Top row (from left): Andrew Scott, Sharon D. Clarke, Juliet Stevenson

Bottom row: Sam Tutty and Hammed Animashaun

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Hosted by Critics' Circle Drama Section Chairman Henry Hitchings, the Critics Curcle Awards for 2019 took place today at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End.

The ceremony is one of the best loved in the theatre awards calendar with its informal gathering of award recipients, drama critics, theatre practitioners and the media, convivially coming together to celebrate the critics' personal choice of the best theatre, from throughout the UK, during the last calendar year.

Highlights

'A Very Expensive Poison' at the Old Vic was named Best New Play and 'Come From Away' Best Musical.

Jamie Lloyd was Best Director for three productions in the past year - 'Betrayal' at the Harold Pinter Theatre, 'Evita' at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and 'Cyrano

de Bergerac' at the Playhouse Theatre.

Andrew Scott was named Best Actor for 'Present Laughter' at the Old Vic.

It was his second win at the Critics' Circle Awards; he previously won Best Shakespearean Performance for 'Hamlet', which ran at the Almeida and in the West End in 2017.

There was a tie for Best Actress with the award going to both Sharon D Clarke in 'Death of a Salesman' at the Young Vic and Piccadilly Theatre and Juliet Stevenson for 'The Doctor' at the Almeida Theatre.

It was Juliet Stevenson's second win at the Critics' Circle Awards - she was Best Actress in 1983 for her Isabella in the RSC's 'Measure for Measure'.

Most Promising Newcomer was Sam Tutty for his West End debut in the title role in 'Dear Evan Hansen' at the Noël Coward Theatre.

Best Shakespearean Performance of the Year was Hammed Animashaun for his Bottom in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at Bridge Theatre.

Here are the winners in full ...

The Michael Billington Award for Best New Play - 'A Very Expensive Poison', Old Vic

The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical - 'Come From Away', Phoenix

Best Actor - Andrew Scott for 'Present Laughter', Old Vic

Best Actress - two winners

Sharon D Clarke, 'Death of a Salesman', Young Vic and Piccadilly

Juliet Stevenson, 'The Doctor', Almeida

The Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance - Hammed Animashaun for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Bridge Theatre

Best Director - Jamie Lloyd for 'Betrayal' at the Harold Pinter Theatre, 'Evita' at the Regent's Park, Open Air Theatre and 'Cyrano de Bergerac' at the Playhouse Theatre

Best Designer - Tom Scutt for 'A Very Expensive Poison', Old Vic

Most Promising Playwright - Jasmine Lee-Jones for 'Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner', Royal Court

The Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Sam Tutty for 'Dear Evan Hansen', Noel Coward Theatre

The Special Award for Services to Theatre was awarded to Paule Constable, theatre's leading lighting designer.

The Awards were again presented in association with long-time headline sponsor Nyman Libson Paul Chartered Accountants, leading entertainment industry specialists.

They are also generously supported by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres (now involved for a 16th year).

The Awards are produced by leading industry figure Terri Paddock.

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