By KEITH BRUCE
Arts Editor
THE Citizens' Theatre production of Irvine Welsh's novel, Trainspotting, was named as best new play at the Theatre Management Association regional theatre awards in Birmingham, yesterday.
Adapter Harry Gibson, who is ill and was unable to attend the ceremony, said later: ``This is tremendously encouraging. It shows that regional theatres can take work to London, rather than the other way around.''
Trainspotting opens at the Ambassador's, in London, on December 11, before embarking on a five-month tour which will include dates as part of Mayfest in Glasgow. Gibson's next project is an adaptation of Welsh's subsequent novel, Maribou Stork Nightmares, which opens at the Citizens' in March.
Perth Theatre, in its diamond jubilee year, was named at the awards as the UK's most welcoming venue. It comes at the end of a year of mixed fortunes, in which the theatre lost its artistic director but won general praise for its small-scale touring production of Alexander Gelman's A Man With Connections.
Accepting the award, theatre manager Paul McLennan said: ``We have had 60 years to work at this.'' He added that the venue saw a visit to the theatre as a complete experience for patrons, whether 16 or 60.
Anthony Sher was named as best actor for his performance in the title role of Titus Andronicus in a co-production by the Market Theatre, Johannesburg, the Royal National Theatre Studio, and West Yorkshire Playhouse. The show also won best overall production.
Best actress was Kelly Hunter for Rosalind in As You Like It, for English Touring Theatre. Best director was Barry Rutter for The Cracked Pot and A Midsummer Night's Dream. The musical award went to Moll Flanders at the Theatre Royal, York.
Other Scots nominees were Communicado's Tall Tales for Small People, for best show for young people; Karen Tennent for best designer, for Communicado's A Place with the Pigs; and 7:84 Theatre Company Scotland, for Stephen Greenhorn's The Salt Wound, as best touring show.
The award ceremony followed the TMA's annual conference, where concerns were expressed about the organisation's future. Members are to be asked to consider funding an autonomous administration for the association, which at present shares personnel with the Society of London Theatres.
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