The Irish Critic has noted that a few of you theatre lovers have been searching for information on The Irish Times Theatre Awards 2009. This has been noted and as usual the critic has accomodated your every need by providing you with a list of this years nominees- quite a line up. The Irish Critic’s vote goes for Tom Vaughan Lawlor in the best actor category.

BEST ACTOR

Tom Vaughan-Lawlor: As Aruturo Ui in the Abbey Theatre production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Ralph Manheim

Sean Campion: As Raphael Bell in the Nomad and Livin’ Dred production of The Dead School, by Patrick McCabe

David Bradley: As Spooner in the Gate Theatre production of No Man’s Land, by Harold Pinter

Aaron Monaghan: As Billy in the Druid and Atlantic Theatre Company’s production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, by Martin McDonagh

BEST ACTRESS

Dearbhle Crotty: As Masha in the Abbey Theatre production of The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, in a version by Brian Friel

Samantha Heaney: As Pumpgirl in the Lyric Theatre production of Pumpgirl, by Abbie Spallen

Anita Reeves: As Kay in the Gúna Nua and Civic Theatre production of Little Gem, by Elaine Murphy

Fiona Bell: As Mill in the Hatch Theatre Company, in association with Project Arts Centre, production of Further than the Furthest Thing, by Zinnie Harris

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR As Patsy in the Druid Theatre Company production of The New Electric Ballroom, by Enda Walsh

Mikel Murfi:

Don Wycherley: As Ivan in the Abbey Theatre production of The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson

Andrew Bennett: As Martin in the Abbey Theatre production of Fool for Love, by Sam Shepard

Walter McGonagle: As Old Man in Prime Cut’s production of Antigone, by Sophocles, adapted by Owen McCafferty

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Aoibheann O’Hara: As Miss Mabel Chiltern in the Abbey Theatre production of An Ideal Husband, by Oscar Wilde

Aisling O’Sullivan: As Lily in the Abbey Theatre production of Lay Me Down Softly, by Billy Roche

Rosaleen Linehan: As Breda in Druid Theatre Company’s production of The New Electric Ballroom, by Enda Walsh

Dearbhla Molloy: As Eileen in the Druid and Atlantic Theatre Company’s production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, by Martin McDonagh

BEST DIRECTOR For the Gate Theatre production of No Man’s Land, by Harold Pinter

Rupert Goold :

Neil Bartlett: For the Abbey Theatre production of An Ideal Husband, by Oscar Wilde

Wayne Jordan: For the Randolf SD production of Everyone Loves Sylvia, by Pierre De Marivaux

Garry Hynes: For Druid and Atlantic Theatre Company’s production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, by Martin McDonagh

BEST NEW PLAY For Pumpgirl, produced by Lyric Offsite Productions

Abbie Spallen:

Enda Walsh: For The New Electric Ballroom, produced by Druid Theatre Company

Elaine Murphy: For Little Gem, produced by Gúna Nua and Civic Theatre

Dan Reardon: For Bleeding Poets, produced by Roomkeepers

BEST PRODUCTION

Loose Canon: For Phaedras Love by Sarah Kane, directed by Jason Byrne

Joan Sheehy: For Buck Jones and the Bodysnatchers by Ken Bourke, directed by Joan Sheehy

The Abbey Theatre: For The Burial at Thebes by Sophocles, in a version by Seamus Heaney, directed by Patrick Mason

Nomad and Livin’ Dred: For The Dead School by Patrick McCabe, directed by Padraic McIntyre

BEST DESIGNER: COSTUME

Rae Smith: For the Abbey Theatre production of An Ideal Husband, by Oscar Wilde

Maree Kearns: For the Nomad and Livin’ Dred production of The Dead School, by Patrick McCabe

Sinead Cuthbert (left) and Therese McKeon: For the Performance Corporation production of The Nose, by Nikolai Gogol, adapted by Tom Swift

Niamh Lunny: For The Ark’s production of Beware of the Storybook Wolves, by Lauren Child, adapted by Tom Swift

BEST DESIGNER: LIGHTING

Neil Austin: For the Gate Theatre production of No Man’s Land, by Harold Pinter

Kevin Tracey: For the Performance Corporation’s production of The Nose, by Nikolai Gogol, adapted by Tom Swift

Paul Keogan: For Wexford Opera’s production of Mines of Sulphur, by Richard Rodney Bennett

Davy Cunningham: For the Gate Theatre production of The Weir, by Conor McPherson

BEST DESIGNER: SET

Lez Brotherston: For the Gate Theatre production of Hedda Gabler, by Henrik Ibsen, in a version by Brian Friel

Monica Frawley: For the B*spoke Theatre Company production of The Sanctuary Lamp, by Tom Murphy

Owen MacCárthaigh: For the Cork Opera House/Association of Regional Theatres (NI) production of Juno and the Paycock, by Sean OCasey

Ferdia Murphy: For the Abbey Theatre production of Lay Me Down Softly, by Billy Roche

BEST OPERA PRODUCTION

Opera 2005: For A Masked Ball by Verdi, directed by Tom Hawkes

Wexford Opera: For The Mines of Sulphur by Richard Rodney Bennett, directed by Michael Barker-Caven

Castleward Opera: For Così fan Tutte by Mozart, directed by Tom Hawkes

Opera Ireland: For Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss, directed by Dieter Kaegi

JUDGES’ SPECIAL AWARD

Brokentalkers: For their innovative work for new audiences using new technologies and formats for the theatre.

Wexford Opera House: For the opening of the first custom built multi-purpose opera house in Ireland.

Conor Lovett: For his performances of the prose works of Samuel Beckett with Gare St Lazare Players

Paul Burke: For his commitment and dedication as a fight director