The Critics' Circle

The Critics' Circle is the national professional body of British critics for books, drama, film, music, dance, visual arts and architecture.

It was established in 1913 as a successor to the defunct Society of Dramatic Critics, formed in 1906.

The Critics’ Circle Awards are claimed to be unique, decided by the country’s most experienced professional arts journalists and critics on the basis of hearing the widest range of performances across the UK and Ireland.

In 1989 the Drama section organized the first of its Critics' Circle Theatre Awards ceremonies.

The award takes the form of an engraved crystal rose bowl presented at a celebratory luncheon which, in recent years, has been held at the Royal National Theatre.