Evening Standard Awards

Evening Standard Awards
Awarded for	Outstanding achievements in London theatre
Presented by	Evening Standard
Country	United Kingdom
First awarded	1955

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre. Sponsored by the Evening Standard newspaper, they are announced in late November or early December.

Trophies

The trophies take the form of a strongly modelled statuette, a somewhat Grecian figure representing Drama, designed by Frank Dobson RA, a former Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art.

Categories

Three of the awards are given in the names of former Evening Standard notables:

• Arts editor Sydney Edwards (who conceived the awards, and died suddenly in July 1979) for the Best Director category.
• Editor Charles Wintour (who as deputy-editor in 1955, launched the awards after a 'nod from the then proprietor, Lord Beaverbrook') for Most Promising Playwright.
• Long-serving theatre critic Milton Shulman (for several years a key member of the judging panel) for the Outstanding Newcomer award.

In 1980, noting the first use of the Special Award category, Shulman observed that: "In 1968 the judges felt that Alan Bennett's work Forty Years On did not fit either the category of a Play or a Musical. But since they liked it so much they gave him the coveted Dobson statuette as a Special Award. In a quarter of a century, only in 1968 had no-one been designated as 'Promising' although it could conceivably be argued that Alan Bennett's Special Award was a reasonable substitute for this category."^[1]

The Special Awards process came to a climax in 2004 when, in the 50th anniversary year, the category was used to signal peaks of accomplishment by the National Theatre (an institution), Harold Pinter (a playwright) and Dame Judi Dench (a performer).

The Patricia Rothermere Award, presented biennially, was established in 1999 to recognise those who have given outstanding support to young actors. There is also a three-year scholarship award for a drama student. Lady Rothermere is the wife of Lord Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, owners of the Evening Standard.

Commencing in 2007, the award for Best Musical was renamed The Ned Sherrin Award, in memory of the entertainer and raconteur, for many years the witty compere of the Evening Standard Awards ceremony. The Best Actress award is now named in tribute to Natasha Richardson who died after a skiing accident in Quebec in March 2009.

Awards ceremonies

The 2007 Awards lunchtime ceremony took place at the Savoy Hotel in London on 27 November, 2007. ^[2]. For the judges' assessments of the winners, see [3]^[3]

The 2008 winners were announced in a ceremony at the Royal Opera House on 24 November 2008 ^[4].For the judges' assessments of the winners, see [4].^[5]

The 2009 winners will be announced in a ceremony at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on Monday, 23rd November, 2009.

Shortlist - Nominations for 2009

Best Actor

• Simon Russell Beale for The Winter's Tale (Old Vic)
• Mark Rylance for Jerusalem (Royal Court)
• Ken Stott for A View From The Bridge (Duke of York's)
• Samuel West for Enron (Royal Court)

The Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress

• Deanna Dunagan for August: Osage County (Steppenwolf/National Theatre)
• Penny Downie for Helen (Shakespeare's Globe)
• Juliet Stevenson for Duet For One (Almeida/Vaudeville)
• Rachel Weisz for A Streetcar Named Desire (Donmar Warehouse)

Best Play

• August: Osage County by Tracy Letts (Steppenwolf/National Theatre)
• Enron by Lucy Prebble (Royal Court)
• Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth (Royal Court)
• Punk Rock by Simon Stephens (Lyric Hammersmith)

The Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical

• A Little Night Music (Menier Chocolate Factory/Garrick)
• Been So Long (Young Vic)
• Hello, Dolly! (Open Air, Regent's Park)
• Spring Awakening (Lyric Hammersmith/Novello)

Best Director

• Rupert Goold for Enron (Royal Court)
• Jeremy Herrin for Tusk Tusk (Royal Court)
• Janice Honeyman for The Tempest (RSC Stratford/Richmond Theatre)
• Ian Rickson for Jerusalem (Royal Court)
• Anna D Shapiro for August: Osage County (Steppenwolf/National Theatre)

