In a glittering ceremony last night leading figures from the West End celebrated the best of London Theatre over the past twelve months.
It was dominated, as expected, by New York’s mega hit, the rap musical HAMILTON, currently playing at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre, which picked up seven awards.
Many of the productions nominated and the winners have already closed but here’s a list of the main categories with the productions highlighted in bold that are still running and are well worth catching.
Although the National Theatre’s production of FOLLIES by Stephen Sondheim isn’t currently playing it returns to their repertoire soon and I wouldn’t be surprised if their hit revival of ANGELS IN AMERICA, currently a big hit on Broadway, also reopened in a London venue, so watch out for that.
My spies also tell me that producers have been looking for a new home for the National Theatre’s wonderful play OSLO following its last successful West End transfer. It was certainly one of the highlights of my theatre going year as was the performance of Peter Polycarpou in one of the complex leading rolls.
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Winner: Michael Jibson for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Also Nominated:
Ross Noble for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
Jason Pennycooke for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Cleve September for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Winner: Sheila Atim for Girl From The North Country at the Old Vic
Also Nominated: Tracie Bennett for Follies at National Theatre, Olivier
Rachel John for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Lesley Joseph for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC
Winner: Hamilton – Composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda at Victoria Palace Theatre
Also Nominated:
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – Music and orchestrations by Dan Gillespie Sells at Apollo Theatre
Follies – The Orchestra, under the music supervision of Nicholas Skilbeck and music director Nigel Lilley at the National Theatre, Olivier
Girl From The North Country – Music and lyrics by Bob Dylan, original orchestrations and arrangements by Simon Hale at the Old Vic
BEST ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY SHOW
Winner: Dick Whittington at London Palladium
Also Nominated:
David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny at Garrick Theatre
Derren Brown: Underground at Playhouse Theatre
Five Guys Named Moe at Marble Arch Theatre
BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER
Winner: Andy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Also Nominated:
Bill Deamer for Follies at National Theatre, Olivier
Kate Prince for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Randy Skinner for 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Christopher Wheeldon for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
Winner: Follies at National Theatre, Olivier
Also Nominated:
42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
On The Town at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Winner: Giles Terera for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Also Nominated:
Ciaran Hinds for Girl From The North Country at the Old Vic
John McCrea for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Jamael Westman for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Winner: Shirley Henderson for Girl From The North Country at the Old Vic
Also Nominated:
Janie Dee for Follies at National Theatre, Olivier
Imelda Staunton for Follies at National Theatre, Olivier
Josie Walker for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
BEST REVIVAL
Winner: Angels In America at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Also Nominated:
Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
Witness For The Prosecution at London County Hall
BEST NEW COMEDY
Winner: Labour Of Love at Noel Coward Theatre
Also Nominated:
Dry Powder at Hampstead Theatre
Mischief Movie Night at Arts Theatre
The Miser at Garrick Theatre
BEST SET DESIGN
Winner: Bob Crowley and 59 Productions for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
Also Nominated:
Bunny Christie for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
Rob Howell for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre, Olivier
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Winner: Bertie Carvel for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
Also Nominated:
John Hodgkinson for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
James McArdle for Angels In America at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Peter Polycarpou for Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Winner: Denise Gough for Angels In America at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Also Nominated:
Bríd Brennan for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Dearbhla Molloy for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Imogen Poots for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Laura Donnelly for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Also Nominated:
Lesley Manville for Long Day’s Journey Into Night at Wyndham’s Theatre
Audra McDonald for Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill at Wyndham’s Theatre
Imelda Staunton for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST ACTOR
Winner: Bryan Cranston for Network at National Theatre Lyttelton
Also Nominated:
Paddy Considine for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Andrew Garfield for Angels In America at National Theatre Lyttelton
Andrew Scott for Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Sam Mendes for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Also Nominated:
Dominic Cooke for Follies at National Theatre Olivier
Marianne Elliott for Angels In America at National Theatre Lyttelton
Rupert Goold for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
Thomas Kail for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
BEST NEW PLAY
Winner: The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Also Nominated:
Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
Network at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST NEW MUSICAL
Winner: Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Also Nominated:
An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Girl From The North Country at the Old Vic
Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
If you're interested in spotting the hot new musical theatre writers and performers you won't want to miss the forthcoming gala at the Noel Coward Theatre which includes performances from the nominees for The Stephen Sondheim Society's student performer of the year. The afternoon includes the announcement of the winner, both of this and a song writing prize set up by Styles and Drewe. You can hear a selection of the competing songs too. 