Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2023

Nominees announced today!

Ceremony will be on 19 November at Claridge’s

www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/evening-standard-theatre-awards-2023-shortlist-in-full-b1114172.html



Best Design
Bunny Christie, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Robert Jones, Dancing at Lughnasa, National Theatre
Georgia Lowe, The Good Person of Szechwan, Lyric Hammersmith
Tom Pye, My Neighbour Totoro, RSC/Barbican Theatre


Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright
Matilda Feyisayo Ibini, Sleepova, Bush Theatre
Kimber Lee, untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play, Young Vic Theatre
Anoushka Lucas, Elephant, Bush Theatre
Isley Lynn, The Swell, Orange Tree Theatre


Emerging Talent
Andrew Richardson, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Taylor Russell, The Effect, National Theatre
Tatenda Shamiso, NO-ID, Royal Court
Jack Wolfe, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse


Milton Shulman Award for Best Director
Rebecca Frecknall, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre
Rupert Goold, Dear England, National Theatre
Nicholas Hytner, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre


Best Musical
Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Standing at the Sky’s Edge, National Theatre
A Strange Loop, Barbican Theatre
Tammy Faye, Almeida Theatre


Best Musical Performance
Kyle Ramar Freeman, A Strange Loop, Barbican Theatre
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Charlie Stemp, Crazy For You, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Marisha Wallace, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre


Best Actor
Paapa Essiedu, The Effect, National Theatre
Mark Gatiss, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
Paul Mescal, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre
Andrew Scott, Vanya, Duke of York's Theatre


Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress in association with Mithridate
Patsy Ferran, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre, and Pygmalion, Old Vic Theatre
Sophie Okonedo, Medea, @sohoplace
Rachael Stirling, Private Lives, Donmar Warehouse
Anjana Vasan, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre


Best Play
Dear England, James Graham, National Theatre
A Mirror, Sam Holcroft, Almeida Theatre
The Motive and the Cue, Jack Thorne, National Theatre
Retrograde, Ryan Calais Cameron, Kiln Theatre



My thoughts: I’m annoyed that they still merge the Best Musical Performance Award but divide Best Actor and Best Actress for plays. I prefer that they divide the category for musicals too, or do what the WhatsOnStage awards do - merge the drama performer categories (or unless they get lots of votes this year, and divide into male-identifying and female-identifying role categories)

Also, no James Norton nor A Little Life?? And while divisive af, it was a West End phenomenon of 2023. I still have James for Best Actor at the Oliviers. Best Actor in a Play is like the most stacked category of the season - James Norton, Mark Gatiss, Daniel Rigby, Johnny Flynn, Ben Daniels, Joseph Fiennes, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Andrew Scott, Paapa Essiedu, Jonny Lee Miller, Mike Faist…and I haven’t included Luke Evans, David Tennant, and Jared Harris at this time! While Best Actress is kinda barren - Sophie Okonedo, Sheridan Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas, Harriet Walter, Rachael Stirling, Taylor Russell, Penelope Wilton, and maybe Sarah Jessica Parker and whoever will lead the new Jez Butterworth play.

Good for Guys and Dolls getting nominated!!