Shortlist for 2005 Evening Standard Awards Announced

The shortlist for London's Evening Standard Awards has been announced. Unlike last year, the National Theatre did not dominate this list. Mike Leigh's 2,000 Years is the only National production cited. Mary Poppins and Billy Elliot, both of which have been reported for a Broadway transfer, are up for Best Musical alongside The Big Life which is already closed.

The 2005 Evening Standard Theatre Awards will be presented during a ceremony on November 28 at The Savoy Hotel.

Here is the complete short-list:

Best Play
2,000 Years by Mike Leigh, National Theatre
Bloody Sunday by Richard Norton-Taylor, Tricycle
Harvest by Richard Bean, Royal Court
The Home Place by Brian Friel, Gate Theatre, Dublin/Comedy Theatre

Best Musical
The Big Life, Theatre Royal Stratford East/Apollo
Billy Elliot, Victoria Palace Theatre
Mary Poppins, Prince Edward

Best Actor
Brian Dennehy, Death Of A Salesman, Lyric Theatre
Derek Jacobi, Don Carlos, Sheffield Theatres/Gielgud Theatre
Simon Russell Beale, The Philanthropist, Donmar Warehouse

Best Actress
Eve Best, Hedda Gabler, Almeida/Duke of York's
Clare Higgins, Death Of A Salesman, Lyric Theatre
Kristin Scott Thomas, As You Desire Me, Playhouse Theatre
Harriet Walter, Mary Stuart, Donmar Warehouse/Apollo

Best Designer
Paul Brown, As You Desire Me, Playhouse Theatre
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre
Christopher Oram designer and Paule Constable lighting designer, Don Carlos, Sheffield Theatres/Gielgud

Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer
Daniel Kramer for his direction of Hair and Woyzeck, Gate Theatre
Menier Chocolate Factory co-directors David Babani and Danielle Tarento
Ben Silverstone for his performance in Man And Boy, Duchess Theatre

Sydney Edwards Award for Best Director
Richard Eyre, Hedda Gabler Almeida/Duke of York's and Mary Poppins Prince Edward
Michael Grandage, Don Carlos Sheffield Theatres/Gielgud and Grand Hotel Donmar Warehouse
Jonathan Kent, As You Desire Me, Playhouse Theatre

Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright
Ryan Craig, What We Did to Weinstein, Menier Chocolate Factory
Nell Leyshon, Comfort Me With Apples, Hampstead Theatre
Simon Mendes da Costa, Losing Louis, Hampstead Theatre/ Trafalgar Studios