67TH EVENING STANDARD THEATRE AWARDS 2023 winners announced

The winners of the 2023 Evening Standard Theatre Awards were revealed at a ceremony last night (19 November) at Claridge’s.

The UK’s oldest drama awards have consistently recognised the best of established and cutting-edge talent on the London stage.

- Co-stars Patsy Ferran and Anjana Vasan were jointly awarded the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress, in association with Mithridate, for their performances in A Streetcar Named Desire.

- For the second time, Andrew Scott has been awarded the coveted Best Actor Award for his performance in the radical one-man show Vanya. He previously won the Award in 2019.

- Best Play is The Motive and the Cue by Jack Thorne, which premiered in April at The National Theatre and will transfer to the Noël Coward Theatre this December. The show’s Sam Mendes was also awarded the Lebedev Award for his contribution to theatre.

- Ruth Wilson received the Editor’s Award for her performance in The Second Women at the Young Vic, an internationally acclaimed feat of endurance theatre and live cinema inspired by John Cassavetes' film Opening Night.

- Elton John received the Editor’s Award for bringing his collaborative spirit to the world of musical theatre.

- Best Musical went to the Bridge Theatre’s blockbuster Guys & Dolls, which was also nominated for four other Awards on the night.

- Nicole Scherzinger picked up the Best Musical Performance award for her turn as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre. Jamie Lloyd won the Milton Schulman Award for Best Director for the production.

- Georgia Lowe won Best Design for The Good Person of Szechwan at the Lyric Hammersmith/ETT/Sheffield Theatres. Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the new adaptation opened in Sheffield Theatres before transferring to London earlier this year.

- Tatenda Shamiso won the Emerging Talent for NO I.D. at the Royal Court; a tale of gender transition and identity which he scripted, composed and performed.

- Isley Lynn won the Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright for The Swell at the Orange Tree Theatre.

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards were hosted by the newspaper’s proprietor Lord Lebedev and Ian McKellen, with Susan Wokoma presenting the ceremony. The Awards were presented by Boy George, David Tennant, Sheila Atim, Jenna Coleman, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Hiddleston, Jake Shears, Hayley Atwell, Layton Williams, Paloma Faith, Rebecca Lucy Taylor and Omari Douglas.

Guests were entertained by Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift singing ‘New York!’, a number from new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) which opened at the Kiln Theatre last week. A surprise pop up band also performed as part of a tribute to musicians as Unsung Heroes of Theatre.

Lord Lebedev said: “I am proud to have hosted so many people at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards tonight, all of whom are testament to the resilience of the West End, and the resurrection of the London stage after several challenging years.”

Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners!