London’s Evening Standard Theatre Awards were presented on November 17 at the Savoy Hotel in a black-tie gala hosted by Homeland star Damian Lewis. A panel of judges chose winners in 15 categories. Maria Friedman’s production of Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along won Best Musical, defeating high-profile productions of The Book of Mormon and The Light Princess.
Helen Mirren took home the Best Actress prize for The Audience, Peter Morgan’s play about Queen Elizabeth’s weekly meetings with her prime ministers. (Mirren is already an Oscar winner for playing Elizabeth in The Queen.) Broadway up-and-comer Seth Numrich received the Outstanding Newcomer award for Sweet Bird of Youth.
In the honorary categories, Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey received an award his contribution to British theater, Andrew Lloyd Webber was honored for his contribution to musical theater, and Maggie Smith received the “Icon” award for her contribution to the world stage.
A complete list of winners follows:
Best Actor: (tie) Rory Kinnear and Adrian Lester, Othello
Best Actress: Helen Mirren, The Audience
Best Musical Performance: Rosalie Craig, The Light Princess
Best Play: Chimerica by Lucy Kirkwood
Best Musical: Merrily We Roll Along
Best Director: Richard Eyre, Ghosts
Best Design: Bob Crowley, People, The Audience and Once
Most Promising Playwright: Rachel De-lahay, Routes
Emerging Talent Award: Cush Jumbo, Josephine and I
Award for Comedy: David Walliams, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Beyond Theatre Award: BBC Proms 2013
Editor’s Award: Kevin Spacey, for his contribution to British theater
Lebedev Special Award: Andrew Lloyd Webber, for his contribution to musical theater
Theatre Icon Award: Maggie Smith, for her contribution to the world stage