The stars of stage and screen took to the red carpet for the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards and revelled in the brilliance of some of this year’s award-winning productions.
The ceremony, presented by Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, proved to be a hugely glamorous affair, with guests including Naomi Campbell, Dame Helen Mirren, Damian Lewis and David and Victoria Beckham, all dressed to impress as they arrived at the London Palladium.
The most coveted awards of Best Actor and Actress went to British stage actor, turned Hollywood hunk, Tom Hiddleston and star of the X-Files, Gillian Anderson. Hiddleston was honoured for his tile role in Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse. Anderson won for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Young Vic Theatre.
The award for Best Musical went to the current smash-hit production of The Scottsboro Boys, which opened at the Young Vic last year and is now calling the Garrick Theatre home. The true story of racist violence in Alabama in the 1930s has won praise from both audiences and critics, now adding the Best Musical gong to their ever-growing list of awards.
Best New Play was awarded to the National Theatre of Scotland and the National Theatres co-production of The James Plays. The epic trilogy written by Rona Munro tells the historical story of the three Stewart Kings who ruled Scotland in the 15th Century.
The director of the moment, Jeremy Herrin was given the Best Director award for his astonishing work on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s double bill of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Adapted to the stage from Hilary Mantel’s novels, the two productions are due to open on Broadway next year, and who knows, maybe the Tony Awards will agree with the London Evening Standard Awards panel?
Best Design went to Es Devlin for her bold set design of new musical American Psycho. The show received standing ovations every night at the Almeida Theatre.
In the emerging talent categories, Beth Steel was named Most Promising Playwright for her miners’ strike drama Wonderland at the Hampstead Theatre. Young musical theatre actress, Laura Jane Matthewson was honoured for her role in American musical Dogfight at the Southwark Playhouse.
The Lifetime Achievement Award rounded off the ceremony, this year going to legendary playwright Tom Stoppard.
