Kidman wins best actress at Theater Awards – Icke earns directing prize for ‘Oresteia’

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LOS ANGELES, Nov 23, (Agencies): Nicole Kidman took the award for best actress and James McAvoy was named best actor at the 61st London Evening Standard Theater Awards Sunday at a ceremony at London’s Old Vic theater.

Kidman was honored for her performance in Anna Ziegler’s “Photograph 51,” in which she played scientist Rosalind Franklin, whose pioneering work contributed to the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. The play, which was directed by Michael Grandage, ran at the Noel Coward Theater.

McAvoy earned his honor in Peter Barnes’ satire “The Ruling Class” as an aristocrat who believes he is the Messiah, a role Peter O’Toole took in the 1972 film. The play, which was directed by Jamie Lloyd, ran at Trafalgar Studios.

The award for top play was picked up by Stephen Adly Guirgis’ “Hat,” which was directed by Indhu Rubasingham. The New York-set comedy centers on a drug dealer, recently released from prison and trying to go straight, and his volatile girlfriend. The production formed part of the Rufus Norris’ first season as artistic director at the National Theater.

Robert Icke earned the directing prize for his reworking of Aeschylus’ “Oresteia,” which has been lauded for its ingenuity and ambition. The play initially ran at Almeida Theater, and then transferred to Trafalgar Studios.

Imelda Staunton won the award for musical performance for her role as Mama Rose, the mother of dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, in Stephen Sondheim’s “Gypsy” at Savoy Theater. Staunton sang “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from the production at the awards ceremony.

Gemma Arterton was named best newcomer in a musical for “Made in Dagenham,” which focuses on the fight for equal pay for women in 1960s Britain. The production played at Adelphi Theater.

Anna Fleischle took the honor for design for Martin McDonagh’s 60s-set “Hangmen,” which moves from the starkness of a condemned cell to a cluttered pub, where a former state executioner retreats to following the abolition of the death penalty in the UK. The play ran at the Royal Court.

Molly Davies was named most promising playwright for her satire “God Bless the Child” about a group of eight-year-old school kids rebelling against a new educational regime. The play ran at Royal Court Upstairs.

David Moorst won the emerging talent award for his role as geeky teen Liam, who is the object of violent bullying from his hard-drinking father, in “Violence and Son” at Royal Court Upstairs.

The Editor’s Award was presented to Vanessa Redgrave, and the Lebedev Award went to Stephen Sondheim, who celebrated his 85th birthday this year.

Winners

* Best Actor: James McAvoy, The Ruling Class

* Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51

* Best Play: “Hat”, Stephen Adly Guirgis

* Newcomer in a Musical: Gemma Arterton, Made in Dagenham

* Best Musical Performance: Imedla Staunton, Gypsy

* Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical: Kinky Boots

* Milton Shulman Award for Best Director: Robert Icke, Oresteia

* Best Design: Anna Fleischle, Hangmen

* Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright: Molly Davies, God Bless the Child

* Emerging Talent Award in partnership with Burberry: David Moorst, Violence and Son

* Beyond Theatre Award: Alexander McQueen, Savage Exhibition

* Editor’s Award in partnership with The Ivy: Vanessa Redgrave

* Lebedev Award: Stephen Sondheim

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