse Connect Module product as this year’s Lighting Product of the Year, and Martin Lighting for collaborating with us to provide this plug and play wireless DMX/RDM solution to users of their MAC Viper XIP fixture. City Theatrical’s vision for Multiverse has always been to expand the future of wireless DMX/RDM. With Multiverse Connect Module being open architecture, we hope that this product will create a new and simple way to bring wireless DMX to more lighting fixtures and therefore more lighting end users, industry wide.”

Also highly commended by the Judges in this category was the Martin Mac Viper XIP.

Judges’ comments: “The Martin Mac Viper XIP is a new take on the much-loved Viper fixture that many still find in their rigs today. The Viper XIP has embraced the demands we expect from a modern moving head, making it two kilogrammes lighter than its older counterpart and taking a much-loved fixture and developing it for use outdoors.”

ABTT SOUND PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024: Ampetronic Auri

Judges’ comments: “The Ampetronic Auri is a genuinely game changing innovation from a company better known for perfecting systems that we already know. The Auri has the potential to completely revolutionise accessibility in assisted listening as well as implications well beyond that field. The judges also liked how this product works with an open protocol so that it will operate with both existing and future developments.”
James Bottrill, UK business development manager of Ampetronic Ltd said: “We’re delighted that Auri has won the award for the ABTT Sound Product of the Year. We’re confident that Auri and Auracast represent the future of assistive listening and are highly appreciative that the judging panel have rewarded the years of hard work which have gone into bringing this exciting new product to fruition.”

ABTT ENGINEERING PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024: X Winch

Judges’ comments: “Open Automation’s X winch, the small quiet, zero fleet X winch has a great array of features. Predominantly aimed at performer flying but also capable of being used as a roll on, roll off counterweight assist winch too. It is an impressive product.”
Ewart Richardson, director of Open Automation said: “Thank you very much to the ABTT for acknowledging the hard work that has gone into developing this product which we hope will further assist the realisation of the creative vision for an increasing number of live performances.”

ABTT WIDGET OF THE YEAR 2024: Viviana Straps Extreme

Judges’ comments: “Viviana Straps Extreme is a well-designed and thought through solution to a common industry issue of housing a radio mic transmitter pack on a performer’s body. Available in multiple colours and sizes, it maintains all the key elements of breathability, slimness and softness with a unique hypoallergenic grip, it is an excellent solution!”
Daniele Turi, CEO of Viviana Sound Solutions said: “Winning the award was truly an unexpected surprise. When they announced Viviana Sound Solutions, I couldn't believe it. I am very honoured and proud to have received this award for the Viviana Straps Extreme, a completely Made in Italy product, innovative thanks to its unique fabric that protects the transmitters from sweat and the grip makes the strap super comfortable for the actor. Thanks, ABTT!”

ABTT THEATRE SHOW STAND OF THE YEAR 2024: Encore  

Judges’ comments: “The winner is the Encore stand which bucks the trend and places us in our comfort zone hiding behind the flats! A genuinely humorous stand, which made us feel at home!”
Tom Mowat of Encore said: "It goes without saying we're incredibly proud to have won the ABTT Theatre Show 2024 Award for Stand of the Year. We all know trade show stands are about showing off equipment and services to a group of incredibly passionate people who spend their lives backstage supporting productions to the highest of standards. This year we wanted to celebrate exactly that by bringing our backstage to the forefront. We're humbled by the response we've had from all the visitors describing our stand as a slice of home."

A special mention was also made by the judges for the Royal Opera House and for the CiTEA/ WHAM committee stand which “brought rarely seen costumes and wigs to the show!”

ABTT TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR 2024: Jonny Liron

Judges’ comments: “Our winner impressed early on at his interview for Pirate Crew. He demonstrates great character, good working knowledge of technical theatre and a keen eye for detail. He was booked for work straightaway, rising quickly to senior technician to which he brought ‘excellence, inclusion and innovation to the table’. His eagerness to learn soon had him freelancing as a production carpenter. This, in turn, led to a full-time position as stage and automation flys technician at Sadlers Wells, soon being promoted to head of stage and automation flys. Last year he was head hunted and moved to the London Palladium, where he ‘gets the best out of every individual he encounters’ and ‘visiting companies cannot speak highly enough of him’.

Jonny Liron, ABTT Technicians of the Year Winner 2024 stated: “It’s a real honour to win the award and I’d like to thank Lewis Shaw for the nomination, along with Pirate Crew, Sadler’s Wells and the London Palladium as these three organisations have given me the most invaluable experience over the last 15 years. Everyone I’ve worked with has taught me something and this award gives more meaning to the long hours away from family and the sacrifices we all make to put on shows to the highest standard. It’s a good feeling to be counted amongst the likes of previous winners Dan Ewing, Gav Pell and David Draude and I’m looking forward to the future and to keep trying to work to the highest level.”
The ABTT Judges also felt it was necessary to give commendation to Graham Moir, “who established The Southbank Centre’s Technical Academy during his time as head of technical production at the Southbank which was inspired from his attendance at the first ABTT Make a Difference Conference in 2023. Graham secured £200,000 pounds of funding that was invested in a scheme that saw over 700 people apply for 25 paid training spaces. This started the careers of 25 people who had no previous technical experience. The judges commend him for doing something truly remarkable and thank him for making a difference!”

