Sheffield Theatres win Stage regional theatre award

Sheffield Theatres has been named the best regional theatre for the second year running at the Stage Awards.

The organisation, which runs the Crucible and Lyceum venues, was recognised for its range of new shows in the past season, such as its stage adaptation of The Full Monty.

The entertainment industry newspaper's 2014 awards also saw Hampstead Theatre named London theatre of the year.

Michael Grandage's company was named producer of the year.

The Donmar Warehouse's former artistic director was praised for his inaugural West End season, which featured the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Jude Law and Dame Judi Dench and offered £10 tickets.

The prize for school of the year went to the National Youth Theatre, which provided free training to young people in 2013.

London's Southwark Playhouse was named best fringe theatre, while the annual "unsung hero" award was presented posthumously to theatre consultant Andy Collier.

"It is a fantastic honour to be crowned regional theatre of the year for the second year running," said Sheffield Theatres' chief executive Dan Bates.

Tha past year, he continued, had been "truly unforgettable" and had seen the theatres' work seen "on a local, national and international level".

"It was another really tough year for the judges across all the categories," said Alistair Smith, chair of the judging panel and The Stage's deputy editor.