Best Design

• Jon Bausor for Kursk (Young Vic)
• Miriam Buether for Judgment Day (Almeida)
• Mamoru Iriguchi for Mincemeat (Cardboard Citizens/Cordy House, Shoreditch)
• Ultz for Jerusalem (Royal Court)

The Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright

• Alia Bano for Shades (Royal Court)
• Katori Hall for The Mountaintop (Theatre 503/Trafalgar Studios)
• Alexi Kaye Campbell for The Pride (Royal Court) and Apologia (Bush)

The Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer

• Naana Agyei-Ampadu for Been So Long (Young Vic)
• Lenny Henry for Othello (Northern Broadsides at Trafalgar Studios)
• Bel Powley for Tusk Tusk (Royal Court)
• Tom Sturridge for Punk Rock (Lyric Hammersmith)

Winners

Best Play

Best Actor

• 2008 – Chiwetel Ejiofor for Othello
• 2007 – Patrick Stewart for Macbeth
• 2006 – Rufus Sewell for Rock 'n' Roll
• 2005 – Simon Russell Beale for The Philanthropist
• 2004 – Richard Griffiths for The History Boys
• 2003 – Michael Sheen for Caligula
• 2002 – Simon Russell Beale for Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night
• 2001 – Alex Jennings for The Winter's Tale and The Relapse
• 2000 – Simon Russell Beale for Hamlet
• 1999 – Stephen Dillane for The Real Thing
• 1998 – Kevin Spacey for The Iceman Cometh
• 1997 – Ian Holm for King Lear
• 1996 – Paul Scofield for John Gabriel Borkman
• 1995 – Michael Gambon for Volpone
• 1994 – Tom Courtenay for Moscow Stations (Venedikt Yerofeev, ad Stephen Mulrine)
• 1993 – Ian Holm for Moonlight
• 1992 – Nigel Hawthorne for The Madness of King George III
• 1991 – John Wood for King Lear
• 1990 – Richard Harris for Henry IV
• 1989 – Ian McKellen for Othello
• 1988 – Eric Porter for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• 1987 – Michael Gambon for A View from the Bridge
• 1986 – Albert Finney for Orphans (Lyle Kessler)
• 1985 – Anthony Sher for Richard III
• 1984 – Ian McKellen for Coriolanus
• 1983 – Derek Jacobi for Much Ado about Nothing
• 1982 – Alec McCowen for The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H.
• 1981 – Alan Howard for Good
• 1980 – Tom Courtenay for The Dresser
• 1979 – Warren Mitchell for Death of a Salesman
• 1978 – Alan Howard for Coriolanus
• 1977 – Donald Sinden for King Lear
• 1976 – Albert Finney for Tamburlaine the Great
• 1975 – John Gielgud for No Man's Land
• 1974 – John Wood for Travesties
• 1973 – Alec McCowen for The Misanthrope
• 1972 – Laurence Olivier for Long Day's Journey Into Night
• 1971 – Alan Bates for Butley
• 1970 – John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson for Home
• 1969 – Nicol Williamson for Hamlet
• 1968 – Alec McCowen for Hadrian VII
• 1967 – Laurence Olivier for Dance of Death
• 1966 – Albert Finney for A Flea in Her Ear
• 1965 – Ian Holm for Henry V
• 1964 – Nicol Williamson for Inadmissible Evidence
• 1963 – Michael Redgrave for Uncle Vanya
• 1962 – Paul Scofield for King Lear
• 1961 – Christopher Plummer for Becket
• 1960 – Alec Guinness for Ross, and Rex Harrison for Platonov
• 1959 – Eric Porter for Rosmersholm
• 1958 – Michael Redgrave for A Touch of the Sun (N C Hunter)
• 1957 – Laurence Olivier for The Entertainer
• 1956 – Paul Scofield for The Power and the Glory
• 1955 – Richard Burton for Henry V

