Donmar Warehouse Comes Out on Top at Evening Standard Awards

Donmar Warehouse lead the list of winners of the 2008 Evening Standard Awards, which were presented in a ceremony at the Royal Opera House on November 24. The theater company took home four awards out of its previously announced six nominations, including Chiwetel Ejiofor as Best Actor, Margaret Tyzack and Penelope Wilton as Best Actress and Michael Grandage as Best Director. 

Also taking home awards were Kevin Spacey and Royal Shakespeare Company. Spacey received a special award for his work as Artistic Director of the Old Vic Theatre. The RSC was honored with a special award for its dedication to producing history plays, presented by David Tennant who currently stars in their production of Hamlet.

The full list of winners of the 2008 Evening Standard Awards are as follows:

Best Play
The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall

Best Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Othello

Best Actress
Margaret Tyzack, The Chalk Garden and Penelope Wilton, The Chalk Garden tie

The Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical
Street Scene

The Sydney Edwards Award for Best Director
Michael Grandage, Othello/The Chalk Garden/Ivanov

Best Design
Neil Murray, Brief Encounter

The Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer
Ella Smith, Fat Pig

The Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright
Tarell Alvin McCraney, In the Red and Brown Water/The Brothers Size