The Stage

Donmar sweeps the board at Critics’ Circle Awards

Published Tuesday 27 January 2009 at 14:45 by Alistair Smith

Covent Garden venue the Donmar Warehouse has dominated this year’s Critics’ Circle Awards, picking up four out of the nine prizes on offer.

Artistic director Michael Grandage received the award for Best Director for his productions of Ivanov and the Chalk Garden, while performers Kenneth Branagh, Margaret Tyzack and Derek Jacobi were all recognised for their roles in Donmar productions.

Mark Shenton, Stage critic and chairman of the Critics’ Circle Drama Section, said that the awards highlighted the “ongoing excellence” of theatre in the UK.

He added: “Surveying the excellence of the ten winners in our nine categories - there was a tie for Best Shakespearean Performance - I think we’ve got one of the best and most privileged jobs in the world, in the English-speaking world’s theatrical capital.

“One venue has proved itself absolutely indispensable - the Donmar Warehouse, who have set both the acting standard and the directorial one at their Covent Garden home base and their residency at the Wyndham’s. But our subsidised theatres, from the National and RSC to the Royal Court, also continue to win awards, as does the Menier Chocolate Factory, which operates with no subsidy at all.”

The Best New Play award was picked up by August: Osage County by Tracy Letts, which transferred to the National Theatre from the US. The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical - named after the late editor of The Stage - was awarded to La Cage aux Folles, which started life at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark before transferring to the West End.

The Awards in Full

Best New Play - August: Osage County by Tracy Letts (National Theatre presentation of the Steppenwolf Company).

The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical - La Cage aux Folles (Menier Chocolate Factory and West End).

Best Actor - Kenneth Branagh in Ivanov (Donmar West End).

Best Actress - Margaret Tyzack in The Chalk Garden (Donmar).

The John and Wendy Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance, awarded jointly to - Derek Jacobi in Twelfth Night (Donmar West End) and David Tennant in Hamlet (RSC).

Best Director - Michael Grandage for Ivanov and The Chalk Garden (Donmar West End and Donmar).

Best Designer - Neil Murray for Brief Encounter (West End).

Most Promising Playwright - Alexi Kaye Campbell for The Pride (Royal Court).

The Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Ella Smith in Fat Pig (Trafalgar Studios and West End).