Cumberbatch and Lee Miller Share Best Actor Trophy

The Actors Nominated for their Dual Roles in Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein at the National theatre

The Evening Standard Award winners were announced at the weekend at the Savoy Hotel in London and perhaps the biggest news of the night concerns the Best Actor category – where Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller were going head to head thanks to their roles in “Frankenstein” at the Olivier National Theatre. But rather than pick one over the other for their dual roles as Dr Frankenstein and his monster (they alternated each night) they have instead been named joint winners.

The pair turned many heads when the production ran on South Bank earlier this year and reminded audiences that there was much more to the play than the much-publicised return to the stage for director Danny Boyle. They earned widespread praise for their performances and audiences nationwide were also given a chance to witness the show when the play was aired as part of National Theatre Live.

They were not the only joint winners of the night, however, as the Royal Court’s “Heretic” and the Lyttelton National Theatre’s “One Man, Two Guvnors” (which has just started its West End run at the Adelphi Theatre) both winning Best Play. The former is a play that looks at climate change in a different light and was directed by Jeremy Herrin whilst the latter is the play of mistaken identity based on “A Servant of Two Masters” by Carlo Goldini and stars “The History Boys” actor James Corden in the lead role.

Other winners included Sheriden Smith (Best Actress) for “Flare Path” at the Haymarket Theatre, Mike Leigh (Best Director) for “Grief” at the Cottesloe National Theatre, Adam Cork (Best Design) for “Anna Christie” and “King Lear” at the Donmar Warehouse, Penelope Skinner (Most Promising Playwright) for “The Village Bike” at the Royal Court and the Pet Shop Boys/Javier de Frustos (Beyond Theatre Award) for “The Most Incredible Thing” at Sadler’s Wells.

Kyle Soller also earned the Outstanding Newcomer Award for his performances Young Vic shows “The Glass Menagerie” and “Government Inspector”, as well as the Royal Court’s “Faith Machine”. Special Awards went out to Kristen Scott Thomas, Michael Grandage and Tom Stoppard.