The London Evening Standard today (17 November 2017) reveals the shortlist for the 2017 Theatre Awards, for which winners are announced in a ceremony at the West End’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 3 December 2017.
In another spectacular year for the London stage, three theatres dominate the shortlist, the National Theatre, the Royal Court and Islington’s Almeida Theatre. Each has seven chances of winning awards.
Jez Butterworth’s new play, The Ferryman, a collaboration between the Royal Court, where it began its sell-out run before transferring to the West End, and Sonia Friedman productions leads with four mentions. Dominic Cooke’s sumptuous revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies and James Graham’s witty play about the birth of The Sun newspaper, Ink, are close behind with three each.
This year’s shortlist reflects a strong year for new writing in London, with recognition in one or more categories for plays from leading writers Jez Butterworth (whose previous play Jerusalem won the Evening Standard Best Play in 2009), James Graham (Ink), Mike Bartlett (Albion) and Lucy Kirkwood (The Children).
The thriving relationship between London’s subsided and commercial theatre is also reflected by the number of nominated productions to have achieved successful West End transfers (Hamlet, Ink, The Ferryman, Oslo).
The ceremony for the annual awards, marking their 63rd year, will be co-hosted by the newspaper’s owner, Evgeny Lebedev, American Vogue editor-in-chief, Dame Anna Wintour, star of stage and screen Cate Blanchett and Hamilton creator and original star Lin-Manual Miranda. The onstage host for the evening is Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The awards are sponsored by Qatar Airways, the Platinum Partner for this year’s Evening Standard Theatre Awards is Michael Kors.
London Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev commented: ”In turbulent and uncertain times which will no doubt inspire a wave of great new plays soon enough, the global preeminence of the London stage is a rare and precious constant. This year, as every year, the shortlist for our awards illuminates its range, variety and sheer brilliance. It is my privilege to join Dame Anna Wintour in hosting an event that recognises the dazzling array of talent, emerging and established, that perennially confirms London’s theatre as the best in the world.”
All new productions and performances on the London stage that opened between 17th October 2016 and 19th October 2017 were eligible for consideration for this year’s Theatre Awards.
Best Actor nominees Bertie Carvel, Andrew Garfield and Andrew Scott
2017 Award shortlists
Best Actor
- Bertie Carvel – Ink (Almeida & Duke of York’s)
- Andrew Garfield – Angels in America (National Theatre)
- Andrew Scott – Hamlet (Almeida & Harold Pinter Theatre)
Best Actress
- Laura Donnelly – The Ferryman (Royal Court & Gielgud)
- Victoria Hamilton – Albion (Almeida)
- Glenda Jackson – King Lear (Old Vic)
Best Actress nominees Laura Donnelly, Victoria Hamilton and Glenda Jackson
Best Musical Performance
- Janie Dee – Follies (National Theatre)
- Robert Fairchild – An American in Paris (Dominion)
- Amber Riley – Dreamgirls (Savoy)
Best Play
- The Children – Lucy Kirkwood (Royal Court)
- The Ferryman – Jez Butterworth (Royal Court & Gielgud)
- Ink – James Graham (Almeida & Duke of York’s)
- Oslo – JT Rogers (National Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre)
Best Play nominees The Ferryman, Oslo, Ink and The Children
Best Director
- Dominic Cooke – Follies (National Theatre)
- Robert Icke – Hamlet (Almeida & Harold Pinter)
- Sam Mendes – The Ferryman (Royal Court & Gielgud)
Best Design
- Jon Bausor – Bat Out of Hell – The Musical (Coliseum)
- Bunny Christie – Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle (Wyndham’s)/The Red Barn (National Theatre)/Ink (Almeida &Duke of York’s)
- Soutra Gilmour – Twelfth Night (National Theatre)
Most Promising Playwright
- Branden Jacobs-Jenkin – An Octoroon (Orange Tree)
- Al Smith – Harrogate (High Tide Festival & Royal Court)
- Katherine Soper – Wish List (Royal Exchange Manchester & Royal Court)
Emerging Talent
- Sheila Atim – Girl from the North Country (Old Vic)
- Tom Glynn-Carney – The Ferryman (Royal Court & Gielgud)
- Luke Thallon – Albion (Almeida)
Audience Award for Best Musical (voted by the public)
- An American in Paris – Dominion
- Bat out of Hell – The Musical – Coliseum
- Dreamgirls – Savoy
- Follies – National Theatre
- School of Rock – New London Theatre
- The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ The Musical – Menier Chocolate Factory
- She Loves Me – Menier Chocolate Factory
