BEST THEATRE QUOTES

FROM LONDON PUB THEATRES AWARDS 2020

BEST THEATRE QUOTES From London Pub Theatres Awards 2020


Looking for a little inspiration and hope for the future;

here are some of the gems from the London Pub Theatre Awards


We are always blown away by the scope and ambition of the productions we see in pub theatre and we can’t wait to see what these companies come up with next and of course we can’t wait to be back in all our pub theatres again


Sian Rowland, Playwright and reviewer for London Pub Theatres

My dream of having a play performed came true last year, this evening is the sweet, sweet icing on an already wonderful the cake.


Viv Edwards on winning Standing Ovation Award for Raising Awareness


The Bevin Boys at Pentameters Theatre



What a lovely thing to get dressed up for on a Sunday, what fun.



We really need a reminder to keep up the hope (theatre) and to keep up hope in theatre and it’s just really great to have an event like this - that theatre is viable and that the stories are important. 


Sasha Wilson on winning STANDING OVATION AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE SHOW


Call Me Fury at The Hope Theatre



It would be fair to say that our 40th anniversary hasn’t quite gone the way we planned but this is a particularly welcome birthday present and I very much hope I can pick it up in person before I have to hand it to someone next year.



Neil McPherson, Finborough Theatre on winning the trophy for LONDON PUB THEATRES OF THE YEAR 2020



When I wrote it back in 2019 it seemed like a strange dream that I was ever going to perform it and now it seems like a strange dream that I ever did it …


I actually feel quite moved at seeing everyone.   The show’s about community and it really feels like our community is struggling at the moment.


I dedicate this award to young people who can’t go and see theatre and can’t know what it’s like to be in an audience right now.


Rich Watkins on winning STANDING OVATION AWARD FOR COMEDY


Happily Ever Poofta at King's Head Theatre


A particular thankyou to the Finborough theatre - the support we were given to realise the show was just extraordinary. No task was too menial no hour too anti-social to call for help and as we all know when you’ve battles on several fronts, producing a fringe show you need good people in your corner. I can honestly say you don’t get much better than Neil McPherson and his team.


Director Will Maynard on winning STANDING OVATION FOR BEST REDISCOVERY


The Wind of Heaven at Finborough Theatre


Playwright David Weir on reviewing for London Pub Theatres


So much we look for as reviewers is innovation, freshness and excitement.  The brilliant thing about the rediscovery of old plays, and the brilliant thing about the adaptation of works from other media is that all those things can exist and be found in brand new ways through a new theatrical production. 

… Moby Dick is probably one of the great unread classics of the world now, which the Jack Studio theatre at Brockley did (So It Goes Theatre Theatre Company).  Now, if you took a giant whale and put it into the Jack studio theatre you will fill the stage and probably half of the auditoria.  And the ambition, the vision, the ability to get a story of that scale in such an amazing way is a testament to the work at The Jack. 

This is my final show at the hope and I really miss it, so this feels really special ... The show is about a family who are all trapped together and have a nightmare weekend, and how very twenty twenty that feels.  


Former Artistic Director of the Hope Theatre, Matthew Parker on winning Standing Ovation for Outstanding Theatricality


The House of Yes at The Hope Theatre



Reminding us of the good old days of 2019 when we all, well 48 percent of us, thought that Brexit was the worst thing that could happen, this dystopia play put a crazed authoritative and unenlightened Government in charge of Britain and who thought that that could happen.


Playwright David Weir


Hugely appreciated. A show which came as a labour of love between an entire production team. … we all sat in a room and imprisoned ourselves away and we’re very pleased that people enjoyed it. Story about a mass murder, ninety minutes of pure misery, I wouldn’t recommend it, its desperately dark, but it was great fun to be involved with.


Actor Fred Perry on winning STANDING OVATION FOR OUTSTANDING THEATRICALITY


Tryst at Chiswick Playhouse


The team at Bread and Roses Theatre on winning the LONDON PUB THEATRES COMMENDATION AWARD:

The first stones for Bread and Roses were laid in 2012.  We had no money or resources but lots of passion, enthusiasm, creativity, hard work and readiness to put in endless unpaid hours.  A situation faced in the arts all too often and yet we persevered.


Rebecca Pryle



Incredible adventure, an endless challenge and at the same time a wonderful gift.

The essence of our theatre was always to advance artistic quality, equality as well as the representation of our society’s real diversity.  


Tessa Hart



Pub theatres, independent arts, free voices become more important than ever in times when they’re under threat and we’re prepared to move forward with more strength, and creativity to break through ceilings and hard boarders, to make sure black lives matter and to keep learning and improving and questioning and challenging ourselves. 


Velenzia Spearpoint



It’s good that we’re all here, we’ve all had dark thoughts over this period. It’s been gratifying to open the White Bear again. Very excited about the future. The bonus of this period has been the connection with other pub theatres through the board of SIT and many zoom conversations where we’ve shared problems and tried to help each other and Heather and LPT have been part of that, bringing people together. 


Michael Kingsbury, White Bear Theatre, on winning RUNNER UP LONDON PUB THEATRE OF THE YEAR

Sometimes in this industry all you want is to walk through the door of a venue and be greeted with a smile. Someone who understands what you do and loves what they do. Michael is that person. His endless encouragement of new writing and creative talent is boundless. He deserves this award many, many times over.


Actress Lisa Bowerman on Michael Kingsbury, White Bear Theatre on winning RUNNER-UP LONDON PUB THEATRE OF THE YEAR 2020

…  one of the problems, I love this award but it does prove that we’re old, I’ve worked out that there are three good things you get, a freedom pass, a free flu jab and you get a lifetime achievement award.


 I don’t know where to start to thank people.  We did start in 1985 …we’ve done just over 800 productions since then and I’d like to thank all the people who were involved with each one …. No …


John Plews on winning LONDON PUB THEATRES AWARD FOR LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT


The full list of Award Winners 2020 can be found here

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