We are ending 2024 with a bang after being shortlisted for many esteemed award nominations over the last 12 months.

We were winners at the 2024 Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) Excellence Awards last month and were named Medium Business of the Year.

The GMCC Excellence Awards showcase and celebrate business achievements highlighting organisations, leaders and teams who have demonstrated success within their industries and communities in Greater Manchester.

Our work on stage, extensive national partnerships, and work with Bolton’s communities have all been praised. In particular, our numerous steps to improving access to the arts such as our affordable ticket scheme, work with refugees, unpaid carers, and other efforts to include as many people as possible.

The Octagon’s Chief Executive, Roddy Gauld said: “It’s a wonderful testament to our team’s achievements that we’ve been named Medium Business of the Year, and I'm so pleased that as a charity, our work has been recognised. The judges said they were looking for a business that made a positive contribution to the community and economy, as well as showing growth and innovation, and excellence in customer service. I’m incredibly proud that the Octagon has stood out across Greater Manchester.”

It has been an exciting year at the Octagon after also being shortlisted for UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre at this year’s prestigious UK Theatre Awards. This award recognises theatres that go above and beyond to welcome audiences and reach local communities.

Lotte Wakeham, our Artistic Director, won the Women in Leadership award at the SheInspires Awards earlier this month, and has been nominated in the Power List and Agent of Change categories at the 2025 Northern Power Women’s Awards – with winners announced at a ceremony in early 2025.

Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham commented on her award win:“I am completely over the moon to have won the Women in Leadership award at this year’s SheInspires Awards. It was an honour to be a finalist in the category amongst such amazing and inspirational women who are all doing incredible work in their respective fields.”

Plus, our co-production of Testmatch with Orange Tree Theatre and English Touring Theatre was also recently shortlisted for Best Stage Production at the 2024 Asian Media Awards.