Critics’ Choice Awards Announced

National Theatre Comes Out on Top at the Latest Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards

London theatre audiences are still waiting on the Laurence Olivier Award, the biggest ceremony on the theatre calendar, which arrive in March but before then there are other awards ceremonies to release their results. Among them is the Critics’ Choice Awards, which were announced on Tuesday 24th January 2012, and as a result the National Theatre has plenty to be happy about as it took home five accolades at the end of the day.

Few will be surprised to see “One Man, Two Guvnors” take home an award, seeing as it has been heaped with praise throughout the last year, and it does so in the category of Best New Play. The show stars James Corden at the Adelphi Theatre (it began at the Lyttelton National Theatre in 2011 and transfers to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in March 2012 with Owain Arthur taking over).

The National also won thanks to last year’s “Frankenstein” at the Olivier National Theatre (under the direction of Danny Boyle). It picked up the award for Best Designer for Mark Tildesly and Best Actor in Benedict Cumberbatch, the latter following up the actor’s joint win with Jonny Lee Miller in the same category at last year’s Evening Standard Awards.

The Cottesloe National Theatre also got a look-in with two productions, including Best Director in Mike Leigh, who premiered “Grief” at the venue towards the end of last year. “London Road” won the Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical (new or revival) as well.

But there were other venues that were honoured at the awards ceremony this week; the Theatre Royal Haymarket got a look-in thanks to its production of “Flare Path” that ran last year, earning Sheridan Smith an award for Best Actress. Meanwhile, the Donmar Warehouse saw its production of “Richard II” pick up the John and Wendy Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance (Eddie Redmayne).

Finally, the Most Promising Playwright Award went to Tom Wells for “The Kitchen Sink”, which appeared at the Bush Theatre, whilst the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer (other than a playwright) went to Blanche McIntyre for “Accolade & Foxfinder” at the Finborough Theatre.

The awards ceremony took place at the Prince of Wales Theatre (home to the blockbuster production “Mamma Mia!”) on Tuesday 24th January 2012.