These awards are open to theatre shows - please see the details of each award for entry specifics and sub-genres.

The Carol Tambor Award

The Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award considers all productions given four or five stars by The Scotsman newspaper's team of critics. The only other criterion that must be met is that productions must be new to New York. The winning company or performer is offered $25,000 for a transfer to New York. Carol will advise which NY theatres will be best for the show, with the final decision left to the company. $1,000 will be given to each shortlisted company, for the excellence of their work.

For more information visit bestofedinburgh.org.

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The Filipa Bragança Award

Filipa was only 25 when she graduated from Drama Studio London and was cast as Samira in Naylor’s Echoes, a two-hander where she played a radicalised British schoolgirl. The production was a critical and commercial hit, and subsequently toured the world for over a year, with her performances helping the show collect over 10 major international Fringe Awards. The following year, she returned to collaborate with Naylor on Angel, and was in the midst of a second world tour when she passed away. Her last appearances were at the Brisbane Festival and Melbourne Fringe. Filipa was renowned for her generosity of spirit, her dedication to compassionate politics, and as a tireless campaigner for the environment, the homeless, and refugees. As well as this, she was a vocal champion of women in the arts, and in her name The Filipa Bragança Award will endeavour to honour her legacy in the performing arts. 

The recipient of The Filipa Bragança Award will be announced at the final Scotsman Fringe Awards on Friday 23rd August, and will be presented to the winner by Henry Naylor, who worked in close collaboration with Filipa across a number of productions, festivals, and countries. A panel of esteemed Scottish-based theatre critics and arts writers will judge the Award, including Joyce McMillan, Jackie McGlone, Thom Dibdin, Tim Cornwell and Mark Fisher.
 
The inaugural winner of The Filipa Bragança Award was Selina Thompson, in the production ‘Salt’ at Summerhall (2017)
The sophomore winner of The Filipa Bragança Award was Emma Dennis-Edwards, in the production 'Funeral Flowers'  at Pleasance (2018)

For further information relating to the Award, please contact David Dey at [email protected]

Edinburgh Festival Fringe productions that are registered in the theatre genre and feature a solo performance by an emerging female artist will be eligible for consideration for the Award.

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The Infallible Awards (The Infallibles) 

Organised by Infallible Productions Ltd 
 
Infallible Productions has been present at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for many years and its director, Stefania Bochicchio, is one of the UK co-directors of the International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO) and the founding artistic director at Draper Hall, London SE1. Draper Hall specialises in staging London premieres of award-winning, novel, daring and wonderful plays, like Emily Carding's One Woman RICHARD III, Margo Mac Donald's ELEPHANT GIRLS, Badac Theatre's THE FLOOD and Jo Clifford's JESUS QUEEN OF HEAVEN.
 
The Infallibles Awards will give one company the possibility of making their London debut at Draperhall during its 2020 season and to keep the entire box office takings of the run which will take place from Thursday – Saturday over two or hree weeks (six or nine performances). Venue hire cost will be free to the winning company and Marketing and Publicity will also be provided free of cost to the winners.

Companies who will receive a nomination will be asked to come to Draper Hall, paying no hire or minimum guarantee and with a split box office agreement.(70/30)
The winner of the 2018 edition was Rosy Carrick's PASSIONATE MACHINE
 

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Holden Street Theatres' Edinburgh Fringe Award

The Holden Street Theatres’ Edinburgh Fringe Award is an annual award program that invites a production to perform at the Holden Street Theatres in Adelaide, South Australia, as the headline show of its Adelaide Fringe program. The 2020 Adelaide Fringe will be the 60th anniversary of the second biggest arts festival in the world, and Holden Street are looking for an incredible piece of work to be a part of the Fringe’s biggest year ever.

