New Year's Honours list

Sam Mendes, James Graham and Natasha Gordon recognised in New Year’s Honours

Will Longman
Will Longman

Familiar faces from the world of theatre have been recognised in this year's New Year's Honours, including director Sam Mendes and writers Natasha Gordon, Christopher Hampton and James Graham.

Sam Mendes, whose recent West End productions include The Lehman Trilogy and The Ferryman, was knighted in the annual honours for his services to drama. As well as his stage work, which also includes productions of The Glass Menagerie, Company and Richard III, the director's major works include the James Bond film Skyfall and 1999 drama American Beauty.

Christopher Hampton has also been knighted for services to drama. His plays include The Philanthropist and Total Eclipse, and he also wrote the book and lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals Sunset Boulevard and Stephen Ward. Recently, Hampton has translated many of the French playwright Florian Zeller's works into English for West End runs.

Music icon Elton John, who was knighted in 1998, became a Companion of Honour. Alongside a momentous career in pop music, John composed the scores for West End musicals The Lion King and Billy Elliot.

Natasha Gordon receives an MBE for services to drama. With an acting career which has seen her star in productions at the RSC and the Young Vic, Gordon made history in 2018 by becoming the first Black British woman to have a play staged in the West End when her writing debut Nine Night transferred to Trafalgar Studios from the National Theatre.

Roy Alexander Wiese, who directed Nine Night, was appointed MBE for services to drama. The current artistic director of Royal Exchange in Manchester had previous landmark production in London with Katori Hall's The Mountaintop at the Young Vic.

James Graham becomes an OBE for services to drama and young people in British theatre. The playwright, whose credits include This House, Labour of Love and Ink, recently had a play staged at Wilton's Music Hall which weaved the narratives of several young writers together, based on Charles Dickens' Sketches by Boz.

Actor Giles Terera, an Olivier Award winner for his role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, received an MBE for services to theatre. Following his run in Hamilton, Terera recently starred in Ian Rickson's adaptation of Rosmersholm in the West End.

Maureen Beattie, president of actors' union Equity, was also appointed an OBE for services to the entertainment industry. Beattie was elected as the union's president last year, and was most recently seen on stage in the Young Vic's production of Yerma in 2016.

Choreographer Stephen Mear became a CBE for services to dance. Mear's many West End credits include the current West End musical Mary Poppins, and the 2016 production of Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton

James Grieve and George Perrin both also received MBEs. The directors were co-artistic director of theatre company Paines Plough for over ten years, championing new plays and writing which toured across the country, before they stood down earlier this year.

Leonie Scott-Matthews was appointed an OBE for services to British theatre and the community in Hampstead, having founded the 60-seater venue Pentameters Theatre in 1968.

Photo credits: Mark Douet, Helen Murray, Will Longman, Johan Persson

Originally published on

Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock exclusive London theatre updates!

Special offers, reviews and release dates for the best shows in town.

You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy