Added on April 17, 2014 John-Paul Stephenson

Wet House the big winners at 2013 Journal Culture Awards

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page Send by Email

Image: Riley Jones, Joe Caffrey and Chris Connel in Wet House

Wet House, the dark comedy which premiered last Autumn at the Live Theatre, has won three prizes at the 2013 Journal Culture Awards.

Paddy Campbell won the ‘best writer’ award at the ceremony at The Sage in Gateshead for his debut full-length play, inspired by his experiences of working in a ‘wet house’, a hostel in which alcohol can be consumed within a safe environment.

The ensemble cast of Wet House, which included Riley Jones, Jackie Lye, Joe Caffrey, David Nellist and Eva Quinn, was named ‘performance of the year’.

Joe Caffrey picked up the award for ‘performing artist of the year’ for his role as a vulnerable alcoholic.

Caffrey said that 2013 was a particularly good year for him, with a return to Newcastle with The Pitman Painters, and taking part in the Live Theatre’s 40^th anniversary celebrations with Wet House and Lee Hall’s Cooking with Elvis.

The dark comedy opened at the theatre on Newcastle’s Quayside to rave reviews from publications like The Stage and The Guardian.

Giggle Beats branded it “excessively brilliant”.

Wet House will have a run at the Soho Theatre in London later this year before returning to the Live Theatre.

Here are the full list of winners:

Visual Artist of the Year: Cecilia Stenbom

Performance of the Year: Wet House

Performing Artist of the Year: Joe Caffrey

Newcomer of the Year: Pop Records Ltd.

Writer of the Year: Paddy Campbell

North East Museum Award: Bridie Jackson & the Arbour at Woodhorn

Best Arts & Business Partnership: SCA & Wideyed

Arts Council Award: Foghorn Requiem