Critics' Circle Theatre Award Explained

The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, known as the Drama Theatre Awards until 1990, are British theatrical awards presented annually for the closing year's theatrical achievements.[1] The winners, from theatre throughout the United Kingdom, are selected via vote by the professional theatre critics of The Critics' Circle.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Recipients

Best Actor

1980s

YearRecipientWork
1982Bob HoskinsGuys and Dolls
1983Derek JacobiCyrano de Bergerac and Much Ado About Nothing
1984Brian CoxRat in the Skull and Strange Interlude
Antony SherRichard III
1985Anthony HopkinsPravda
Gary OldmanThe Pope's Wedding
1986Bill FraserWhen We Are Married
Hugh QuarshiThe Great White Hope
1987Brian CoxFashion, Taming of the Shrew and Titus Andronicus
1988Alex JenningsToo Clever by Half
Tom WilkinsonAn Enemy of the People
1989Ian McKellenOthello
1990s
YearRecipientWork
1990Michael GambonMan of the Moment
1991Nigel HawthorneThe Madness of George III
1992Paul EddingtonNo Man's Land
1993Ian HolmMoonlight
1994Tom CourtenayMoscow Stations
1995Daniel MasseyTaking Sides
1996David SuchetWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
1997Ian HolmKing Lear
1998Kevin SpaceyThe Iceman Cometh
1999Henry GoodmanThe Merchant of Venice
2000s
YearRecipientWork
2000Michael GambonThe Caretaker
2001Ian McDiarmidFaith Healer
2002Simon Russell BealeUncle Vanya
2003Michael SheenCaligula
2004Richard GriffithsThe History Boys
2005Simon Russell BealeThe Philanthropist
2006Rufus SewellRock 'n' Roll
2007Charles DanceShadowlands
2008Kenneth BranaghIvanov
2009Mark RylanceJerusalem
2010s
YearRecipientWork
2010David SuchetAll My Sons
2011Benedict CumberbatchFrankenstein
2012Adrian LesterRed Velvet
2013Lenny HenryFences
2014Mark StrongA View from the Bridge
2015Kenneth CranhamThe Father
2016Stephen DillaneFaith Healer
2017Bryan CranstonNetwork
2018Kyle SollerThe Inheritance
2019Andrew ScottPresent Laughter
2020s
YearRecipientWork
2022Ben DanielsThe Normal Heart
2023Giles TereraBlues for an Alabama Sky and Othello
2024Andrew ScottVanya

Best Actress

1980s

YearRecipientWork
1982Judi DenchThe Importance of Being Earnest and A Kind of Alaska
1983Juliet StevensonMeasure for Measure
1984Glenda JacksonStrange Interlude
1985Vanessa RedgraveThe Seagull
1986Joan PlowrightThe House of Bernarda Alba
1987Judi DenchAntony and Cleopatra
1988Pauline CollinsShirley Valentine
1989Fiona ShawElectra and The Good Person of Sichuan
1990s
YearRecipientWork
1990Josette SimonAfter the Fall
1991Fiona ShawHedda Gabler
1992Eileen AtkinsThe Night of the Iguana
1993Penelope WiltonThe Deep Blue Sea
1994Clare HigginsThe Children's Hour and Sweet Bird of Youth
1995Claire SkinnerThe Glass Menagerie
1996Janet McTeerA Doll's House
1997Judi DenchAmy's View
1998Sinéad CusackOur Lady of Sligo
1999Janie DeeComic Potential
2000s
YearRecipientWork
2000Victoria HamiltonAs You Like It
2001Lindsay DuncanMouth to Mouth and Private Lives
2002Clare HigginsVincent in Brixton
2003Eve BestMourning Becomes Electra
2004Victoria HamiltonSuddenly Last Summer
2005Eve BestHedda Gabler
2006Kathleen TurnerWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
2007Anne-Marie DuffSaint Joan
2008Margaret TyzackThe Chalk Garden
2009Rachel WeiszA Streetcar Named Desire
2010s
YearRecipientWork
2010Jenny JulesRuined
2011Sheridan SmithFlare Path
2012Hattie MorahanA Doll's House
2013Lesley ManvilleGhosts
2014Helen McCroryMedea
2015Denise GoughPeople, Places and Things
2016Billie PiperYerma
2017Victoria HamiltonAlbion
2018Patsy FerranSummer and Smoke
2019Sharon D ClarkeDeath of a Salesman
Juliet StevensonThe Doctor
2020s
YearRecipientWork
2022Jessie BuckleyCabaret
2023Patsy FerranA Streetcar Named Desire
2024Sophie OkonedoMedea

