The Stage annual New Year Party is an event I look forward to, not least because it allows me to catch up with so many friends and acquaintances from the London theatre community, who I usually only get to chat to 'in the interval'. Now tied into The Stage 100 Awards, the event remains a social highlight of the theatre calendar but now sees the presentation of awards for Best Regional Theatre, Best London Theatre, Best Fringe Theatre, Best Producer, Best School and the Unsung Hero Award, which was this year given posthumously to theatre consultant Andy Collier.
Listening to the acceptance speeches I couldn't help but be impressed by the Michael Grandage Company, who graciously listed the phenomenal accomplishments of its fellow nominees - Sonia Friedman Productions and Headlong - ahead of accepting The Stage for the award. That's how to do an acceptance speech!
Among the people I was able to catch up with included Roger Foss, Stephanie Methven, Penny Horner, La familie Plews, Lisa Martland, David Burns, Danielle Tarento, Rosie Barltett and of course, some of The Stage staff who I no longer see on a daily basis.
The rest of the event was a flurry of introductions and happy reunions before retiring to The Globe for the less formal part of the afternoon. As ever this allowed me to catch up with Alan Myatt, who has been MC of the event for about ten years now and also Anna Papakyriacou and Sarah Rogers, who had dropped by to say hi. Sean popped by eventually and we wandered over to Piccadilly for dinner at the Brasserie Zedel, with time just before for a daiquiri at the Crazy Coqs - there was a massive queue at the American Bar.
Not all Fridays are like this - but it's just as well, I suppose. The morning had seen me file a student showcase review, spend an hour in the gym and swim 1500 metres before squeezing myself into a suit and catching a train to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It was all compounded by the fact that I hadn't had a drink since December 31st in an attempt to bolster a New Year health kick. Well that's over now, at least until Lent!
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