Nicole Kidman, Imelda Staunton & More Make the Shortlist for 2015 London Evening Standard Awards

Nicole Kidman, Ralph Fiennes, and Imelda Staunton are among the performers on the shortlist for the 2015 London Evening Standard Awards. With the addition of the Best Musical Performance category, this marks the first time that there are three categories solely for musicals. The Best Musical category is voted by the public and features a mix of new shows and revivals from the West End and beyond. The 61st annual ceremony will take place on November 22 at the Old Vic, presented by Rob Brydon and co-hosted by Evgeny Lebedev, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen. Check out the complete shortlist below.

Best Actor
Simon Russell Beale, Temple
Kenneth Cranham, The Father
Ralph Fiennes, Man and Superman
James McAvoy, The Ruling Class

Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress
Denise Gough, People, Places and Things
Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nell Gwynn
Lia Williams, Oresteia

Best Play
The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Hangmen
The Father

Milton Shulman Award for Best Director
Robert Icke, Oresteia
Jamie Lloyd, Assassins
Indhu Rubasingham, The Motherf**ker with the Hat

Best Design
Anna Fleischle, Hangmen
Tim Hatley, Temple
Robert Jones, City of Angels

Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright
Molly Davies, God Bless the Child
Alistair McDowall, Pomona
Diana Nneka Atuona, Liberian Girl

Emerging Talent Award in Partnership with Burberry
Calvin Demba, The Red Lion
Patsy Ferran, Treasure Island
David Moorst, Violence and Son

Best Musical Performance
Katie Brayben, Beautiful
Rosalie Craig, City of Angels
Killian Donnelly, Kinky Boots
Imelda Staunton, Gypsy

Newcomer in a Musical
Gemma Arterton, Made in Dagenham
Ellie Bamber, High Society
Natalie Dew, Bend It Like Beckham

Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical (voted for by the public)
Assassins
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Bend It Like Beckham
Gypsy
Kinky Boots