Ian Charleson Awards

The Ian Charleson Awards is a British theatrical award to reward the best classical stage performances in Britain by actors aged under 30. It is named after the actor Ian Charleson and is run by the Sunday Times newspaper and the National Theatre. It was established in 1991 after Charleson's death from AIDS the previous year and has been awarded annually since then.

The award's current definition of a classical play, is one written before 1918. The award for the previous year's theatre is presented each May; the 2008 Ian Charleson Award ceremony was held on 8 May 2009. The prize money was as follows: 1st prize (£5,000), 2nd prize (£2,000) and 3rd prize (£500).

Winners

1991

• First prize^{[citation needed]} - Jennifer Ehle, as Elvire in Tartuffe (Peter Hall Company)
• Prize unknown - Ian Hughes for Torquato Tasso (Lyric Hammersmith)^[1], and Joe Dixon for As You Like It with Cheek By Jowl
• Nominated - Tom Hollander^[2] and Adrian Lester for As You Like It with Cheek By Jowl,

1992

• First prize - Tom Hollander, as Witwoud in The Way of the World (Lyric Hammersmith^[3]
• Special commendation - Iain Glen, as the title character in Hamlet (Bristol Old Vic)^[4]

1993

• First prize - Emma Fielding, as Agnes in The School for Wives (Almeida Theatre)
• Nominations - Adrian Scarborough for The Comedy of Errors (Royal Exchange Theatre), Helen Baxendale for The Soldiers at the Citizens Theatre, Mark Lockyer for a season at the RSC, Helen McCrory for Trelawny of the 'Wells' at the National Theatre and Michael Sheen for Don't Fool With Love with Cheek by Jowl

1994

• First prize - Toby Stephens, as the title character in Coriolanus (RSC)
• Special commendation - Henry Ian Cusick, as the title character in Torquato Tasso at the Royal Lyceum Theatre and Creon in Oedipus at the Citizens Theatre
• Nominated - Mark Bazeley, Anastasia Hille and Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Measure For Measure with Cheek by Jowl, Guy Lankester for Twelfth Night at the Bristol Old Vic, and Jude Law for Ion at the RSC
• Outstanding newcomer - Jude Law for Les parents terribles at the National Theatre

1995

• First prize - Lucy Whybrow, as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (RSC)
• Nominations - Benedict Bates^[5] for Don Carlos at the Citizens Theatre, Rakie Ayola for The Way of the World at Birmingham Rep, Paul Bettany for Julius Ceasar at the RSC, Alexandra Gilbreath for King Lear at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Victoria Hamilton for The Master Builder with the Peter Hall Company, John Light for The Tower at the Almeida Theatre, Julian Rhind-Tutt for Richard II at the National Theatre, Catherine Russell for Three Sisters with Out of Joint, Zubin Varla for Romeo and Juliet at the RSC

1996

• First prize - Alexandra Gilbreath, as the title character in Hedda Gabler (English Touring Theatre)
• Prize unknown - Emma Fielding, as Penthea in The Broken Heart (RSC)

1997

• First prize - Mark Bazeley, for The Seagull (English Touring Theatre)
• Nominations - Kate Ashfield for Woyzeck at the Gate Theatre, Toby Cockerell for Henry V at Shakespeare's Globe, Dominic Curtis for As You Like It at Perth Theatre, James Dreyfus for Julius Ceasar at Birmingham Rep, Anne-Marie Duff for King Lear at the National Theatre, Ray Fearon and Zoe Waites for Romeo and Juliet at the RSC, Victoria Hamilton for The Provok'd Wife with the Peter Hall Company, Tom Hollander, for The Government Inspector^[6] at the Almeida Theatre, Andrew Howard for Electra at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Jason Hughes and Julia Sawalha for The Illusion at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Paul McEneany in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Lyric Players' Theatre, Michael Sheen for Henry V at the RSC, Lise Stevenson for Measure for Measure at the Nottingham Playhouse, and Dominic West for The Seagull with the Peter Hall Company

1998

• First prize - Claudie Blakley, as Nina in The Seagull (West Yorkshire Playhouse)
• Nominations - Kathy Kiera Clarke for Medea at the Citizens Theatre, Hermione Gulliford for Twelfth Night at the Crucible Theatre, Paul Hilton for As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe, Thusitha Jayasundera for Twelfth Night at the Young Vic, Susan Lynch for The Storm at the Almieda Theatre, Stephen Mangan and Matthew McFadyen for their performances in both Much Ado About Nothing with Cheek by Jowl and The School for Scandal at the RSC, Jo McInnes for Uncle Vanya at the RSC, Kevin McKidd for Britannicus at the Almeida Theatre, David Oyelowo for The Suppliants at the Gate Theatre, and Kelly Reilly for The London Cuckolds at the National Theatre

