New Wolsey Theatre nominated for three UK Theatre Awards
The New Wolsey Theatre has been nominated for three prizes at the UK Theatre Awards 2026, recognising work across its musical productions, regional touring partnerships and support for new writing by East Anglian artists.
Why it matters: The nominations, announced ahead of the awards ceremony in London on 12 October, put the Ipswich theatre in the national spotlight, recognising work delivered locally, regionally and nationally.
The details: New Wolsey Theatre picked up nods in three categories:
- Best Musical Production for Calendar Girls The Musical, a co-production with Stephen Joseph Theatre, Theatre by the Lake and Octagon Theatre Bolton. Written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, the musical tells the true story of Yorkshire Women's Institute members who created a nude charity calendar following a bereavement. It is currently running at New Wolsey Theatre until 26 September, before transferring to Octagon Theatre Bolton in October.
- Excellence in Touring for New Wolsey Theatre's role in the East Anglian Touring Consortium, a partnership of eight regional arts organisations formed over four years to address the challenges of mid-scale touring. The consortium's first production, Caroline: A Musical, is available to watch digitally until 30 September.
- Best New Play for Black Sheep, a Curious Directive production staged at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and New Wolsey Theatre.
The UK Theatre Awards have been held annually since 1991 and celebrate creative achievement on and off stage across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This year's ceremony is sponsored by Encore and hosted by La Voix.
What they're saying: Douglas Rintoul, chief executive and artistic director of New Wolsey Theatre, said: "These nominations put the New Wolsey and Ipswich firmly in the national spotlight. They recognise the ambition and excellence of our work, from producing outstanding musicals such as Calendar Girls and Caroline: A New Musical to leading the first production of the East Anglian Touring Consortium and championing exceptional artists from our region."
He added: "We're creating work that reaches audiences across the country and making sure people in Ipswich have the very best of UK theatre on their doorstep. I'm hugely proud of our team. This is national recognition for a theatre and a town with a great deal to offer. With other East Anglian organisations also recognised, it's a strong reminder of what a cultural powerhouse this region is."
The bottom line: Three nominations across musicals, touring and new writing give New Wolsey Theatre national recognition ahead of the UK Theatre Awards on 12 October, with two of the nominated productions – Calendar Girls and Caroline: A Musical – still available to see in Ipswich before the end of September.
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