RICHMOND'S Georgian Theatre Royal has been shortlisted in an international building of the year competition.

The eighteenth century venue is one of two buildings in Yorkshire to be chosen to battle it out in the final of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors awards. They will be judged alongside some of the most remarkable and innovative buildings in the world. Category and overall winners are announced in London in May.

The theatre and other Yorkshire nominee, Paxtons Pavilions in Sheffield, feature in the building conservation category.

Vaughn Curtis, theatre manager, said the nomination rounded off a successful year for the venue, which underwent a £1.5m refurbishment over the last two years.

"The fact we have been nominated is absolutely fabulous because this is a very prestigious award," he said.

"It shows the faith everyone has had in the building works and the re-opening of the theatre. We have got our fingers crossed for May."

In all, 41 schemes from an original entry of more than 160 will contest the awards categories, which also include regeneration, sustainability and community benefit.

Among them is the Suncorp Stadium in Australia, scene of several rugby world cup matches in November.

The RICS awards celebrate the best building and conservation projects. Past winners include the London Royal Opera House, the Eden Project in Cornwall and the site of the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney.

As part of the judging process, a panel of RICS experts visits each shortlisted project before the end of February.

Panel chairman, Simon Potts, said: "The response has been overwhelming this year. All the entries highlight the exceptional standards of work being done today to enhance and preserve the global built and natural environments.

"The shortlist contains a magnificent range of exciting projects which are a credit to the skilled teams involved."