Give theater choreographers and action directors their own awards, says union group | stage

Theater choreographers and movement directors are undervalued at awards ceremonies and deserve greater recognition, says Equity Group, which represents both disciplines.

At last weekend’s Olivier Gala, the award for Best Theater Choreographer went to Fabien Allouise for Evita at the London Palladium. In a statement, Equity’s Choreographers and Movement Directors Network (CMDN) said it was “great to see choreography recognized on major stages such as the Olivier Awards” but drew attention to movement directors who worked on nominated productions but were not recognized in their respective category. CMDN said the concert “opens a larger dialogue about the language we use to describe how theater is made, and questions about whose name gets mentioned in the process — especially when it comes to movement and choreography.”

“We want to highlight action directors whose work has been integral to some of the year’s strongest productions: Leanne Pinder for Punch, Sarah Golding for Kenrex, and Imogen Knight for [the opera] Dead Man Walking, Jenny Ogilvie for Into the Woods, Sung Im Her for The Glass Menagerie, Lucy Hind for Inter Alia, and Chloe Dean for The Boy at the Back of the Class.

While theatrical choreography typically refers to dance sequences, movement direction is integral to creating the physical language of the entire production, enhancing storytelling, characterization and drama. Many choreographers also work as movement directors, but productions often use different individuals in each role.

“Action direction is located in a precise space: it’s not always ‘dance’, it’s not always credited as choreography, but it’s essential to how the show lives and breathes,” CMDN said. “If we celebrate the impact of physical storytelling, we must also evolve how we value the artists behind it.”

The network has praised the British Black Theater Awards for expanding its choreography category in 2022 to include movement direction. But she highlighted that the UK Theater Awards do not usually have a category dedicated to choreography or movement, and neither do the Critics’ Circle Theater Awards.

Movement director and choreographer Polly Bennett created CMDN in 2023 so her careers could be “seen, recognized and respected.” The network has more than 200 members. In 2025, steering group member Elaine Keane – who works on screen and stage – asked in an interview with The Guardian: “Why are there no Oscars for choreography? Why are there no BAFTAs? Why aren’t we being honoured?”

Last month, professionals from across the theater industry signed a petition calling on the Olivier family to include a video design category “to enhance the inclusivity of the Olivier Awards, further reflecting the diverse and evolving nature of the performing arts.” Under the current system, video designers share eligibility with other majors. This year, the Olivier Award for Best Set Design went to Tom Pye (Set) and Ash J Woodward (Video) for Paddington: The Musical while Best Lighting Design went to Aiden Malone (Lighting) and Roland Horvath (Video) for Into the Woods.