The Association of British Theatre Technicians’ Annual Awards took place on Wednesday evening, 5th June, after the first day of the ABTT Theatre Show 2024 at Alexandra Palace, London. This year at the ABTT Awards, which are one of the ABTT’s flagship events celebrating those people and products making a difference to the Industry, the ABTT celebrated Robin Townley’s achievements as CEO over the last 12 years, surrounded by friends, colleagues and industry members.

Following the presentation of the ABTT People and Product Awards, ABTT Co-Chairs David Evans and Mig Burgess took the opportunity to show Robin how the industry felt about his work.

ABTT Co-Chairs Mig Burgess and David Evans stated “The ABTT is a sum of the people that make the Association. Whilst this is true, we would be remiss not to mention that Robin Townley has been instrumental in bringing those people together since 2012. At this point we would like to introduce a short video, put together ABTT Vice Chair, Ollie Brown with the support of members of our industry, to truly  reveal the extent of how Robin’s efforts have benefitted the industry as well individuals and their careers as well”.

The video featured clips from a small sample of the people who have been impacted by Robin’s efforts during his tenure with the video featuring large number of current and past ABTT trustees, members, committee chairs and Industry heads.

Robin was then presented with the characteristic ABTT Hookclamp Award which the ABTT had specially modified to be gold-plated and engraved with “Robin Townley, in acknowledgement for outstanding service as ABTT CEO 2012–2024”.

This is the only second award of its kind to be presented in the ABTT’s rich history of 63 years. The Gold Hookclamp Award has only ever been presented once before and is only given to those who are recognised for their remarkable achievements.

Robin Townley commented: “Thank you all, it has been absolutely wonderful.  I believe that theatre is fundamentally important to our society and I’m so lucky to have found a career that has allowed me to contribute through the technical and production side of theatre, to that process. It is the people that I have met that has made it so enjoyable. I have met the most generous, experienced, interesting, diverse human beings that one could ever ask to come across and I have learned enormously from all of them and all of you and to say I shall miss it is an absolutely enormous understatement.”

The ABTT would like to express its heartfelt thanks to Robin for all his hard work and tireless dedication, developing the ABTT’s membership, progressing our standards and guidance notes and bringing the ABTT’s work into the Industry spotlight.

Liz Sillett added: “As you have all seen and heard already, I have got very big shoes to fill! I would like to just say a final big thank you to Robin for having brought the ABTT to where it is now and it is a thrill to be able to take it over at this point!”