KOI names five new judges for 2020
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The KOI Awards invites critics, journalists and industry professionals to form its three independent judging panels for the categories of Concert & Event, Television and Theatre.
Critic, broadcaster, and chair of the Theatre judging panel David Benedict is joined by three new judges: Mark Pullinger, an experienced opera critic and editor of classical music magazine Bachtrack; Sarah Crompton, dance critic for The Observer and theatre reviewer for Whatsonstage; and Susannah Clapp, theatre critic for The Observer. Each will serve a two-year term on the Theatre panel, where they join existing judges Louise Levene of the Financial Times, deputy arts editor and music critic of The Times Neil Fisher, and joint lead critic of The Stage, Tim Bano.
Welcoming the new appointments, Benedict comments: “All six judges see lighting in artforms beyond their own particular discipline, so I look forward to highly informed, engaged and opinionated discussion in all five theatre categories at this year's judging session.”
Meanwhile, the Concert & Event judging panel welcomed Total Production International (TPi) editor Stew Hume as its new judge. Hume joins LSi editor Claire Beeson; lighting director of 18 Degrees Christopher Knowlton; music business and events consultant Ronnie Gurr; and head of lighting design at Imagination Johnny Milmer.
KOI has also announced the addition of lighting designer and multiple KOI Award winner Nigel Catmur to the Television Awards judging panel. Catmur will work alongside television critic for FT Weekend Suzi Feay, television editor for The Times James Jackson, art director and production designer Fleur Whitlock, lighting director John O'Brien and lighting designer and programmer Ross Williams.
Submissions for the KOI 2020 Television and Concert & Event Awards categories can be made through the KOI website until 30 June; theatre productions are exclusively nominated and shortlisted by the Theatre judging panel.
The winners will be announced at the 2020 KOI Awards ceremony and gala dinner at London's Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith on Sunday, 6 September.
(Jim Evans)
