19 May 2025
Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland
The CATS Awards celebrate extraordinary achievements in Scottish Theatre and we’re delighted to see Dewar Awardees among the 2025 nominees.
The Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) honour the best achievements in Scottish theatre each year, selected by a panel of expert theatre critics. First awarded in 2003, the CATS have become an annual celebration of the best in Scottish theatre. To be eligible for a CATS Award, shows must be substantially produced in Scotland, or developed, rehearsed and premiered in Scotland. We’re delighted to see Dewar Awardees Dani Heron (2009) and Martin Quinn (2014) featured in the shortlist for the 2025 Awards.
Dani Heron has been nominated for the Outstanding Performance award for Alright Sunshine. A razor-sharp monologue dissecting gender, power, and who owns public space, the play was written by Isla Cowan and directed at the Tron Theatre by 2010 Dewar Awardee Debbie Hannan.
Dani received a Dewar Award in 2009 to support her degree studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Speaking of the award at the time, she said:
“Without your support, my dram of training at LAMDA may not have been possible, and for that reason I cannot thank you enough.”
Dani was also in the cast of Radiant Vermin at the Tron Theatre, which has been shortlisted for Best Ensemble. Philip Ridley’s wickedly comic satire tells the story of a young couple offered a ‘too-good-to-be-true’ way onto the property ladder. In this role, she starred alongside fellow Dewar Awardee Martin Quinn.
Martin received a Dewar Award in 2014 to support his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Speaking at the time, he said:
“It is no exaggeration to say that I would find it impossible to train at Guildhall without the support of the Dewar Arts Award. Needless to say, I am very grateful!”
We’re wishing all the nominees the very best of luck for the ceremony, which will take place on Sunday 8 June at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh.
To find out more about the CATS Awards, visit: criticsawards.theatrescotland.com
To find out more about applying to the Dewar Arts Awards, visit: dewarawards.org/apply
