Winners of The Critics's Circle Theatre Awards

Winners of The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards

The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards 2008 took place today (27 Jan) at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London.

The theatre awards are decided by the independent votes of Drama Section members, with no panel discussions or public/industry influence exerted.

The Donmar Warehouse wins four awards; Kenneth Branagh & Margaret Tyzack are named Best Actor and Actress; and Derek Jacobi & David Tennant have jointly won Best Shakespearean Performance.

The full winners are...

BEST NEW PLAY
August: Osage County
by Tracy Letts
(National Theatre presentation of the Steppenwolf Company, Lyttelton Theatre)

BEST MUSICAL (new or revival)
La Cage Aux Folles
(Menier Chocolate Factory, followed by transfer to Playhouse Theatre)

BEST ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh in Ivanov
(Donmar Warehouse at Wyndham's Theatre)

BEST ACTRESS
Margaret Tyzack in The Chalk Garden
(Donmar Warehouse)

BEST SHAKESPEAREAN PERFORMANCE
= awarded jointly to:
Derek Jacobi in Twelfth Night
(Donmar Warehouse at Wyndham's Theatre)
& David Tennant in Hamlet
(RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon, followed by transfer to Novello Theatre)

BEST DIRECTOR
Michael Grandage
for Ivanov & The Chalk Garden
(Donmar Warehouse at Wyndham's & Donmar)

BEST DESIGNER
Neil Murray for Brief Encounter
(Kneehigh Theatre at Cinema Haymarket)

MOST PROMISING PLAYWRIGHT
Alexi Kaye Campbell for The Pride
(Royal Court Theatre Upstairs)

JACK TINKER AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER (other than a playwright)
Ella Smith in Fat Pig
(Trafalgar Studios, followed by transfer to Comedy).

In an acceptance speech read on his behalf at today's awards, David Tennant said:

"When I was at drama school, I waited at the stage door of Glasgow Theatre Royal to get Derek Jacobi's autograph, after his breathtaking Richard II. I was utterly inspired by that night, so to be sharing a prize for Shakespeare with such an amazing actor means more than I can say. Getting to play Hamlet for the RSC at Stratford is a dream I never imagined I would get to fulfil, but to get to fulfil it with Greg Doran directing, and, with such an incredible, talented, ego-free, inspirational cast was life changing and sublime. The definition of ensemble playing. Finally I'd like to apologise to Ed Bennett for any grey hairs I gave him and thank the lovely Penny Downie (my impossibly glamorous stage mum) for picking this up on my behalf today."