The Two Actors Go Head to Head in the Best Actor Category for the Evening Standard Awards 2011
The nominations have emerged for this year’s Evening Standard Awards and whilst many of those up for awards will come as no surprise (such as Bertie Carvel for “Matilda the Musical”, who also won an award at the recent Theatre Awards 2011) two other names have appeared on the list that have raised some eyebrows – Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller.
Those that keep up to date with the goings on with the London theatre scene will know that the pair performed together in the Danny Boyle’s production of “Frankenstein” at the Olivier National Theatre (soon to be the home of “The Comedy of Errors”). The duo alternated in the roles of Dr Frankenstein and his monster every night so it makes sense that they would both be recognised for their achievements in the show, but it means that they must now go head to head for the top prize. They are nominated for Best Actor alongside Bertie Carvel for “Matilda the Musical” and Charles Edwards for “Much Ado About Nothing” at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
In the Best Actress category it is Sheridan Smith (“Flare Path” at the Haymarket Theatre), Samantha Spiro (“Chicken Soup with Barley” at the Royal Court) and Kristen Scott Thomas (“Betrayal” at the Comedy Theatre) that face off for the award. Meanwhile, the Best Play category features nominations for “The Heretic”, “One Man, Two Guvnors”, “Becky Shaw” and “Tribes”.
“Matilda the Musical” finds itself in the spotlight once again when it comes to the Best Muscial category as it goes up against “Betty Blue Eyes” at the Novello Theatre and “London Road” at Cottesloe National Theatre.
The Evening Standard Awards are second only to the Laurence Olivier Awards when it comes to the London theatre awards season and they follow the recent Theatre Awards 2011, which saw “Matilda the Musical” win in two categories. The popular show previously appeared at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and can now be seen at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End.
