An Introduction to the LeedsCAN Guild Awards

The LeedsCAN Guild Awards are held in the first weekend of September every year at the Carriageworks and they celebrate the achievements of the previous season.

Who Can Take Part?

Entry into the LeedsCAN Awards and adjudication system is mandatory for any LeedsCAN group performances at The Carriageworks, and is optional for any other LeedsCAN group performances in other venues. 

Your group must be a member of LeedsCAN to take part.

What does it cost?

Entry to the awards process is included as part of your LeedsCAN subscription. However, it is expected that adjudicators be given 1 compliementory ticket and are offered a programme for each show they adjudicate with the costs for this incurred by the group.

Awards are in many categories (see below) most are awarded according to a points based system.

5 adjudicators made up from a panel of your peers from other LeedsCAN groups watch each production and score various categories from 0 - 10 to one decimal place. 

It is impossible for the same panel to attend every production, so a process of adjudication has been designed to provide a thoughtful evaluation of each production.

Productions are not, and cannot be adjudicated against each other. They are, rather, adjudicated against a detailed rubric that each adjudicator is asked to follow. Adjudicators receive instruction in the application and understanding of the rubric. 

Scores are electronically submitted. Adjudicators selected for each show should have no direct relationship with the presenting group. 

Once all the ballots are received, the coordinator records the scores and any nominees for applicable awards.

Only the written nominations and any numerical ties will be discussed by the whole adjudicators panel at the close of the season. There are never any changes made by the panel or by the coordinator. They only check for spelling errors and provide pronunciation support to the nominee readers at the reading of the nominations ceremony. The coordinator orders the awards based on the final numbers that had already been tallied. 

The top 5 scorers in each scored category will be considered as nominated for that specific award, with the winner being the one with the highest score. 

Any adjudicators comments will be shared with the company as soon as possible after the adjudications ballots have been received. 

Scores will not be shared with companies.