1999

• First prize - Rupert Penry-Jones, as the title character in Don Carlos (RSC)
• Nominations - Ariyon Bakare for A Servant to Two Masters at the RSC, Emma Cunniffe for The Master Builder with English Touring Theatre, Megan Dodds for Hamlet at the Young Vic, Gabrielle Jourdan for The Merchant of Venice at the National Theatre, Jude Law for 'Tis Pity She's a Whore at the Young Vic, Aidan McArdle for a season at the RSC, Patrick Moy for Macbeth at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Kirsten Parker for Twelfth Night at Theatr Clwyd, Claire Price for Don Carlos at the RSC, and Iain Robertson for The Mysteries at the National Theatre

2000

• First prize - David Oyelowo, as the title character in Henry VI (RSC)
• Nominations - Nancy Carroll, James O'Donnell and Joe Renton for Henry IV at the RSC, Chiwetel Ejiofor in Romeo and Juliet at the National Theatre, Martin Hutson for As You Like It at the Crucible Theatre, Molly Innes for Electra with Theatre Babel, John Light and Justine Waddell for The Seagull at the RSC, David Tennant for The Comedy of Errors at the RSC, Sam Troughton for Henry VI at the RSC, and Zoe Waites for The White Devil at the Lyric Hammersmith

2001

• First prize - Claire Price, as Berinthia in The Relapse (National Theatre)
• Second prize - Zoe Waites, as Viola in Twelfth Night (RSC)
• Third prize - James D'Arcy, as Gaveston in Edward II (Crucible Theatre)
• Nominations - Claire Cox and John Hopkins for Julius Ceasar at the RSC, Benedict Cumberbatch for Love's Labour's Lost at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, August Diehl and Johanna Wokalek for The Seagull at the Edinburgh Festival, Martin Hutson for Ghosts at the Comedy Theatre, Gerald Kyd and Kirsten Parker for Love's Labour's Lost with English Touring Theatre, Kevin Lennon for 'Tis Pity She's a Whore with Theatre Babel, Sam Troughton for Richard III at the RSC, Zubin Varla for a season at the RSC, and Kaye Wragg for Uncle Vanya at the Royal Exchange Theatre

2002

• First prize - Rebecca Hall, as Vivie in Mrs Warren's Profession^[7] (Strand Theatre)
• Second prize - Daniel Evans, as Ariel in The Tempest (Crucible Theatre) and Ozwald in Ghosts^[8] (English Touring Theatre)
• Third prize - Iain Robertson, as Trinculo in The Tempest (Crucible Theatre)
• Commendations^{[citation needed]} - Claire Price for The Tempest at the Crucible Theatre, Nonso Anozie and Ryan Kiggell for King Lear at the RSC, Nancy Carroll for King Lear at the Almeida Theatre, Justin Avoth for A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Lucy Black for Twelfth Night at the Tobacco Factory Theatre, Naomi Frederick for Three Sisters at the Nuffield Theatre, Dan Fredenburgh for The Prince of Homburg at the RSC, Kananu Kirimi for Pericles at the RSC, and Sam Troughton for Tartuffe at the National Theatre

2003

• First prize - Lisa Dillon, as Hilde in The Master Builder^[9] (Almeida Theatre)
• Second prize - Louisa Clein, as Hilda in The Lady from the Sea (Almeida Theatre)
• Third prize - Eve Myles, as Lavinia in Titus Andronicus and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew (RSC) ^[10]
• Special Commendations - Rebecca Hall for As You Like It (Peter Hall Company) and Felicite du Jeu for Henry V (National Theatre)
• Nominations - Jamie Beamish for Two Gentlemen of Verona at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Kellie Bright, Emma Lowndes and Steven Robertson for The Seagull at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Nancy Carroll for A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Crucible Theatre, Rory Kinnear for The Taming of the Shrew at the RSC, Tobias Menzies in Three Sisters at the Playhouse Theatre, Joseph Millson in As You Like It with the Peter Hall Company, and Paul Ready in The Comedy of Errors at the Bristol Old Vic

2004

• First prize - Nonso Anozie, as the title character in Othello (Cheek By Jowl)
• Second prize - Naomi Frederick, as Isabella in Measure For Measure (Complicite)
• Third prize - Ben Whishaw, as the title character in Hamlet (Old Vic)
• Special commendation - David Nicolle, as the title character in Ion (Mercury Theatre)
• Nominations - Dan Stevens for As You Like It with the Peter Hall Company

