THE WINNERS: The big guns dominated The Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Awards for 2001.
BEST ACTOR
Denis Conway for The Theatreworks Company production of Richard III by William Shakespeare.
Also nominated:
Stephen Brennan for The National Theatre production of The Sanctuary Lamp by Tom Murphy at the Abbey
Ian Holm for the Gate Theatre production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter.
Lalor Roddy for the Bedrock production of Blasted by Sarah Kane and Michael West's new version of Death and the Ploughman commissioned by Project/Comédie de Reims in association with Corn Exchange.
BEST ACTRESS
Catherine Walsh for the National Theatre production of Eden by Eugene O'Brien at the Peacock
Also nominated:
Marie Mullen for the National Theatre production of Big Maggie by John B. Keane at the Abbey
Kate O'Toole for the Rough Magic Theatre Company production of Dead Funny by Terry Johnson
Lia Williams for the Gate Theatre production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Ian Hart for the Gate Theatre production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
Also nominated:
Luke Griffin for The National Theatre production of Made in China by Mark O'Rowe at the Peacock
Jason O'Mara for the Gate Theatre production of bash by Neil LaBute
Eamonn Morrissey for The National Theatre production of Big Maggie by John B. Keane at the Abbey
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Justine Mitchell for the Gate Theatre production's of bash by Neil LaBute and Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward
Also nominated:
Orlaith De Burca for the Focus Theatre production of Lips Together Teeth Apart by Terrence McNally
Sarah-Jane Drummey for the National Theatre production of The Sanctuary Lamp by Tom Murphy at the Abbey
Eithne Woodcock for the Gúna Nua and Civic Theatre production of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
BEST DIRECTOR:
Robin Lefevre for the Gate Theatre production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
Also nominated:
Michael Caven for The Theatreworks Company production of Richard III by William Shakespeare
Garry Hynes for the National Theatre production of Big Maggie by John B. Keane at the Abbey
Lynne Parker for the National Theatre production of The Sanctuary Lamp by Tom Murphy at the Abbey
BEST DESIGNER: SET
Francis O'Connor for the National Theatre production of Big Maggie by John B. Keane and Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides at the Abbey
Also nominated:
David Craig for the Kabosh production of Sleep Show
Kris Stone for the Temenos Project production of Equivalents conceived by Martin Boroson
Joe Vanek for the Opera Ireland production of The Silver Tassie by Mark-Anthony Turnage
BEST DESIGNER: COSTUME:
Joe Vanek for the Opera Ireland production of The Silver Tassie by Mark-Anthony Turnage
Also nominated:
Paul Edwards for the Wexford Festival Opera production of Jakobin by Antonin Dvorak
Dany Everett for the Gate Theatre production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
Francis O'Connor for The National Theatre production of Big Maggie by John B. Keane at the Abbey
BEST DESIGNER: LIGHTING:
Peter Mumford for The National Theatre production of Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides at the Abbey
Also nominated:
Mick Hughes for the Gate Theatre production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
Paul Keogan for the Opera Ireland production of The Silver Tassie
Rupert Murray for the National Theatre production of The Gigli Concert by Tom Murphy at the Abbey
BEST NEW PLAY:
Eugene O'Brien for Eden, produced by the National Theatre at the Peacock
Also nominated:
Tom MacIntyre for The Gallant John-Joe, produced by Skehana
Mark O'Rowe for Made in China, produced by The National Theatre at the Peacock
Morna Regan for Midden, produced by Rough Magic Theatre Company
BEST PRODUCTION:
The Gate Theatre production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
Also nominated:
The National Theatre production of Big Maggie by John B. Keane at the Abbey
The Passion Machine production of Diarmuid and Grainne adapted by Paul Mercier
The National Theatre production of The Sanctuary Lamp, by Tom Murphy at the Abbey
BEST OPERA PRODUCTION:
The Opera Ireland production of The Silver Tassie by Mark-Anthony Turnage at The Gaiety.
Also nominated:
The Wexford Festival Opera production of Jakobin by Antonin Dvorak
The Opera Ireland production of Giulio Cesare by Handel
The Opera Theatre Company production of The (little) Magic Flute by Mozart
JUDGES' SPECIAL AWARD:
The National Theatre for the Murphy Season
Also nominated:
Dublin Fringe Festival for its support of new theatre in Dublin since 1995
Pan Pan Theatre Company for its biannual International Theatre symposium
Skehana Productions for its innovative tour of The Gallant John-Joe
SPECIAL TRIBUTE AWARD:
Phyllis Ryan