Minack Trophy tied again as Redruth society shares the top spot

Forty-six productions. One trophy. And for the second year in a row, nobody could pick a single winner.

The Minack has handed out its annual Minack Trophy for 2026, and once again two companies are sharing it. One travelled down from Yorkshire. The other came from just up the road in Redruth.

📷Ilkley Playhouse's The Girl on the Train at the Minack. Credit: Lynn Batten

A season that began with a giant

The 2026 season opened at Easter with Giants, a riotous reimagining of the legend of Cormoran, the terrible giant of St Michael’s Mount. It closed with Suzy Eddie Izzard’s one-person retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet.

In between came 46 different plays, musicals, concerts and gigs on the cliffside stage. Around 40% of them were by Cornish companies or performers.

At the end of each season the Minack Theatre traditionally awards the trophy to the company which, in the view of audiences and staff, produced the best overall production.

📷Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Trust's Come From Away at the Minack. Credit: Lynn Batten

The Girl on the Train

The first of this year’s joint winners is Minack favourite Ilkley Playhouse, from Yorkshire, with its production of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train.

The Minack described it as a deeply mesmerising production, using clever staging to bring the modern psychological thriller to life and keeping the audience entranced from start to finish.

Come From Away

Sharing the trophy is local group Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Trust, with the smash-hit musical Come From Away.

The show tells the true story of stranded passengers and crew after the 11 September 2001 attacks. It stunned audiences and earned repeated standing ovations, with its story of kindness and community delivered, in the Minack’s words, truly “at the edge of the Atlantic”.

📷Ilkley Playhouse's The Girl on the Train at the Minack. Credit: Lynn Batten

How the winners were chosen

Rebecca Thomas, Director of the Minack, said: “Once again the standard was extremely high this year and the breadth of the variety of productions made it very difficult to choose just one for this coveted award.

“The Minack Trophy is awarded for all aspects of a production including performance, direction, technical and set, as well as audience and staff feedback, and we feel that the two companies winning this year worked with the challenge of the Minack stage as an outdoor venue and really delivered with entertaining our audiences.”

📷Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Trust's Come From Away at the Minack. Credit: Lynn Batten

Highly commended and special mentions

The British Theatre Academy’s production of Dear Evan Hansen was highly commended, with incredibly moving performances and appreciative audiences throughout the week.

There was also a special mention for the Minack’s own productions, Giants and the summer reprisal of Goodnight Mister Tom. Between them they starred casts of 28 local children.

Sunshine, gigs and talent on the doorstep

Rebecca said: “We have been very fortunate that 2026 saw not only a huge amount of glorious weather but also some really fantastic performances from amateur and professional companies, along with some magical gig nights.

“The fact that so many were Cornish-based companies or performers is also testament to the talent here on our doorstep. The Minack is passionate about supporting Southwest artists and creatives, recognising that the challenge of outdoor theatre is not always an easy one!

“We would like to thank and congratulate all of the companies and artists who have brought such brilliant entertainment for our audiences this season.”

📷Ilkley Playhouse's The Girl on the Train at the Minack. Credit: Lynn Batten

📷Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Trust's Come From Away at the Minack. Credit: Lynn Batten