Best Actress

• 2008 – Penelope Wilton and Margaret Tyzack for The Chalk Garden
• 2007 – Anne-Marie Duff for Saint Joan
• 2006 – Kathleen Turner for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
• 2005 – Harriet Walter for Mary Stuart
• 2004 – Victoria Hamilton for Suddenly, Last Summer
• 2003 – Sandy McDade for Iron
• 2002 – Claire Higgins for Vincent in Brixton
• 2001 – Fiona Shaw for Medea
• 2000 – Paola Dionisotti for Further Than the Furthest Thing (Zinnie Harris)
• 1999 – Janie Dee for Comic Potential
• 1998 – Sinéad Cusack for Our Lady of Sligo (Sebastian Barry)
• 1997 – Eileen Atkins for A Delicate Balance
• 1996 – Diana Rigg for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Mother Courage
• 1995 – Geraldine McEwan for The Way of the World
• 1994 – Maggie Smith for Three Tall Women
• 1993 – Fiona Shaw for Machinal
• 1992 – Diana Rigg for Medea
• 1991 – Vanessa Redgrave for When She Danced (Martin Sherman)
• 1990 – Josette Simon for After the Fall
• 1989 – Felicity Kendal for Much Ado About Nothing and Ivanov
• 1988 – Lindsay Duncan for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• 1987 – Judi Dench for Antony and Cleopatra
• 1986 – Julia McKenzie for Woman in Mind
• 1985 – Vanessa Redgrave for The Seagull
• 1984 – Maggie Smith for The Way of the World
• 1983 – Geraldine McEwan for The Rivals
• 1982 – Judi Dench for A Kind of Alaska (Harold Pinter) and The Importance of Being Earnest
• 1981 – Maggie Smith for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
• 1980 – Judi Dench for Juno and the Paycock and Frances de la Tour for Duet for One
• 1979 – Vanessa Redgrave for The Lady from the Sea
• 1978 – Kate Nelligan for Plenty
• 1977 – Alison Steadman for Abigail's Party
• 1976 – Janet Suzman for Three Sisters
• 1975 – Dorothy Tutin for A Month in the Country
• 1974 – Claire Bloom for A Streetcar Named Desire
• 1973 – Janet Suzman for Hello and Goodbye (Athol Fugard))
• 1972 – Rachel Roberts for Alpha Beta (E A Whitehead)
• 1971 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Loves of Viorne (Marguerite Duras)
• 1970 – Maggie Smith for Hedda Gabler
• 1969 – Rosemary Harris for Plaza Suite
• 1968 – Jill Bennett for Time Present (John Osborne)
• 1967 – Lila Kedrova for The Cherry Orchard
• 1966 – Irene Worth for A Song at Twilight (Noël Coward)
• 1965 – Eileen Atkins for The Killing of Sister George
• 1964 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Wars of the Roses (William Shakespeare, ad John Barton, RSC)
• 1963 – Joan Plowright for Saint Joan
• 1962 – Maggie Smith for The Private Ear and The Public Eye (Peter Shaffer)
• 1961 – Vanessa Redgrave for The Lady from the Sea
• 1960 – Dorothy Tutin for Twelfth Night
• 1959 – Flora Robson for The Aspern Papers
• 1958 – Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies for Long Day's Journey Into Night
• 1957 – Brenda De Banzie for The Entertainer
• 1956 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Chalk Garden
• 1955 – Siobhan McKenna for Saint Joan

