A SPECIAL tribute award was presented to actor Rosaleen Linehan for her contribution to Irish theatre at the 11th annual Irish TimesTheatre Awards last night.
The Dublin-born actor, whose career to date has included acclaimed performances as Kathleen in Mother of all the Behans and as Kate in Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa, was presented with her award by Irish Timesmanaging editor Gerry Smyth.
Actors Mark O'Regan and Michael James Ford were comperes for the event, which took place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin.
The award for best actress went to Eileen Walsh for her performance as B in the Abbey production of Terminus by Mark O'Rowe, while Nick Dunning received the award for best actor for his role as King Philip II in the Rough Magic production of Don Carlos by Friedrich Schiller.
The best director award went to Jimmy Fay for the Abbey Theatre production of Saved by Edward Bond.
Rory Keenan received the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of Ronan in the Landmark production of The Last Days of the Celtic Tiger by Paul Howard, while Eleanor Methven's performance as Mary in the Abbey Theatre production of Edward Bond's Saved garnered her the award for best supporting actress.
Rough Magic took the award for best production for Don Carlos, by Friedrich Schiller, in a version by Mike Poulton, which was directed by Lynne Parker.
Seán McLoughlin's Noah and the Tower Flower, which was produced by Fishamble, received the best new play award.
The Gate Theatre's production of Sweeney Todd by Hugh Wheeler, in an adaptation by Christopher Bond which was directed by Selina Cartmell, received the award for best opera.
The judges' special award went to Bairbre Ní Chaoimh for her alignment of contemporary Irish theatre with a passionate commitment to human rights.
The three judges, Madeline Boughton, John Fairleigh, and Christopher Fitz-Simon, chose last night's winners from more than 140 new theatre productions throughout Ireland which they viewed last year. The judges for the 2008 Awards will be Madeline Boughton, Donal Shiels and Sara Keating.
Pictures and full coverage of the awards will appear in tomorrow's Irish Times, while highlights of last night's ceremony will be screened on RTÉ 1 tonight at 11.20pm.
THEATRE AWARDS: Winners
Best director:Jimmy Fay for the Abbey Theatre production of Saved by Edward Bond.
Best actor:Nick Dunning as King Philip II in the Rough Magic production of Don Carlos by Friedrich Schiller.
Best actress:Eileen Walsh as B in the Abbey production of Terminus by Mark O'Rowe.
Best supporting actor:Rory Keenan as Ronan in the Landmark production of The Last Days of the Celtic Tiger by Paul Howard.
Best supporting actress:Eleanor Methven as Mary in the Abbey Theatre production of Saved by Edward Bond.
Best new play:Seán McLoughlin for Noah and the Tower Flower, produced by Fishamble.
Best opera:The Gate Theatre production of Sweeney Todd by Hugh Wheller, in an adaptation by Christopher Bond, directed by Selina Cartmell.
Best production:Rough Magic for Don Carlos by Friedrich Schiller, in a version by Mike Poulton, directed by Lynne Parker.
Best designer: costume- Caroline Bronwen Hughes for the Second Age production of Othello by William Shakespeare.
Best designer: set- Paul Keogan for Opera Ireland's production of Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie.
Best designer: lighting- Sinéad Wallace for the Rough Magic production of Don Carlos by Friedrich Schiller and the Abbey Theatre production of Saved by Edward Bond.
Judges special award:Bairbre Ní Chaoimh for aligning contemporary Irish theatre with a passionate commitment to human rights.