Loudmouth are Shortlisted for the Stephen Joseph Award

On December 6th 2024, Loudmouth Education and Training were named as finalists for the Stephen Joseph award for innovative and inclusive theatre excellence in today’s British theatre. The announcement was at the ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) Christmas party and award ceremony in London.

We didn’t win but we were up against some amazing theatre makers including The Globe and lost to Frozen Light a multi-sensory performance for audiences with profound disabilities.

Below is the official press release.

After another year of inspiring and groundbreaking entries, the ABTT’s Stephen Joseph Committee faced a thrilling challenge in selecting the 2024 Award winner, which honours innovative and inclusive theatre excellence. Named in tribute to leading post-war British theatre pioneer and founding ABTT member, the Stephen Joseph Award celebrates the bold ways in which theatre practitioners push boundaries in using theatre space and forging close, creative connections between performers and audiences.

Following a lively and passionate discussion about the submissions, the judging panel reached a unanimous decision: the 2024 ABTT Stephen Joseph Award goes to Frozen Light, a dynamic Norwich-based company that is revolutionising multi-sensory theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Their exciting and original work is setting new standards in inclusive theatre, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate their exceptional contribution!

Shortlisted nominations of note also mentioned in the Press Release include:

• Guildford Shakespeare Company’s, Romeo and Juliet, an ambitious, multi-venue, promenade production for and with the whole community, performing outdoors in the city’s ancient streets and iconic landmarks in July 2024.

• Loudmouth Education and Training, a Midlands-based, theatre in education company with a 30 year track-record providing relationship workshops on challenging Safeguarding topics and reaching a large number of pupils.

• Shakespeare Globe’s Antony and Cleopatra, an inclusive bilingual production of the play by the London company using BSL, with signing and captions for the Egyptians and speech for the Romans.

• Theatre Deli, a Creative Hub with Studios in a disused building in the heart of London, using its enterprising “Shift and Space” scheme to nurture new talent and providing free studio space to develop and improve the product before an audience.

• Underbelly Boulevard, a new omni-flexible venue hub in Soho London delivering cabaret theatre, performance work and other small-scale ventures, often at point-blank range to the audience.

We are so proud to have been nominated for such an important award.