Best Musical

• 2008 – Street Scene
• 2007 – Hairspray
• 2006 – Caroline, or Change
• 2005 – Billy Elliot
• 2004 – The Producers
• 2003 – Jerry Springer: The Opera
• 2002 – The Full Monty
• 2001 – Kiss Me, Kate (a revival)
• 2000 – The Car Man
• 1999 – Spend Spend Spend
• 1998 – Oklahoma!
• 1997 – Lady in the Dark
• 1996 – Passion
• 1995 – Mack and Mabel
• 1994 – No award
• 1993 – City of Angels
• 1992 – Kiss of the Spider Woman
• 1991 – Carmen Jones
• 1990 – Into the Woods
• 1989 – Miss Saigon
• 1988 – No award
• 1987 – Follies
• 1986 – The Phantom of the Opera
• 1985 – Are You Lonesome Tonight by Alan Bleasdale
• 1984 – 42nd Street
• 1983 – Little Shop of Horrors
• 1982 – Windy City by Dick Vosburgh and Tony Macaulay
• 1981 – Cats
• 1980 – Sweeney Todd
• 1979 – Songbook by Monty Norman and Julian Moore
• 1978 – Annie
• 1977 – Elvis
• 1976 – A Chorus Line
• 1975 – A Little Night Music
• 1974 – John, Paul, George, Ringo...and Bert by Willy Russell
• 1973 – The Rocky Horror Show
• 1972 – Applause
• 1971 – No award
• 1970 – No award
• 1969 – Promises, Promises
• 1968 – Cabaret
• 1967 – Sweet Charity
• 1966 – Funny Girl
• 1965 – No award
• 1964 – Little Me
• 1963 – Oh! What a Lovely War
• 1962 – No award
• 1961 – Beyond the Fringe
• 1960 – Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be by Frank Norman and Lionel Bart
• 1959 – Make Me an Offer by Wolf Mankowitz, Monty Norman and David Heneker
• 1958 – West Side Story
• 1957 – No award
• 1956 – Cranks by John Cranko and John Addison
• 1955 – The Pajama Game
• Also in 1955 Salad Days was given the Award for Most Enjoyable Show.

Best Designer

• 2008 – Neil Murray for Brief Encounter
• 2007 – Rae Smith and the Handspring Puppet Company for War Horse
• 2006 – Timothy Bird (projections) and David Farley (set and costumes) for Sunday in the Park With George
• 2005 – Bob Crowley for Mary Poppins
• 2004 – Ian MacNeil, Jean Kalman and Paul Arditti for Festen
• 2003 – Christopher Oram for Caligula
• 2002 – Ian MacNeil for Plasticine and A Number
• 2001 – Paul Brown for Platonov and The Tempest
• 2000 – Bunny Christie for Baby Doll
• 1999 – Rob Howell for Richard III, Troilus and Cressida and Vassa
• 1998 – Richard Hoover for Not about Nightingales (First award in this category)

Best Comedy

• 2001 – Feelgood by Alistair Beaton
• 2000 – Stones in his Pocket by Marie Jones
• 1997 – Closer by Patrick Marber
• 1996 – 'Art' by Yasmina Reza
• 1995 – Dealer's Choice by Patrick Marber
• 1994 – My Night with Reg by Kevin Elyot
• 1993 – Jamais Vu by Ken Campbell
• 1992 – The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright
• 1991 – Kvetch by Steven Berkoff
• 1990 – Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn and Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse
• 1989 – Henceforward... by Alan Ayckbourn
• 1988 – Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer
• 1987 – Serious Money by Caryl Churchill
• 1986 – A Month of Sundays by Bob Larbey
• 1985 – A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn
• 1984 – Stepping Out by Richard Harris
• 1983 – Tales from Hollywood by Christopher Hampton
• 1982 – Noises Off by Michael Frayn
• 1981 – Goose Pimples by Mike Leigh
• 1980 – Make and Break by Michael Frayn
• 1979 – A Day in Hollywood, a Night in the Ukraine by Dick Vosburgh and Frank Lazarus
• 1978 – Gloo-Joo by Michael Hastings
• 1977 – Privates on Parade by Peter Nichols
• 1976 – The Thoughts of Chairman Alf by Johnny Speight
• 1975 – Alphabetical Order by Michael Frayn
• 1974 – Travesties by Tom Stoppard
• 1973 – Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
• 1972 – Veterans by Charles Wood
• 1971 – Getting On by Alan Bennett
• 1970 – The Philanthropist by Christopher Hampton (First award in this category)

Most Controversial Play

• 1955 – Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

Editor's Award

• 2008 – Royal Shakespeare Company for its epic cycle of history plays
• 2006 – Frost/Nixon

