Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2015: Nicole Kidman and James McAvoy win best in show

Winners including Nicole Kidman, James McAvoy and Imelda Staunton honoured in a glitzy ceremony at the Old Vic
Ben Norum23 November 2015

Nicole Kidman has been named best actress and James McAvoy best actor at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards, which is now in its 61st year.

The A-listers were among a host of winning actors, actresses, directors, playwrights and productions honoured for their achievements on London’s stages during a glitzy ceremony at The Old Vic theatre on Sunday evening.

Kidman won the prize for her part as Rosalind Franklin in Photograph 51, which has just finished its run at the Noël Coward Theatre. She was presented the award by Jeremy Irons.

McAvoy was praised for his part in The Ruling Class, which ran earlier this year at Trafalgar Studios. His award was presented by X-Files star Gillian Anderson, who won best actress at last year’s ceremony for her part in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Best actor: James McAvoy in The Ruling Class
Johan Persson

The evening, which was presented by Rob Brydon and co-hosted by Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen, saw thirteen awards given.

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2015

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The Motherf**ker With The Hat, by Stephen Adly Guirgis, was named best play, while the award for best musical — as voted for by Radio 2 listeners — went to Kinky Boots.

Best actress: Nicole Kidman in Photograph 51
Johan Persson

Gemma Arterton was presented with the award for best newcomer in a musical by Jeremy Irvine and Gemma Chan for her role in Made In Dagenham. The gong for best musical performance went to Imelda Staunton for her portrayal of Momma Rose in Gypsy.

Best musical performance: Imelda Staunton in Gypsy
Johan Persson/Society of London Theatre

Robert Icke was named best director for his production of Oresteia at Trafalgar Studios and Anna Fleischle won the award for best design for Hangmen at Royal Court Theatre.

The awards placed emerging talent in the spotlight alongside the big names. Molly Davies was named most promising playwright for God Bless The Child, and David Moorst won the emerging talent award — created in partnership with Burberry — for his role in Violence and Son.

The V&A’s hugely popular exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty won the Beyond Theatre award, while the Editor’s award in partnership with The Ivy went to Vanessa Redgrave.

Lebedev award: Stephen Sondheim
Walter McBride/Getty Images

To finish, the Lebedev award went to American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

Stars who were present on the night also included Dame Shirley Bassey, Jessica Brown Findlay, Kate Beckinsale, Salma Hayek, Ruth Wilson, designer Christian Louboutin, and Alex Sharp, who won a Tony award for his Broadway performance in The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time earlier this year.

See below for the full list of award winners.

Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2015: The winners

Best Actor

JAMES McAVOY

The Ruling Class

Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress

NICOLE KIDMAN

Photograph 51

Best Play

THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT

Stephen Adly Guirgis

Newcomer in a Musical

GEMMA ARTERTON

Made in Dagenham

Best Musical Performance

IMELDA STAUNTON

Gypsy

Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical

KINKY BOOTS

Milton Shulman Award for Best Director

ROBERT ICKE

Oresteia

Best Design

ANNA FLEISCHLE

Hangmen

Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright

MOLLY DAVIES

God Bless the Child

Emerging Talent Award in partnership with Burberry

DAVID MOORST

Violence and Son

Beyond Theatre Award

ALEXANDER McQUEEN: SAVAGE BEAUTY EXHIBITION

Editor’s Award in partnership with The Ivy

VANESSA REDGRAVE

Lebedev Award

STEPHEN SONDHEIM

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