Topping The Stage 100 list are husband and wife team Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire, joint chief executives of Ambassador Theatre Group, now the largest theatre owner in the U.K., followed in joint second place by Dominic Cooke, Michael Grandage and Nicholas Hytner, artistic directors of the Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse and National Theatres, respectively. Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who have both topped the list in previous years, are now placed fifth and sixth, respectively. The Royal Court is also winner of the inaugural Stage 100 Award for London Theatre of the Year, with Northampton Royal and Derngate taking the award for Regional Theatre of the Year, the Finborough Theatre taking the award for Fringe Theatre of the Year, English Touring Theatre named Producer of the Year, and the Sylvia Young Theatre School named Performing Arts School of the Year.
In a press statement, Alistair Smith, deputy editor of The Stage, commented, "This is the first time in the 15-year history of the Stage 100 that neither Andrew Lloyd Webber nor Cameron Mackintosh has placed in the top two. The shift in power to the Ambassador Theatre Group, which operates more theatres in both London and the regions than anyone else, represents a new world order for the theatre industry. No longer is it led by two powerful and personally wealthy individuals, but by a company run on finance, with shareholders to answer to. The placing of Cooke, Grandage and Hytner in second also reflects the increased influence and importance of the subsidised sector – especially in terms of quality play production. This triumvirate will be crucial in sustaining UK theatre through the tough funding conditions ahead."
The full top 20 follows:
1 Howard Panter/Rosemary Squire (Ambassador Theatre Group)
2= Dominic Cooke (Royal Court, London)
2= Michael Grandage (Donmar Warehouse)
2= Nicholas Hytner (National Theatre)
5 Cameron Mackintosh (Cameron Mackintosh Ltd)
6 Andrew Lloyd Webber (Really Useful Group)
7 Nica Burns / Max Weitzenhoffer (Nimax)
8 Michael Boyd (Royal Shakespeare Company)
9 Bill Kenwright (Bill Kenwright Ltd)
10 Kevin Spacey / Sally Greene
11 Nick Thomas (Qdos)
12 Sonia Friedman (Sonia Friedman Productions)
13 David Babani (Menier Chocolate Factory)
14 Ruth Mackenzie (Director, Cultural Olympiad)
15 Mark Rylance (Actor)
16 Jonathan Church (Chichester Festival Theatre)
17 Louise Jeffreys (Barbican Centre)
18 Rupert Goold (Headlong Theatre / director)
19 David Lan (Young Vic Theatre)
20 Sheridan Smith (Actor)