Best Director

• 2008 – Michael Grandage for Ivanov and Othello and The Chalk Garden
• 2007 – Rupert Goold for Macbeth
• 2006 – Marianne Elliott for Pillars of the Community
• 2005 – Michael Grandage for Don Carlos and Grand Hotel
• 2004 – Rufus Norris for Festen
• 2003 – Polly Teale for After Mrs Rochester
• 2002 – Sam Mendes for Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night
• 2001 – Deborah Warner for Medea
• 2000 – Howard Davies for All My Sons
• 1999 – Trevor Nunn for Summerfolk and The Merchant of Venice
• 1996 – Katie Mitchell for The Phoenician Women
• 1995 – Matthew Warchus for Volpone and Henry V
• 1994 – Sean Mathias for Les parents terribles and Design for Living
• 1993 – Terry Hands for Tamburlaine The Great
• 1992 – Stephen Daldry for An Inspector Calls
• 1991 – Trevor Nunn for Timon of Athens
• 1990 – Richard Jones for Into The Woods and The Illusion
• 1989 – Nicholas Hytner for Miss Saigon and Ghetto
• 1988 – Deborah Warner for Titus Andronicus
• 1987 – Peter Hall for Antony and Cleopatra
• 1986 – Nuria Espert for The House of Bernarda Alba
• 1985 – Bill Bryden for The Mysteries
• 1984 – Christopher Morahan for Wild Honey
• 1983 – Yuri Lyubimov for Crime and Punishment
• 1982 – Richard Eyre for Guys and Dolls
• 1981 – Peter Hall for The Oresteia
• 1980 – Trevor Nunn and John Caird for The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
• 1979 – Trevor Nunn for Once in a Lifetime (The first award in this category}

Most Promising Playwright

• 2008 – Tarell Alvin McCraney for In the Red and Brown Water and The Brothers Size
• 2007 – Polly Stenham for That Face
• 2006 – Nina Raine for Rabbit
• 2005 – Nell Leyshon for Comfort Me With Apples
• 2004 – No award
• 2003 – Kwame Kwei-Armah for Elmira's Kitchen
• 2002 – Vassily Sigarev for Plasticine
• 2001 – Roy Williams for Clubland
• 2000 – Gary Mitchell fpr The Force of Change
• 1999 – Rebecca Gilman for The Glory of Living
• 1998 – Mark Ravenhill for Handbag
• 1997 – Conor McPherson for The Weir
• 1996 – Martin McDonagh for The Beauty Queen of Leenane
• 1995 – Jez Butterworth for Mojo
• 1994 – Jonathan Harvey for Babies
• 1993 – Brad Fraser for Unidentified Human Remains
• 1992 – Philip Ridley for The Fastest Clock in the Universe
• 1991 – Rona Munro for Bold Girls
• 1990 – Clare McIntyre for My Heart's a Suitcase
• 1989 – Stephen Jeffreys for Valued Friends
• 1988 – Timberlake Wertenbaker for Our Country's Good
• 1987 – Stephen Bill for Curtains
• 1986 – Frank McGuinness for Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
• 1985 – Billy Hamon for Grafters
• 1984 – Sharman MacDonald for When I Was a Girl, I Used to Scream and Shout
• 1983 – Phil Young for Crystal Clear
• 1982 – Terry Johnson for Insignificance
• 1981 – Nell Dunn for Steaming
• 1980 – Paul Kember for Not Quite Jerusalem
• 1979 – Richard Harris for Outside Edge and Victoria Wood for Talent
• 1978 – John Byrne for The Slab Boys and Brian Clark for Whose Life Is It Anyway?
• 1977 – Mary O'Malley for Once a Catholic and James Robson for Factory Birds
• 1976 – Stewart Parker for Spokesong
• 1975 – Stephen Poliakoff for Hitting Town
• 1974 – Mustapha Matura for Play Mas
• 1973 – David Williamson for The Removalists
• 1972 – Wilson John Haire for Within Two Shadows
• 1971 – E A Whitehead for The Foursoe
• 1970 – David Hare for Slag and Heathcote Williams for AC/DC
• 1969 – Peter Barnes for The Ruling Class
• 1968 – No award
• 1967 – Tom Stoppard for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and David Storey for The Restoration of Arnold Middleton
• 1966 – David Halliwell for Little Malcom and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs
• 1965 – David Mercer for Ride a Cock Horse
• 1964 – No award
• 1963 – Charles Wood for Cockade and James Saunders for Next Time I'll Sing To You
• 1962 – David Rudkin for Afore Night Come
• 1961 – Gwyn Thomas for The Keep and Henry Livings for Stop It Whoever You Are
• 1960 – J P Donleavy for Fairy Tales of New York
• 1959 – John Arden for Serjeant Musgrave's Dance and Arnold Wesker for Roots
• 1958 – Peter Shaffer for Five Finger Exercise
• 1957 – Robert Bolt for Flowering Cherry
• 1956 – John Osborne for Look Back in Anger
• 1955 – No award

