Patrick Stewart, Hairspray Among Winners of Evening Standard Awards

Patrick Stewart took home the Best Actor prize for his performance in the title role of Macbeth at London's Evening Standard Theatre Awards, presented on November 27. Hairspray was named Best Musical over Parade and Fiddler on the Roof, and A Disappearing Number by Simon McBurney and Complicite was named Best Play defeating Rafta, Rafta and The Reporter.

Stewart's Macbeth, which began at the Chichester Festival before transferring to the West End, has received rave reviews and is doing sellout business at the Gielgud. His director, Rupert Goold, won the Best Director award.

The awards were chosen by a panel of London critics, including Nicholas de Jongh, Georgina Brown, Susanna Clapp, Benedict Nightingale and Charles Spencer. The complete list of winners is as follows:

Best Play
A Disappearing Number, Simon McBurney and Complicite Barbican

Best Actor
Patrick Stewart, Macbeth Chichester Festival, then Gielgud

Best Actress
Anne-Marie Duff, Saint Joan Olivier, National

The Sydney Edwards Award for Best Director
Rupert Goold, Macbeth Chichester Festival, then Gielgud

The New Sherrin Award for Best Musical
Hairspray Shaftesbury Theatre

Best Design
Rae Smith and the Handspring Puppet Company, War Horse Olivier, National

The Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright
Polly Stenham, That Face Royal Court Upstairs

The Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer
Stephen Wright, Dealer's Choice/Don Juan in Soho Menier Chocolate Factory/Donmar Warehouse

Special Award
Stephen Tompkins for innovative theater architecture