YORKSHIRE theatre company Northern Broadsides have won the Best New Play award at the 2014 UK Theatre Awards for their touring co-production of Deborah McAndrew's An August Bank Holiday Lark with the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to receive this award," says Deborah. "It was a huge pleasure and a great honour to write this play, and I was very proud of the production by Northern Broadsides and the New Vic Theatre. It was fantastic to be part of a joyful celebration of UK theatre at London’s magnificent Guildhall.”

Northern Broadsides artistic director Barrie Rutter adds: “We were on a table at the back of the Guildhall, and watching Deborah taking the long walk to receive her award gave me the chance to silently thank everyone involved in the production and to loudly cheer as she turned round clutching her award."

Taking its title from a line in Philip Larkin’s poem MCMXIV, An August Bank Holiday Lark explored the impact of the First World War on a rural community in East Lancashire. The play visited York Theatre Royal, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, and Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in April.

The other nominations in the Best New Play category were David Haig's Pressure, premiered by the Chichester Festival Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, and Alice Birch's Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (CORRECT), staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Other Place and the Royal Court.

Halifax company Northern Broadsides are now touring Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops To Conquer, playing York Theatre Royal from November 25 to 29. Box office: Leeds, 0113 213 7700 or wyp.org.uk; York, 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Playwright Deborah McAndrew receives the Best New Play award in the 2014 UK Theatre Awards.