The Irish theatre company Fishamble has put out a plea to the public to try and retrieve an Olivier Award which was stolen from their Dublin offices on Saturday night, saying it has "sentimental value" to them.
The Olivier Award was given to the Fishamble team and Pat Kinevane in 2016 for the one-man show Silent, which was written and performed by Cork star Kinevane and directed by Jim Culleton.
"A number of things were stolen from the office, a number of awards. We're sorry to see those go and hoping that they're not much value to anyone else apart from us and hoping that they might turn up in the next while."
Several items were stolen from the offices but the Fishamble team are particularly keen to retrieve the Olivier Award which has a special place in their hearts and on their mantlepiece.
The Olivier Awards are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London and Fishamble is the only Irish theatre company to have won this prestigious award.
Culleton said of the significance of the trophy: "You put on plays in order to employ artists and to engage with audiences and to do the work.
"So the awards, in a way, aren't the important thing, but when you get something like an Olivier Award - we're the only Irish theatre company to have won one for an Irish production - it's a real mark of achievement."
Watch Pat Kinevane and Jim Culleton receive the Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre at The Olivier Awards in 2016.
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Cullerton added: "The award is one that we've brought around with us as we toured nationally and internationally.
"People have taken photographs with it and donated money to the Simon Community because the play is about a homeless man, so it's had quite a bit of touring history with us. We're fond of the Olivier Award and hope it'll be back on the mantelpiece soon with a bit of luck.
"It's valuable to us, it's got sentimental value, but it's not necessarily something anyone else would want to have necessarily."
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the Olivier Award is asked to contact the Fishamble team on their social media accounts @fishamble / #BringLarryBack.
Culleton said people can also contact the Gardaí who are investigating the case.
Fishamble's upcoming projects include two productions with Pat Kinevane, Silent and King, as well as the national tour of Outrage by Deirdre Kinahan.
Fishamble is funded by the Arts Council, Dublin City Council and Culture Ireland.
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