2005

• First prize - Mariah Gale, for her performances as Viola in Twelfth Night (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), Annabella in Tis Pity She’s a Whore (Southwark Playhouse) and The Last Waltz Season (Arcola Theatre)
• Second prize - Sinead Matthews, for her performances as Hedvig in The Wild Duck (Donmar Warehouse) and Polly in You Never Can Tell (Peter Hall Company)
• Third prize - Benedict Cumberbatch, as Tesmen in Hedda Gabler (Almeida Theatre)
• Commendations - Peter Bramhill for Thomas More at the RSC, Michelle Dockery for Pillars of the Community at the National Theatre, Edward Hogg for Woyczek at the Gate Theatre, Rory Kinnear for Mary Stuart at the Donmar Warehouse, James Loye for a season at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Lyndsey Marshal for The Hypochondriac at the Almeida Theatre, Caitlin Mottram for A Midsummer Night's Dream at the RSC and Nicholas Shaw for Easter with the Oxford Stage Company

2006

• First prize - Andrea Riseborough, for her performances as Isabella in Measure For Measure and the title character in Miss Julie (Peter Hall Company)
• Second prize - Catherine Hamilton, as Jessica in The Madras House at the Orange Tree Theatre
• Third prize - Hattie Morahan, as Nina in The Seagull (National Theatre) ^[11]
• Nomations - Bryan Dick and Amit Shah for The Alchemist at the National Theatre, Trystan Gravelle for A Winter’s Tale at the RSC, Tom Hiddleston for The Changeling with Cheek by Jowl, Sally Leonard for A Family Affair at the Arcola Theatre, Laura Rees for Titus Andronicus at Shakespeare's Globe, Lex Shrapnel for Henry VI at the RSC, Ony Uhiara for Pericles at the RSC and Jodie Whittaker for Enemies at the Almeida Theatre.

2007

• First prize - Rory Kinnear, as Pyotr in Gorky’s Philistines and Sir Fopling Flutter in The Man of Mode (National Theatre)^[12]
• Second prize - Michelle Dockery, as Eliza in Pygmalion (Peter Hall Company)
• Third prize - Tom Hiddleston, as Cassio in Othello (Donmar Warehouse)
• Special Commendations - Edward Bennett, for his performances as Dick in Nan and Victor Diana of Dobson's at the Orange Tree Theatre, Freddy in Pygmalion with the Peter Hall Company and Roderigo in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse

• Commendations - Sam Crane for Othello at Shakespeare's Globe & Ghosts at the Bristol Old Vic, Gabriel Fleary for The Changling (English Touring Theatre), Harry Hadden-Paton for Romeo and Juliet at Battersea Arts Centre & The Importance of Being Earnest with the Peter Hall Company, Daniel Hawksford for Much Ado About Nothing at the National Theatre, John Heffernan for King Lear at the RSC, Richard Madden for Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare's Globe, Carey Mulligan for The Seagull at the Royal Court Theatre, Pippa Nixon for The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare's Globe, Amy Noble for Chains at the Orange Tree Theatre, Claudia Renton for An Ideal Husband at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Dominic Tighe for The Taming of the Shrew with Propeller, and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor for Henry V at the Royal Exchange Theatre^[13]

2008

• First prize - Tom Burke, as Adolph in Creditors (Donmar Warehouse)
• Second prize - Edward Bennett, for his performances as Ferdinand in Love's Labour's Lost & Laertes in Hamlet (RSC)
• Third prize - John Heffernan, as Stephen in Major Barbara (National Theatre)
• Special commendations - Mariah Gale for Hamlet at the RSC, and Tom Hiddleston & Andrea Riseborough for Ivanov at the Wyndhams Theatre
• Commendations - Charles Aitken for Othello with Frantic Assembly, David Ajala for a season at the RSC, Hayley Atwell for Major Barbara at the National Theatre, Beth Cooke for Three Sisters at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Tom Davey for Hamlet at the RSC, Natalie Dew for Twelfth Night at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Ryan Gage for A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the RSC, Oliver Le Sueur for The Taming of the Shrew and Hamlet at the Tobacco Factory Theatre, Gwilym Lee for Oedipus at the National Theatre, Ella Smith for Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Rose Theatre, and Alex Waldmann for Twelfth Night at the Wyndhams Theatre.

A record 17 actors were nominated in 2009. Those who did not receive prizes or special commendations, were all commended^[14]

Judges

1994

• Jane Lapotaire - actress
• Serena Hill - NT casting director
• Nicholas Wright - NT associate director
• John Peter - Sunday Times drama critic

1997

• Serena Hill - NT casting director
• Peter Gill - former NT associate director
• John Peter - Sunday Times drama critic

2001

• Penelope Wilton - actress
• Howard Davies - NT associate director
• John Peter - Sunday Times drama critic

2005

• Francesca Annis - actress
• Lindsay Posner - director
• Toby Whale - NT casting director
• John Peter - Sunday Times drama critic

2006

• Francesca Annis - actress
• Lindsay Posner - director
• Toby Whale - NT casting director
• John Peter - Sunday Times drama critic

Notes

External links

• Ian Charleson Award winners - 2006