Best Designer

1980s

YearRecipientWork
1982John GunterThe Beggar's Opera and Guys and Dolls
Grant HicksThe Double Man and True West
1983VoytekGreat and Small
1984Alison ChittyVenice Preserved
1985William DudleyThe Critic, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Mutiny, The Mysteries and The Real Inspector Hound
1986Ezio FrigerioThe House of Bernarda Alba
Maria BjörnsonThe Phantom of the Opera
1987Follies
Michael TaylorAttractions
1988Richard HudsonThe Old Vic season
1989John NapierMiss Saigon
1990s
YearRecipientWork
1990Mark ThompsonThe Wind in the Willows
1991Bob CrowleyMurmuring Judges
1992Ian MacNeilAn Inspector Calls
1993Machinal
1994Mark ThompsonThe Kitchen
1995Robin DonThe Winter Guest
1996Robert Innes HopkinsThe Comedy of Errors and The Weavers
1997John NapierPeter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up
1998Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch and Graeme GilmourShockheaded Peter
Richard HooverNot About Nightingales
1999Julie Taymor and Richard HudsonThe Lion King
2000s
YearRecipientWork
2000Paul BrownCoriolanus, Richard II and The Tempest
2001Platonov
2002William DudleyThe Coast of Utopia
2003Bob CrowleyMourning Becomes Electra
2004Christopher OramSuddenly Last Summer
2005Timothy Bird and David FarleySunday in the Park with George
2006Punchdrunk CompanyFaust
2007Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet CompanyWar Horse
2008Neil MurrayBrief Encounter
2009Christopher OramRed
2010s
YearRecipientWork
2010Bunny ChristieThe White Guard
2011Mark TildesleyFrankenstein
2012Miriam BuetherWild Swans
2013Es DevlinChimerica
2014The Nether
2015Anna FleischleHangmen
2016Christine JonesHarry Potter and the Cursed Child
2017Vicki MortimerFollies
2018Bunny ChristieCompany
2019Tom ScuttA Very Expensive Poison
2020s
YearRecipientWork
2022Tom ScuttCabaret
2023Tom PyeMy Neighbour Totoro
2024Miriam Buether and 59 Productions

Best Director

1980s

YearRecipientWork
1982James Roose-Evans84, Charing Cross Road
1983Terry HandsCyrano de Bergerac (classical)
Giles HavergalMen Should Weep (modern)
1984Peter GillFool for Love and Venice Preserved
1985Bill BrydenThe Mysteries
1986Mike AlfredsThe Cherry Orchard
1987Declan DonnellanTwelfth Night
1988Peter BrookThe Mahabharata
1989Nicholas HytnerGhetto and Miss Saigon
1990s
YearRecipientWork
1990Peter HallThe Wild Duck
Robert LepageTectonic Plates
1991Trevor NunnTimon of Athens
1992Stephen DaldryAn Inspector Calls
1993Terry HandsTamburlaine the Great
1994Sean MathiasDesign for Living and Les Parents terribles
1995Sam MendesThe Glass Menagerie
1996Richard EyreGuys and Dolls and John Gabriel Borkman
1997The Invention of Love and King Lear
1998Howard DaviesFlight and The Iceman Cometh
1999Trevor NunnThe Merchant of Venice and Summerfolk
2000s
YearRecipientWork
2000Michael GrandageAs You Like It, Merrily We Roll Along and Passion Play
2001Robert LepageThe Far Side of the Moon
2002Sam MendesTwelfth Night and Uncle Vanya
2003Howard DaviesMourning Becomes Electra
2004Rufus NorrisFesten
2005Michael GrandageThe Wild Duck
2006John TiffanyBlack Watch
2007Rupert GooldMacbeth
2008Michael GrandageThe Chalk Garden and Ivanov
2009Rupert GooldEnron
2010s
YearRecipientWork
2010Michael GrandageKing Lear
Thea SharrockAfter the Dance
2011Mike LeighGrief
2012Benedict AndrewsThree Sisters
2013Lyndsey TurnerChimerica
2014Ivo van HoveA View from the Bridge
2015Robert IckeOresteia
2016John TiffanyHarry Potter and the Cursed Child
2017Dominic CookeFollies
2018Stephen DaldryThe Inheritance
2019Jamie LloydBetrayal, Cyrano de Bergerac and Evita
2020s
YearRecipientWork
2022Rebecca FrecknallCabaret
2023Lynette LintonBlues for an Alabama Sky
2024Rupert GooldDear England

Best Musical

Known as the 'Peter Hepple Award' from 2016 onwards.