Graham added: "I am extremely honoured to receive this commendation and I would like to thank those that nominated me for this award for the work done on the Southbank Centre Technical Academy. This has very much been a team effort by not only my colleagues at Southbank Centre but also the wider consortium involved in delivering the Technical Academy, so this recognition is very shared amongst us all."
ABTT AWARD FOR EMERGING EXCELLENCE 2024: David Howard

Judges’ comments: “Since graduating in 2018 this individual has dedicated themselves to cultivating a robust portfolio of entertainment lighting, with unwavering dedication and a passion for innovation, they have delved deep into the intricacies of illuminating performance, particularly in collaboration with musical artists who thrive on a theatrical approach. They are always in pursuit of innovation and excellence, they continually push the boundaries of the craft, exploring new techniques and materials to create immersive and captivating experiences for audiences. The judging panel very much enjoyed looking through the breadth of materials submitted for their nomination, an impressive CV and remarkable career progression.”
David Howard, Emerging Excellence Award Winner 2024 commented: “Wow! What a surprise! It's humbling to accept this award, and a real surprise to find out I was nominated, let alone selected to win! Thank you to ABTT and all the work they do supporting those that are supporting productions. I'm sad I could not attend in person to collect my award as I'm out on tour, but again a heartfelt thank you for the nomination and to the judges for their selection. Designing for shows is a real privilege, and working in this world has always meant so much to me."

ABTT AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR 2024: Kathryn Downton

Judges’ comments: “Kathryn has done a gigantic amount of work in this field, they live, breath and embody their lifelong and cultural commitment to sustainability. They have been pivotal in the development of the green captain scheme, which encourages and gives a platform to the next generation on working sustainably in our industry. Their work was acknowledged when they were awarded a fellowship of University of Surrey’s institute for sustainability. In the words of one of her nominators, their work has made ‘a clear and measurable impact on the industry,’ an example of this is the Theatre Green Book Education Conference on June 12th which we urge you to attend. To quote another of her nominators ‘her heart and her commitment and passion exudes in all the work she does on environmental sustainability’.”

Kathryn Downton, Environmental Sustainability Winner 2024 commented: “I am thrilled to have received this award from the ABTT who have been championing sustainability and the Theatre Green Book over the last few years. There is still much to do but the culture is shifting towards a sustainable future and education plays a huge role in the transition. Thank you ABTT!”

The decision for a winner this year was not easy and so the judges also felt it was necessary to highly commend Jill Robertshaw and “her extraordinary work at Nottingham Playhouse. The work she is doing sets an example to all of us all and establishes the venue as one of the leading venues in the UK making work responsibly. By ensuring that all the staff are carbon literacy trained she has exceeded The Theatre Green Book’s Advanced ambition of getting 75% of staff trained. Jill is an example to us all and we will watch her continued progress with fascination.”

Jill Robertshaw, highly commended for her sustainability work stated: “I feel really honoured to be have been commended by the ABTT in Environmental Sustainability. However, I’ve not done this on my own, it’s been with the support and enthusiasm of my colleagues, creative teams and a genuine desire to create more sustainable work. Therefore, this commendation belongs to all of these people too, along with my thanks.”

ABTT WHAM DESIGN AWARD FOR 2024: Adele Brandman

Judges’ comments: “Adele has been at the forefront of creativity, design and technical solutions across WHAM for over 25 years. Their longstanding and refined contribution to the creative process has gained the trust and respect of peers, directors, producers, designers and performers to name but a few. An excellent collaborator, they take care to research the details of cast specific design inspirations, innovate with use of materials and techniques for best fit performer-centric solutions and have a sustainability focus at the core of their practice. They have also spent many years teaching and mentoring colleagues and are a generous and diligent WHAM team leader.”

Adele Brandman, WHAM Design Award Winner 2024 commented: “I'm so sorry not have been able to collect this award in person. I'd like to thank the ABTT and their judging panel for giving me this award. I feel very grateful to have been nominated by my peers and so pleased we are being recognised for the work we do. I feel very lucky to have been doing a job I love for over 30 years. We are all part of a collaborative team and I am unbelievably honoured to be the first recipient of ABTT WHAM Design Award.”

ABTT COSTUME AWARD FOR 2024: Stephen Rodwell

Judges’ comments: “Stephen has worked for a prestigious company for 40 years and has continuously achieved outstanding results, embracing changing styles, tastes and budgetary constraints. They have supported the in-house costume team to develop technical skills, creating a department that now has a reputation for being an excellent costume production team, costume management team and dye department.”
Stephen Rodwell, Costume Award Winner 2024 commented: “I feel especially privileged to be the first recipient of the ABTT Award for Costume and cannot express sufficiently my gratitude to ABTT, and to those who thought me worthy to be nominated. This award, which is a fantastic way of recognising those who work in Costume, is most gratefully received and appreciated.”

Congratulations to all the above winners!

The ABTT would also like to say thank you to its amazing panel of judges: Paul Aspinall, Dom Bilkey, Jonathan Burniston, Alex Cann, David Evans, Andrew Grant, Amy Jeskins, Kit Lerman, Tanya Noor, Anette Ollerearnshaw, Ben Stones, Caroline Townsend, Helen Diana Wake, Christian Wallace and Richard Willamson. 

12th June 2024

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