Outstanding Newcomer

• 2008 – Ella Smith for Fat Pig
• 2007 – Stephen Wight for Dealer's Choice and Don Juan in Soho
• 2006 – Andrew Garfield for Beautiful Thing; Burn/Chatroom/Citizenship; The Overwhelming
• 2005 – Menier Chocolate Factory: David Babani and Danielle Tarento
• 2004 – Eddie Redmayne for The Goat: or, Who Is Sylvia?
• 2003 – Tom Hardy for Blood and In Arabia We'd All Be Kings
• 2002 – Jake Gyllenhaal for This Is Our Youth
• 2001 – Rufus Norris for Afore Night Come
• 2000 – Chiwetel Ejiofor for Blood/Orange
• 1999 – Eve Best for Tis Pity She's a Whore (First award in this category)

Theatrical Achievement

• 1998 – Jonathan Kent and Ian McDiarmid of the Almeida Theatre (Only award in this category)

Patricia Rothermere Award

• 2005 – Penelope Keith. And Hannah Croft scholarship award
• 2003 – Lord Attenborough for exceptional support for young actors. And Elif Yesil scholarship award
• 2001 – Prunella Scales. And Cassandre Joseph scholarship award
• 1999 – Simon Callow for Outstanding services to the theatre. And Martin Rea scholarship award

Special Award

• 2008 – Kevin Spacey for bringing new life to the Old Vic
• 2007 – Stephen Tompkins for innovative theatre architecture
• 2006 – The Tricycle Theatre for its pioneering work in political theatre
• 2005 – The Royal Court Theatre
• 2004 – 50th Anniversary Special Award: Harold Pinter (playwright), National Theatre (institution) and Dame Judi Dench (performer)
• 2003 – Max Stafford-Clark
• 2002 – Shakespeare's Globe
• 1998 – Nicole Kidman for The Blue Room
• 1989 – Stephen Sondheim
• 1988 – National Theatre 1963-1988: 25 Years of Achievement
• 1984 – Graeae Theatre Company sharing with The Theatre of Comedy Company
• 1982 – John Gielgud
• 1981 – The Royal Shakespeare Company
• 1980 – Sir Ralph Richardson
• 1979 – 25th Anniversary Special Award: Sir Peter Hall
• 1977 – Hampstead Theatre
• 1976 – Peggy Ashcroft
• 1975 – Ben Travers
• 1973 – Laurence Olivier
• 1972 – Peter Daubeny (Impresario and organizer of the annual World Theatre Season, Aldwych Theatre 1967-1973 and 1975)
• 1968 – Alan Bennett for Forty Years On (First award in this category)

References

Sources

• Celebration: 25 Years of British Theatre. W. H. Allen Ltd, 1980. ISBN 0491027702, for Awards 1955-1978
• Theatre Record and its annual Indexes, for Awards 1981 to date

Other London Theatre awards

• Laurence Olivier Awards
• Critics' Circle Theatre Awards

External links

• Evening Standard Awards