1980s

YearWork
1982Guys and Dolls
1983Blood Brothers
1984On Your Toes
1985Me and My Girl
1986Chess
1987Follies
1988South Pacific
1989Miss Saigon
1990s
YearWork
1990Into the Woods
1991Carmen Jones
1992Assassins
1993City of Angels
1994She Loves Me
1995Company
1996Guys and Dolls
1997Chicago
1998Oklahoma!
1999Spend Spend Spend
2000s
YearWork
2000The Beautiful Game
2001Kiss Me, Kate
2002Anything Goes
2003
2004The Producers
2005Billy Elliot the Musical
2006Caroline, or Change
2007Hairspray
2008La Cage Aux Folles
2009Spring Awakening
2010s
YearWork
2010Matilda the Musical
2011London Road
2012Merrily We Roll Along
2013The Scottsboro Boys
2014Gypsy
2015
2016Groundhog Day
2017Hamilton
2018Company
2019Come From Away
2020s
YearWork
2022Spring Awakening
2023Oklahoma!
2024Guys and Dolls

Best New Play

1980s

YearRecipientWriter
1982A Kind of AlaskaHarold Pinter
1984One for the RoadHarold Pinter
1985A Chorus of DisapprovalAlan Ayckbourn
1986RoadJim Cartwright
1987CurtainsStephen Bill
FashionDoug Lucie
1988The Secret RaptureDavid Hare
1989GhettoJoshua Sobol
1990s
YearRecipientWriter
1990Racing DemonDavid Hare
1991Three Birds Alighting on a FieldTimberlake Wertenbaker
1992Angels in AmericaTony Kushner
1993ArcadiaTom Stoppard
1994Dead FunnyTerry Johnson
1995The Steward of ChristendomSebastian Barry
1996Blinded by the SunStephen Poliakoff
1997CloserPatrick Marber
1998CopenhagenMichael Frayn
1999MnemonicSimon McBurney
2000s
YearRecipientWriter
2000Blue/OrangeJoe Penhall
2001Humble BoyCharlotte Jones
2002The York RealistPeter Gill
2003DemocracyMichael Frayn
2004The History BoysAlan Bennett
2005HarvestRichard Bean
2006Rock'n'RollTom Stoppard
2007A Disappearing NumberSimon McBurney and Complicite
2008Tracy Letts
2009JerusalemJez Butterworth
2010s
YearRecipientWriter
2010Clybourne ParkBruce Norris
2011One Man, Two GuvnorsRichard Bean
2012The EffectLucy Prebble
2013ChimericaLucy Kirkwood
2014King Charles IIIMike Bartlett
2015HangmenMartin McDonagh
2016The FlickAnnie Baker
2017The FerrymanJez Butterworth
2018The InheritanceMatthew Lopez
2019A Very Expensive PoisonLucy Prebble
2020s
YearRecipientWriter
2022Best of EnemiesJames Graham
2023PatriotsPeter Morgan
2024The Motive and the CueJack Thorne

Best Shakespearean Performance

Known as the 'John and Wendy Trewin Award' from 2000 until 2015, and 'The Trewin Award' from 2016 onwards.

2000s

YearRecipientWork
2000Simon Russell BealeHamlet
2001Samuel WestHamlet
2002Mark RylanceTwelfth Night
2003Greg HicksCoriolanus
2004Paul RhysMeasure for Measure
2005Kevin SpaceyRichard II
2006Tamsin GreigMuch Ado About Nothing
2007Chiwetel EjioforOthello
Patrick StewartMacbeth
2008Derek JacobiTwelfth Night
David TennantHamlet
2009Jude LawHamlet
2010s
YearRecipientWork
2010Derek JacobiKing Lear
2011Eddie RedmayneRichard II
2012Simon Russell BealeTimon of Athens
2013Rory KinnearOthello
2014Antony SherHenry IV
2015Judi DenchThe Winter's Tale
2016Glenda JacksonKing Lear
2017Andrew ScottHamlet
2018Sophie OkonedoAntony and Cleopatra
2019Hammed AnimashaunA Midsummer Night's Dream
2020s
YearRecipientWork
2022Cush JumboHamlet
2023Arthur HughesRichard III
2024David TennantMacbeth

Most Promising Newcomer

Known as the 'Jack Tinker Award' from 1996 onwards.