Holden Street is known as the ‘Home of Theatre’ in Adelaide, with a strong and loyal following of patrons and artists. We have a reputation for presenting fantastic theatrical work from around the corner and around the globe. We pride ourselves on not only looking after our artists, producers, and patrons, but on presenting some of the best work at the Adelaide Fringe. Productions are shortlisted by HST’s Artistic Director Martha Lott, along with a panel of international producers, programmers, and arts practitioners. With the team viewing hundreds of shows between them, the winning work is selected on artistic merit, production values, touring possibilities, venue compatibility, and marketing viability. The winner will then be presented at the final Scotsman Fringe First Award ceremony in the final week of the Edinburgh Fringe. 

The winners of the Holden Street Theatres Edinburgh Fringe Award are selected according to a developed list of criteria, including (but not limited to) the following: must demonstrate a high level of artistic merit with developed production value; must have strong marketing collateral and be prepared to undertake a number of marketing and publicity campaigns within the festival; must not have previously performed the production in Australia; must be available for touring in February and March 2020; must be able and prepared to perform a minimum of 33 performances - with a standard season up to 35 performances - throughout the 2020 Adelaide Fringe; must be over the age of 18 or accompanied by adult(s); and must understand that they may be required to supplement any further costs needed over and above the award.

For a full list of criteria please visit our Edinburgh Fringe page holdenstreettheatres.com

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Les Enfants Terribles' Stepladder Award

Les Enfants Terribles, in association with house and The Other Richard, are proud to be offering The Stepladder Award for the third year. 

The Stepladder Award offers a company performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe industry support and tour mentoring from Les Enfants Terribles and house to help develop their experience and profile within the theatre industry. The Other Richard will provide production photography, show recording and an edited trailer to support with tour booking for the winning company. 

The award is open for companies with an established track record of producing work either as part of a fringe festival or in a London/regional fringe theatre or in other venues. You must be committed to developing your company and practice through mounting a first full tour over the next two years and the work you are presenting at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 must be a new piece of original writing. 

Companies are invited to apply via the online application form. 

The companies will then be contacted by Les Enfants Terribles directly and will be assessed by an industry panel. Shows will be assessed on the week commencing 5th August 2019. 

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Musical Theatre Review Best Musical Award

The return of this award for excellence in Musical Theatre continues to promote the range of musical theatre in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme and celebrate the best of the genre. Eligible shows are presented by professional theatre companies or aspiring professional companies where a level of skill and craft is evident. The work must be considered a dramatic work using music and song to advance the plot, narrative or character. In accordance with encouraging excellence in the form, new works will be prioritised. Work must be in performance from 9 to 24 August 2019.

A shortlist of 10 nominated shows, selected by the Musical Theatre Review Edinburgh Team, will be announced on Friday 16 August at 12:00. The winning musical will be presented with a certificate and will be showcased on the Musical Theatre Review website and social media channels. The joint winners of the 2018 Award were Sparks at the Pleasance Courtyard and The Half Moon Shania at Zoo Southside.
 

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The Scotsman Fringe First Award

Designed to encourage performers to bring new work to Edinburgh in the spirit of adventure and experiment, the Scotsman Fringe First Awards celebrate the best new writing on the Fringe, as judged by the team of critics from Scotland’s national newspaper, The Scotsman.

The Scotsman Fringe First Awards are presented weekly throughout the Fringe.​

2019 winners

Week1

  • Mustard - Eva O'Connor (Summerhall - Bruford at Summerhall)
  • Raven - Chamäleon Productions in association with Aurora Nova (Assembly Roxy - Central)
  • Arthur - Daniel Bye, One Tenth Human and ARC Stockton (Your Home)
  • How Not to Drown - ThickSkin, Traverse Theatre production with Tron Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre (Traverse Theatre - Traverse 1)
  • Enough - Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre - Traverse 2)
  • Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran - Javaad Alipoor and HOME in association with Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre - Traverse 2)

Week 2

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The Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe

Each year, the SCOTTISH THEATRE AWARDS on the Fringe, supported by the Scottish Arts Club, award two prizes recognising the best in Scottish theatre.

The main prize is awarded to the best Scottish theatre production appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Productions with a Scottish director, writer, cast, or a Scottish-based theatre company are eligible. Bright Spark Awards are awarded to young actors or theatre makers just embarking on their career.

