The Everything Theatre Fringe Theatre Awards, or Etties for short, are simply our fun round up of the past year. Previously, come the end of the year we’ve asked our reviewers to pick some highlights which we would publish as a round up of the best of the year. But in 2022 we decided we should do things a little differently. And that is the Etties.
Obviously we don’t have a team of assessors to go and watch every show, so we aren’t going to pretend these are anything more than a fun way to highlight some of the shows our team have loved in the past year. The shortlists have been put together by looking back at our 4- and 5-star reviews, and then discussing within the team which feel are the very best of the bunch. It’s not the most scientific approach but what awards ever are?
We aim to publish all our shortlists during the w/c 2 January, and then we’ll be announcing the winners on Wednesday 18 January.
Ready, Steady, GO!
Polka Theatre – February 2022
This lovely idea of the ordinary becoming extraordinary feels creative and enabling, inviting little ones to look at the world in a different way using all their senses, but also offering them ways to do so.
Mary Pollard
Kinder
Little Angel Theatre – May 2022
This show is vastly more than a simple entertainment for teenagers: it is a deeply moving, funny, and playfully immersive experience.
Mary Pollard
I Want My Hat Back
Little Angel Theatre – May 2022
I can’t speak highly enough of this production – it’s hilarious, imaginative, beautiful, surprising, encourages reading and creativity and will send the family home with lots to talk about.
Mary Pollard
Jonny Feathers the Rock and Roll Pigeon
Park Theatre – August 2022
The play is brilliantly designed to keep small children entertained. It’s the perfect length (55 mins), with lots of songs, pretty lights, puppets, bits where they could join in, some cheeky jokes. What more could a small boy (or girl) ask for?
Kate Woolgrove
Daytime Deewane
Half Moon Theatre – November 2022
I was also delighted at the sight of so many joyful teenagers who had just quietly been educated about a little bit of brown-skinned rebellion. Tell me again how theatre for children is the easy stuff…
Mary Pollard
Pea
Puppet Theatre Barge – November 2022
Charming, clever and with sensitive modern relevance, Pea is a terrific tale, beautifully crafted and well told, that boldly goes where no puppet has gone before: to the end of the bed!
Mary Pollard
Alice In Wonderland
Brixton House – December 2022
With a warm fuzzy ending, which is to be expected around Christmas time, writer Jack Bradfield’s Alice in Wonderland highlights the importance of community spirit right in the heart of Brixton.
Amelia Braddick
The winner will be announced Wednesday 18 January
