King Lear lands Derek Jacobi theatre award nomination

Jacobi received rave reviews for his role

Veteran actor Derek Jacobi joins Frost/Nixon star Michael Sheen and The Wire's Clarke Peters among the nominees for this year's Theatre Awards UK.

Jacobi is shortlisted for the best performance in the Donmar Warehouse touring production of King Lear.

He is up against David Haig, for his role in The Madness of George III, and Marianne Oldham in Daphne du Maurier's The Years Between.

The awards, for regional theatre, will be handed out on 30 October.

Formerly known as the TMAs, the Theatrical Management Association's Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards of their kind.

Oldham's nomination is one of two mentions for the Royal and Derngate in Northampton, while Haig's nod is one of three for the Theatre Royal Bath.

'Outstanding'

Overall, Sheffield Theatres was the most successful single company, picking up five nominations spread across The Pride, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Me and My Girl and Happy Days.

Sheen earns a best director nod, alongside Bill Mitchell, for their work on The Passion - a 72-hour theatrical marathon in Sheen's hometown of Port Talbot.

Clarke Peters, currently playing Othello at the Crucible in Sheffield, was shortlisted for best supporting performance for his role in Theatre Royal Stratford East's revival of Five Guys Named Moe - a show he wrote.

"The nominations for the 2011 Theatre Awards UK demonstrate the strength and excellence of theatre, dance and opera throughout the UK," said TMA chief executive Julian Bird.

"From new plays to innovative site-specific theatre to some truly outstanding performances, all are represented in this year's shortlists."