Great British Theatres Awards Judging Panel
We are proud to announce the fantastic panel for the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards.
The panel brings together leading voices from architecture, sustainability, theatre-making, accessibility, planning and cultural leadership:
- Mark Davy - Founder of global placemaking agency Futurecity
- Annie Hampson OBE – Theatres Trust Trustee, Town Planner and former Chief Planning Officer at the City of London
- Debbie Hibberd – Vice-Chair of Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain and an actor, director and writer mainly working at Rugby Theatre.
- Emily Lim – an award-winning director whose work explores theatre as a form of community building and social activism.
- Sara Rajeswaran – Theatres Trust Trustee and Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at AXA UK&I.
- Michèle Taylor MBE – Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon and one of the UK’s leading disability equality strategists.
- Obioma Ugoala – acclaimed actor, writer and workshop facilitator whose theatre credits include originating the role of George Washington in the original West End production of Hamilton and Kristoff in the original London cast of Disney’s Frozen.
- Nicola Walls – an experienced architect with a passion for the performing arts, currently Inclusive Design Manager at the University of Edinburgh
- Andrew Wylie – Partner at Buro Happold with more than 25 years’ experience leading the design of museums, galleries and theatres in the UK and internationally.
Read more about the Great British Theatres Judging Panel.
Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust, says “The response to the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards has been extraordinary, with applications already arriving from every corner of the UK. These awards recognise the vital role theatre buildings play in the cultural and social life of our communities. We are incredibly proud to have assembled such a distinguished judging panel. Their combined expertise and experience reflect the depth and ambition of these awards.”
Entries are currently open for the Great British Theatres Awards with 10 open categories including Great New Build, Great Renovation, Great Green Theatre and Great Community Connection.
Two additional honours - the Great British Theatre 2026 award and the Great British Theatres Lifetime Achievement Award - will be selected by the judging panel.