Laurels Theatre shortlisted for top honour as it bids farewell to its first home
Whitley Bay venue in the running for Fringe Theatre of the year at The Stage Awards 2026
Laurels Theatre has been nominated for Fringe Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards 2026.
The recognition comes at a pivotal moment for Laurels, whose team has just handed back the keys to its original base at the former Buffs Club on Whitley Road, where the venue has operated since summer 2021.
Now a registered charity, Laurels is searching for a new permanent home while planning to stage work at The Exchange 1856 in North Shields and at pop-up locations across the North East.
The nomination places the North East the Whitley Bay company alongside leading venues including London’s Finborough Theatre and Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre who are also shortlisted for the Fringe theatre award.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House on 12 January.
Posting on Facebook, co-founder Steve Robertson wrote: “In a wonderfully strange twist of fate, on the very day we hand back the keys to our first home… we find out we’ve been shortlisted for Fringe Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards. An enormous congratulations to the team and a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported us over years. What a nice way to end the year.”
The news of the nomination follows another significant milestone for the company: Gerry and Sewell, which debuted at Laurels in 2022, will transfer to London’s Aldwych Theatre for a two-week West End run from January 13, before returning to Newcastle Theatre Royal in June.
Tickets for the London run of Gerry & Sewell (January 13-24, 2026) are available from today (Friday, November 14) - visit nederlander.co.uk/whats-on/ for more information.
The Newcastle Theatre Royal run kicks off on June 9 (Blaydon Races day, obviously!) and runs to June 13, 2026. Tickets from theatreroyal.uk