ATGās Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire have topped the The Stage 100 for a fourth consecutive year. The exclusive list, compiled annually by the industryās leading newspaper, ranks the powerhouses of British theatre. This year, Panter and Squire share the revered accolade with the National Theatre.
One of the biggest production highlights of 2012 was the ATG initiated, highly-successful reunion with Royal Court Theatre Productions. This collaboration led to a 2012 Royal Court West End season at the Duke of Yorkās. Laura WadeāsĀ Posh, April De Angelisā hit comedy,Ā Jumpystarring Tamsin Greig, and the highly-acclaimedĀ ConstellationsĀ starring Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall, all received critical acclaim, garnering rafts of 4 and 5-star reviews. This trio of plays each celebrated and promoted fresh new writing, with Constellations winning this yearās Evening Standard Best New Play Award.
The last 12 months also saw the UK premieres of Dolly PartonāsĀ 9 to 5 The MusicalĀ andĀ All New PeopleĀ starring Zach Braff; the Australian premiere ofĀ Legally BlondeĀ the MusicalĀ in Sydney; Pineroās classic comedyĀ Dandy Dickstarring Patricia Hodge and Nicholas Le Prevost; Joe PenhallāsĀ Blue/OrangeĀ starring Robert Bathurst;Ā South Pacificin London and on UK Tour; the return of a brand new production ofĀ Ā SpamalotĀ to the West End; Matthew BourneāsNutcrackerĀ in London and on UK Tour; Simon Callow starring inĀ Being ShakespeareĀ andĀ The Mystery of Charles DickensĀ in London;Ā The MountaintopĀ starring Samuel L Jackson and Angela Bassett in New York and 10 FFE produced regional pantomimes starring Hollywood favourites David Hasselhoff and Priscilla Presley.
Howard Panter said: āRosemary and I are both humbled and delighted that The Stage continues to recognise that ATG is a great British success story, which brings music and creative brilliance to countless audiences around the globe.
āWe have just celebrated our 20th anniversary, and the diversity, depth and breadth of what ATG does is, in many ways, unparalleled.
ā2012 was a historic year for the UK, in particular London, and we were delighted to play a small part and make our own contribution.
āWe would like to congratulate the National Theatre, with whom we are honoured to share this distinction, on their success.ā
Upcoming highlights for 2013 will include Howard Panter and British director Jamie Lloydās first collaboration,MacbethĀ starring James McAvoy in the reconfigured Trafalgar Studio 1, starting in February. In the West End,Ā Passion PlayĀ by Peter Nichols, the inaugural production from Tali Pelman Productions starring ZoĆ« Wanamaker at the Duke of Yorkās, will open next spring. There will also be a brand new production ofĀ The Rocky Horror ShowĀ which will celebrate its fortieth anniversary; a UK tour ofĀ Priscilla Queen of the DesertĀ starring Jason Donovan, set to open in Manchester in February; and a new UK tour ofĀ Mauriceās Jubilee.