Winners announced for 2008 MTM:UK Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The winners have been announced for the second annual Musical Theatre Awards at Edinburgh's Festival Fringe. The ceremony took place at 10am in the Music Hall at Assembly @ George Street in front of a full audience, where several other awards (including the Scotsman’s final Fringe Firsts) were also announced. The MTM:UK segment was presented by Dr. Nick Phillips, Head of Musical Theatre at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and West End star Frances Ruffelle.

One production – BARBERSHOPERA! – walked away with two awards: the MTM:UK Award for Best Lyrics in a New Musical and the prestigious OD Musical Award for Most Promising New Musical. Two other award winners were also announced – DEPARTURE LOUNGE won the MTM:UK Award for Best Music in a New Musical (music by Dougal Irvine), and FUNK IT UP ABOUT NOTHIN’ received the Dress Circle Award for Best Musical Production. They also closed the whole ceremony with a performance of their rap title song.

The judging panel, this year, decided not to give an award in the Best Book for a New Musical. Whilst a highly unusual decision, the judges felt that there were no Musicals with a book of a high enough quality at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008. Instead, the move to withhold the Best Book award is hoped to be seen to set a certain bar for next year which we hope companies, bringing Musical Theatre to next year’s festival, will feel challenged to strive to achieve.

Click here for a full list of the winners.

Click here to read our news story on the nominations announcements.