Goold’s Macbeth and Hairspray triumph at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards

Published Tuesday 29 January 2008 at 14:55 by Alistair Smith

Rupert Goold’s revival of Macbeth and the West End transfer of Broadway hit musical Hairspray have both picked up double honours at this year’s Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.

Hairspray won the Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical, renamed last year in honour of The Stage’s late editor, and Leanne Jones received the Most Promising Newcomer Award for her role in the show. Meanwhile, Goold won Best Director for Macbeth, which also saw Patrick Stewart’s interpretation of the lead role named Best Shakesperean Performance, in a joint award with Chiwetel Ejiofor for his Othello.

The awards in full are:

Best New Play - A Disappearing Number by Simon McBurney and Complicite

The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical (new or revival) - Hairspray

Best Actor - Charles Dance in Shadowlands

Best Actress - Anne-Marie Duff in Saint Joan

The John and Wendy Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance - Chiwetel Ejiofor in Othello and Patrick Stewart in Macbeth

Best Director - Rupert Goold for Macbeth

Best Designer - Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company for War Horse

Most Promising Playwright - Polly Stenham for That Face

The Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer (other than a playwright) - Leanne Jones in Hairspray