1980s

YearRecipientWork
1989Sam MendesArtistic direction at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester
Julia OrmondFaith, Hope and Charity
1990s
YearRecipientWork
1990Sara CrowPrivate Lives
1991Lia WilliamsThe Revengers' Comedies
1992Rufus SewellMaking It Better
1993Emma FieldingArcadia and The School for Wives
1994Rachel WeiszDesign for Living
1995Victoria HamiltonThe Master Builder and Retreat
1996James CallisOld Wicked Songs
1997Liza WalkerCloser
1998Mick GordonGate Theatre, London
1999Eve Best'Tis Pity She's a Whore
2000s
YearRecipientWork
2000Chiwetel EjioforBlue/Orange
2001Lyndsey MarshalBoston Marriage and Redundant
2002Alison PargeterDamsels in Distress
2003Lisa DillonIphigenia and The Master Builder
2004Eddie RedmayneThe Goat, or Who is Sylvia?
2005Mariah Gale'Tis Pity She's a Whore
2006Andrew GarfieldCitizenship and The Overwhelming
2007Leanne JonesHairspray
2008Ella SmithFat Pig
2009Tom SturridgePunk Rock
2010s
YearRecipientWork
2010Daniel KaluuyaSucker Punch
2011Blanche McIntyreAccolade and Foxfinder
2012Denise GoughDesire Under the Elms and Our New Girl
2013Kate O'FlynnPort
2014Patsy FerranBlithe Spirit and Treasure Island
2015David MoorstViolence and Son
2016Anthony BoyleHarry Potter and the Cursed Child
2017Sheila AtimGirl From the North Country
John McCreaEverybody’s Talking About Jamie
2018Chris WalleyThe Lieutenant of Inishmore
2019Sam TuttyDear Evan Hansen
2020s
YearRecipientWork
2022Samuel CreasyThe Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage
Stuart ThompsonSpring Awakening
2023Lizzie AnnisThe Glass Menagerie
2024Louis McCartney
Jack WolfeNext to Normal

Most Promising Playwright

1980s

1990s
YearRecipientWork
1990Clare McIntyreMy Heart's a Suitcase
1991Rona MunroBold Girls
1992Philip RidleyThe Fastest Clock in the Universe
1993Simon DonaldTheatre of Stuff
1994Kevin ElyotMy Night With Reg
1995Jez ButterworthMojo
1996Martin McDonaghThe Beauty Queen of Leenane
1997Conor McPhersonThe Weir
1998Rebecca PrichardYard Gal
1999Charlotte JonesMartha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis
2000s
YearRecipientWork
2000Joanna LaurensThe Three Birds
2001Gregory BurkeGagarin Way
2002Charlotte EilenbergThe Lucky Ones
2003Lucy PrebbleThe Sugar Syndrome
2004Rebecca LenkiewiczThe Night Season
2005Laura WadeBreathing Corpses and Colder Than Here
2006Nina RaineRabbit
2007Polly StenhamThat Face
2008Alexi Kaye CampbellThe Pride
2009Alia BanoShades
2010s
YearRecipientWork
2010Anya ReisSpur of the Moment
2011Tom WellThe Kitchen Sink
2012Lolita ChakrabartiRed Velvet
2013Rory KinnearThe Herd
Phoebe Waller-BridgeFleabag
2014Barney NorrisVisitors
2015James FritzFour Minutes Twelve Seconds
2016Charlene JamesCuttin’ It
2017Branden Jacobs-JenkinsGloria and An Octoroon
2018Natasha GordonNine Night
2019Jasmine Lee-JonesSeven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner
2020s
YearRecipientWork
2022Igor MemicOld Bridge
Zadie SmithThe Wife of Willesden
2023Tyrell WilliamsRed Pitch
2024Marcelo Dos SantosBackstairs Billy
Matilda Feyiṣayọ IbiniSleepova

Special awards

YearRecipientNotes
2017David LanCommendation for artistic direction at the Young Vic
2018Neil McPhersonCommendation for artistic direction at the Finborough Theatre
2019Paule ConstableCommendation for lighting design
2022Jermyn Street TheatreCommendations for exceptional theatre-making during lockdown
National Theatre
Nica Burns
The Old Vic
Original Theatre Company
2023New Diorama TheatreRecipient of the Peter Brook Award for an innovative venue
2024Orange Tree TheatreRecipient of the Peter Brook Award for an innovative venue

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Theatre Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20140607000930/http://www.albemarle-london.com/awards/Awards.php . 7 June 2014 . 15 April 2020 . Albemarle-London.com . Albemarle of London.
  2. Web site: William Russell . 31 January 2018 . The Critics' Circle Drama Awards: New Special Award for Services to the Theatre . 15 April 2020 . Critics' Circle.
  3. Web site: 30 January 2018 . Just announced! Full list of 2017 #CriticsCircleAwards winners and production photos . 15 April 2020 . Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.
  4. Web site: Results . 15 April 2020 . Critics' Circle Theatre Awards.
  5. Web site: 11 February 2020 . Just announced! Full list of 2019 Critics' Circle Awards winners and production photos . 23 April 2020 . Critics' Circle Theatre Awards.
  6. Web site: Ramachandran . Naman . 2024-03-25 . Andrew Scott, David Tennant, Sophie Okonedo Win Acting Prizes at U.K. Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards . 2024-04-17 . Variety . en-US.