Michael Patrick wins prestigious Judges' Award for The Tragedy of Richard III
Michael Patrick has won the Judges' award, one of the UK's biggest drama awards, at The Stage Awards for creating and starring in the Lyric's production of The Tragedy of Richard III.
Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2023, the actor worked with director Oisín Kearney to adapt Shakespeare’s play to reframe the title character as someone who, like himself, had developed a disability as part of a terminal illness. By the time the production made it to the stage, Michael was himself in a wheelchair. He delivered a landmark performance in a production that centred disability and disabled performers.
The judges said: “Acting performances are regularly described as brave, but there can be very few performers who have displayed the fortitude on stage that Michael did in this production. It was truly astonishing.”
A true pillar of innovation and inspiration in the performing arts, Michael’s talent, dedication, and creativity leave an indelible mark on all his projects. It was an absolute privilege to collaborate with Michael and Oisín for The Tragedy of Richard III, both as writer and actor, and we’ve been honoured to work alongside him on a range of previous projects, including The Border Game, The Alternative, Blackout and more.
We’re delighted to celebrate Michael’s well-deserved recognition. Please join us in applauding one of our incredible artists!