And The Stage Awards Go to...White Light

	Neal Seago at the Stage Awrds. Photo courtesy of David Monteith-Hodge and Eliza Power

Since 2011, The Stage Awards have reflected the industry's best performing theatres and theatremakers. Taking place on an annual basis, the awards celebrate the various roles within theatre, such as producers, actors, venues, and educational teams. This year, the winners were announced at a ceremony at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Alongside sponsoring the Unsung Hero Award, White Light was called upon to oversee the complete technical solutions for the ceremony.

The Stage Awards took place on January 27 in the Grand Saloon which sits at the top of Theatre Royal. Marcus Wadland, White Light's project manager, comments: "This is one of the most important dates in the theatrical calendar so we wanted to provide production support that would help make it an afternoon to remember."

White Light provided the complete technical solutions. This included the uplighting of the room alongside lighting the stage area; with the staging being supplemented by White Light. The company also supplied the audio support which included a PA system, speakers across the space for even coverage along with radio microphones.

White Light also drew on its extensive video inventory by supplying a camera which live streamed the ceremony on 80" plasma screens placed throughout the room and 65" relay screens placed outside the space; both being supplied by White Light. Wadland adds: "There were more than 200 guests within the Grand Saloon and many more outside. The streaming of the event ensured that those outside the space could still experience what was happening inside."

The winners at the ceremony included Harry Potter and the Cursed Child producer Sonia Friedman who was named Producer of the Year for the third time in a row. Sheffield Theatres was named Regional Theatre of the Year, the New Diorama won Fringe Theatre of the Year, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures won the International Award, and the Sustainability Award went to Tara Theatre -- a venue in which White Light supplied the lighting technology.

The company was also sponsoring the Unsung Hero Award. This year it was won by the Old Vic's stage door manager, Ned Seago. Seago has worked at the Old Vic for over 30 years and is good friends with White Light's head of production Stewart Crane from his time at the venue.

Bryan Raven, White Light's managing director, comments: "It was fantastic that we were able to supply the complete technical solutions on such a brilliant celebration of industry talent. We were also extremely proud to sponsor something as important as the Unsung Hero Award. It is people like Ned who are actually at the heart of theatre, making sure everything ticks over, and we are delighted that he has received this recognition."