Matthew Lopez’s epic two-part drama The Inheritance was the big winner at the 2018 Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards held today at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End, hosted by Critics’ Circle Drama Section chairman Mark Shenton.
The Inheritance scooped three awards – Best New Play, Best Director (Stephen Daldry) and Best Actor (Kyle Soller). Spanning generations and interlinking lives, The Inheritance brilliantly transposed EM Forster’s novel Howards End to 21st-century New York. It received its world premiere in a critically acclaimed sold-out season at the Young Vic then transferred to the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre.
Marianne Elliott’s ground-breaking production of Company, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s 1970 musical comedy about life, love and marriage, with a hotly-anticipated gender-swapped story line, took home two awards – Best Musical and Best Designer (Bunny Christie).
Best Actress was Patsy Ferran as Alma in Tennessee Williams’ Summer & Smoke at the Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre. Ferran was previously Critics’ Circle Best Newcommer for Blithe Spirit and Treasure Island in 2015.
Best Shakespearean Performance was Sophie Okonedo as Cleopatra, opposite Ralph Fiennes, in Antony & Cleopatra at the National Theatre.
Best Newcomer was Chris Walley for Michael Grandage’s revival of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore.
Most Promising Playwright was Natasha Gordon for Nine Night, which transferred from the National Theatre to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios, where Gordon has also joined the cast.
The Special Award for Services to Theatre was awarded to Neil McPherson, artistic director of the pioneering Finborough Theatre in Earl’s Court since January 1999.
Drama Section Chair Mark Shenton said:
“Where other award ceremonies prioritise celebrity winners, see the industry rewarding itself or act as a public popularity contest, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards alone are above the fray with their independence, judged by respected critics whose job it is to see theatre week in, week out, without fear or favour, and who have no other agenda than to celebrate excellence. Critics are invited to reward their favourite contributions to creative excellence equally across plays and musicals.”
The Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards is one of the best-loved ceremonies in the theatre awards calendar. It’s an informal gathering of award recipients, drama critics, theatre practitioners and the media, convivially coming together to celebrate the critics’ selection of the best theatre, from throughout the UK, during the last calendar year.
Since the Awards’ inception in 1989, the theatre critics, consisting entirely of respected and influential working journalists, have prided themselves on offering something unique on the packed theatre awards circuit: each member of the Drama Section independently casts their vote based on personal choice, free of any discussion or industry influence, ensuring a highly democratic voting process.
Comedian Arthur Smith opened proceedings in time-honoured fashion, and during the ceremony, Mark Shenton handed over the reins, after nine years at the helm of the theatre section, to incoming chairman Henry Hitchings, Chief Theatre Critic of the London Evening Standard, as Shenton becomes President of the Critics’ Circle for a two-year term.
The exclusive invited audience also enjoyed a special musical performance from Once on this Island by the British Theatre Academy.
For a third year, the Awards were produced by founder of My Theatre Mates, Terri Paddock.
Full list of winners:
The Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer
Chris Walley for The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Noël Coward Theatre
The Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance
Sophie Okonedo for Antony & Cleopatra
National Theatre
Most Promising Playwright
Natasha Gordon for Nine Night
National Theatre & Trafalgar Studios
The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical
Company
Gielgud Theatre
Best Designer
Bunny Christie for Company
Gielgud Theatre
Best Director
Stephen Daldry for The Inheritance
Young Vic & Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actress
Patsy Ferran for Summer & Smoke
Almeida Theatre & Duke of York’s Theatre
Best Actor
Kyle Soller for The Inheritance
Young Vic & Noël Coward Theatre
Best New Play
The Inheritance
Young Vic & Noël Coward Theatre
Special Award
Neil McPherson
Artistic director of the Finborough Theatre