The nominations for these awards are selected by a panel of eight judges, drawn from the Scottish arts world. The prizes include cash and a certificate and the winners are presented at a formal awards ceremony held at the Scottish Arts Club.

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The SIT-UP Awards

The SIT-UP Award was first launched in 2018 and is an initiative of the charity Changing Ideas.

It will be given to a theatre production that effects change in audience perceptions, understanding and empathy for a social issue. We will also take into account engagement with audiences by the production. This award will be chosen based on audience voting. 

The winner will be announced at the end of the 3rd week and the winner will receive £5,000 of which £1,000 is cash – to use as they like – and £4,000 of support to extend the social impact of the piece after Edinburgh and widen its audience reach. The support will be tailored to suit the company and issue. The winner will also be offered a showcase at the Park Theatre, London.

We are also giving an Audience Engagement Award of £1,000 to a production which engages with its audiences in an effective or novel way.

For more information and application form vist situpawards.com

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The Stage Edinburgh Awards

The Stage Edinburgh Awards will be running for the 23rd year at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The awards are designed to recognise outstanding performances on the Fringe, whether solo or as part of a company. Ensembles are also eligible. Previous winners include Jade Anouka for Chef (2014), Phoebe Waller Bridge for Fleabag (2013) and Daniel Kitson for C-90 (2006).

Since 2014, they’ve been awarded on a rolling basis. The judging panel is headed by Natasha Tripney and The Stage make announcements every Monday throughout the Fringe. 

For the latest information about The Stage Edinburgh Awards visit thestage.co.uk

2019 winners

  • Breffni Holahan - Collapsible - Ellie Keel Productions and HighTide (Assembly Roxy - Upstairs)
  • Alice Vilanculo - E8 - The North Wall in association with The Pleasance (Pleasance Dome - Queen Dome)
  • Angus Taylor and Shauna Macdonald - Mouthpiece - Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre - Traverse 2)
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Total Theatre Awards

Developed for the benefit of artists, the sector and audiences, the Total Theatre Awards have over the last two decades, blazed a trail of recognition for independent artists and companies creating innovative, artist-led theatre and performance.
 
Resisting too narrow a definition of the term ‘total theatre’ the awards focus on artists and companies leading innovative work beyond the classical cannon and new writing – working within the fields of devised theatre, live art, visual performance, mime, puppetry, physical theatre, experimental theatre, dance, clown, circus, street, immersive, outdoor, site specific performance and more.

2019 winners

Total Theatre Award Nominee (Shows by an emerging artist/company)

  • Burgerz - Hackney Showroom (Traverse Theatre - Traverse 2)
  • Life is No Laughing Matter - Demi Nandhra (Summerhall - TechCube 0)
  • Sex Education - Harry Clayton-Wright (Summerhall - TechCube 0 )
  • STYX - Second Body (ZOO Southside - Main House)
  • YUCK Circus - Underbelly and YUCK Circus (Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows - The Beauty)

Total Theatre Award Nominee (Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus)

  • Contra - Written and Performed by Laura Murphy, Directed by Ursula Martinez (Summerhall - Demonstration Room)
  • Jelly or Jam - Ampersand with support from Gravity & Other Myths (Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows - The Beauty)
  • Knot - Nikki & JD / Jacksons Lane (Assembly Roxy - Upstairs)
  • Raven - Chamäleon Productions in association with Aurora Nova (Assembly Roxy - Central)
  • Super Sunday - Underbelly and Race Horse Company (Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows - The Lafayette)

Total Theatre Award Nominee (Total Theatre and The Place Award for Dance)

Total Theatre Award Nominee (Innovation, Experimentation and Playing with Form)

Total Theatre Award (Physical / Visual Theatre)

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Venues North

Northern artists are invited to enter the new Venues North Edinburgh Fringe Festival Award - with a £3,500 cash prize.

Venues North is excited to announce this inaugural award to celebrate new theatre and performance work made in the North of England.

The Venues North award will provide one company performing at the festival with a £3,500 prize and a tailored package of support in kind provided by member venues.

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