Venue up for UK's most welcoming theatre prize

Royal & Derngate will learn if it has won the award on 12 October

A town's theatre has been named as a finalist for the UK's most welcoming theatre award.

Northampton's Royal & Derngate has been shortlisted for the prize alongside Birmingham Rep and the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Liverpool.

The winner will be revealed at this year's UK Theatre Awards, which will take place in London on 12 October.

The Royal & Derngate's chief executive, Jo Gordon, said the theatre was "thrilled" to be up for the award.

Birmingham Rep and the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Liverpool are also nominated for the award

Ms Gordon said: "It's been a challenging few years for Royal & Derngate, particularly with the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) concrete in our foyer spaces in 2023.

"It's so important to us that we've consistently been able to maintain a warm, welcoming and safe experience for audiences, and in particular for our access customers."

The theatre's artistic director Jesse Jones said: "We're pleased to have still been able to prioritise initiatives such as dedicated access hosts, sensory bags and a sensory pod, our Step Up work experience programme and our guide dog socialisation scheme.

"We've also introduced innovative new uses for our wider foyer spaces now they are fully reopened, including vintage clothes sales, video gaming experiences and art exhibitions.

"We are at the heart of the local community, so we are truly thrilled to have been shortlisted for such a prestigious award in the wider theatre world."

UK Theatre member venues were invited to apply for the most welcoming theatre award, and the finalists were selected based on factors ranging from accessibility and inclusion practices, to programming, outreach, workforce and audience development.