Karen Dunbar will co-present the CATS on June 13

Scottish broadcaster STV has announced its support of the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS). STV has pledged £500 a year for five years to support the award for Best Female Performance.

The CATS is an annual awards ceremony which celebrates the very best of theatre in Scotland. First presented in 2003, the CATS are run voluntarily by Scotland’s professional theatre critics and have become a highlight of the theatrical calendar, honouring the actors, directors and playwrights who have made the most significant contributions to Scottish theatre.

The nominees in the Best Female Performance category, sponsored by STV, include Suzanne Donaldson for The Dark Things, Traverse Theatre; Suzie Ferguson for Sick, Theatre Modo; Cara Kelly for The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Royal Lyceum; and Sian Thomas for The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, Traverse Theatre. This year’s talented nominees also include Jimmy Yuill for Best Male Actor, Ken Alexander for Best Director and Alan Bissett for Best New Play.

The nominees for the awards were announced last week.  You can read about them HERE

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 13 June, taking place at Edinburgh Festival Theatre, with guest presenters Jonathan Mills, director of the Edinburgh International Festival, and queen of Scottish comedy, Karen Dunbar.

Rob Woodward, STV’s Chief Executive, said: “STV is committed to supporting the creative industries in Scotland and we’re delighted to back the prestigious CATS awards for the next five years. This year’s nominations include some fantastic Scottish talent and I wish them all the best of luck at this week’s awards ceremony.”

Joyce McMillan, CATS Co-convenor, said: “We are delighted to welcome STV’s generous sponsorship of the CATS award for Best Female Performance. As the strength of this year’s shortlist shows, the quality of female performance in Scottish theatre is outstanding and STV’s involvement in this award can only help to strengthen the already powerful relationship between theatre and screen drama in Scotland.”

Tickets for the event cost £15 and can be purchased through the Festival Theatre box office on 0131 529 6000 on online HERE

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