The winners have been formally announced the recipients for this year’s Industry Recognition Award. The event is organised annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre.
It has been confirmed that Pippa Ailion MBE Andrew Bruce, Amanda Parker and Peter Wilson MBE are this year’s recipients for the Industry Recognition Award. In order to have qualified, each recipient need to have demonstrated at least one of the following:
1. Excellence in their field of work.
2. Going above and beyond in terms of dedication to their role and the industry.
3. Pioneering and leading change.
Pippa Ailion MBE is a Casting Director. She has cast over 200 productions internationally. She was Resident Associate Director at the Old Vic, casting three seasons of European classics for Jonathan Miller at the Old Vic between 1987 and 1991. Her current credits are: Ain’t Too Proud; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; TINA – The Tina Turner Musical; The Book of Mormon and The Lion King.
Andrew Bruce is the founder and owner of Autograph Sound. He began his theatre career at Glyndebourne Festival Opera in 1968 and was appointed head of sound at the Royal Opera House in 1971. He has been an associate designer on several notable shows in the West End, such as Evita, Cats and Starlight Express. His original design credits include Les Misérables, Chess, Into the Woods, MAMMA MIA!, Sweeney Todd, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins.
Amanda Parker is the founder and former director of Inc Arts UK. Her work has advocated for the creative, contractual and economic rights of the UK’s ethnically diverse arts sector workforce. Her previous Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion roles include her leadership of the BBC’s recruitment and awareness campaign for the launch of BBC Radio 1Xtra, and as Head of Communications for Directors UK, Amanda was responsible for overseeing the UK’s first industry-wide research into gender diversity in TV directing.
Peter Wilson MBE is Executive Chairman and Joint Chief Executive of PW Productions. His first was Arnold Wesker’s Annie Wobbler in 1985. Since then, his West End, Broadway and UK and international touring productions include The Woman in Black and An Inspector Calls. As producer and director he has worked with – among others – the National Theatre, the RSC, Matthew Bourne, Ed Hall, I Fagiolini, Peter Hall, Stephen Daldry, Hampstead Theatre and the Tricycle.
Eleanor Lloyd, independent theatre producer and President of Society of London Theatre, said:“We are delighted to be honouring such deserving recipients in the Industry Recognition category. Our 2023 winners more than meet the award criteria, inciting real industry change, and paving the way for generations to come in their fields. Thank you to all four recipients for being hard-working patrons of the industry.”
The winners will receive their awards on Friday 17 March, at our Nominees Celebration event at The Londoner Hotel.
The Olivier Awards will take place on Sunday 2nd April, hosted by Hannah Waddingham.
For a full list of nominations visit: https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2023/