Evening Standard Theatre Awards
The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are the oldest theatrical awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. They are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and are organised by the Evening Standard newspaper. They are the West Ends equivalent to Broadways Drama Desk Awards.
Hosted by The Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev and co-hosted by Anna Wintour, the much celebrated theatre awards remain The Evening Standard's signature event. It is the first major awards ceremony within the events calendar every year and attracts A-list celebrities along with the movers and shakers from the theatre world.
Trophies
The trophies take the form of a modelled statuette, a figure representing Drama, designed by Frank Dobson RA, a former Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art.Categories
Three of the awards are given in the names of former Evening Standard notables:- Arts editor Sydney Edwards for the Best Director category.
- Editor Charles Wintour for Most Promising Playwright.
- Long-serving theatre critic Milton Shulman for the Outstanding Newcomer award.
In 1980, noting the first use of the Special Award category, Shulman observed that "In 1968 the judges felt that Alan Bennett's work Forty Years On did not fit either the category of a Play or a Musical. But since they liked it so much they gave him the coveted Dobson statuette as a Special Award. In a quarter of a century, only in 1968 had no-one been designated as 'Promising' although it could conceivably be argued that Alan Bennett's Special Award was a reasonable substitute for this category."
The Special Awards process came to a climax in 2004 when, in the 50th anniversary year, the category was used to signal peaks of accomplishment by the National Theatre, Harold Pinter and Dame Judi Dench.
The Patricia Rothermere Award, presented biennially from 1999 to 2005 recognised those who had given outstanding support to young actors. There was also a three-year scholarship award for a drama student. Lady Rothermere is the wife of Lord Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, former owners of the Evening Standard.
Commencing in 2007, the award for Best Musical was renamed The Ned Sherrin Award, in memory of the entertainer and raconteur, for many years the witty compere of the Evening Standard Awards ceremony.
The Best Actress award is now named in tribute to Natasha Richardson, who died after a skiing accident in Quebec in March 2009.
Awards ceremonies
The 2007 Awards lunchtime ceremony took place at the Savoy Hotel in London on 27 November 2007. The judges' assessments of the winners are online.The 2008 winners were announced in a ceremony at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 24 November 2008. The judges' assessments are online.
The 2009 winners were announced in a ceremony, again at the Royal Opera House, on Monday, 23 November 2009. The judges' assessments are online.
The 2010 winners were announced at a celebratory evening ceremony on Thursday 28 November 2010 in the newly refurbished Savoy Hotel.
The 2011 winners were announced in a ceremony at the Savoy Hotel on 20 November 2011.
The 2012 winners were announced in a ceremony again at the Savoy Hotel on 25 November 2012.
The 2013 winners were announced in a ceremony again at the Savoy Hotel on 17 November 2013.
The 2014 winners were announced in a ceremony at the London Palladium on 30 November 2014.
The 2015 winners were announced in a ceremony at the Old Vic Theatre on 22 November 2015.
The 2016 winners were announced in a ceremony again at the Old Vic Theatre on 13 November 2016.
The 2017 winners were announced in a ceremony at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 3 December 2017.
The 2018 winners were announced in a ceremony again at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 18 November 2018.
The 2019 winners were announced in a ceremony at the London Coliseum on 24 November 2019.
Awards by year
- 2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012 – 2011 – 2010
- 2009 – 2008 – 2007 – 2006 – 2005 – 2004 – 2003 – 2002 – 2001 – 2000
- 1999 – 1998 – 1997 – 1996 – 1995 – 1994 – 1993 – 1992 – 1991 – 1990
- 1989 – 1988 – 1987 – 1986 – 1985 – 1984 – 1983 – 1982 – 1981 – 1980
Winners 1955–2019
Best Play
- 2019: Sweat by Lynn Nottage
- 2018: The Inheritance by Matthew Lopez
- 2017: The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth
- 2016: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne
- 2015: The Motherfucker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis
- 2014: The James Plays by Rona Munro
- 2013: Chimerica by Lucy Kirkwood
- 2012: Constellations by Nick Payne
- 2011: One Man, Two Guvnors and The Heretic by Richard Bean
- 2010: Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris
- 2009: Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth
- 2008: The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall
- 2007: A Disappearing Number by Simon McBurney and Complicite
- 2006: Rock 'n' Roll by Tom Stoppard
- 2005: The Home Place by Brian Friel
- 2004: The History Boys by Alan Bennett
- 2003: Democracy by Michael Frayn
- 2002: A Number by Caryl Churchill
- 2001: Far Side of the Moon by Robert Lepage
- 2000: Blue/Orange by Joe Penhall
- 1999: no award
- 1998: Copenhagen by Michael Frayn
- 1997: The Invention of Love by Tom Stoppard
- 1996: Stanley by Pam Gems
- 1995: Pentecost by David Edgar
- 1994: Three Tall Women by Edward Albee
- 1993: Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
- 1992: Angels in America by Tony Kushner
- 1991: Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel
- 1990: Shadowlands adapted by William Nicholson from a play Surprised By Joy by Brian Sibley and Norman Stone
- 1989: Ghetto by Yehoshua Sobol
- 1988: Aristocrats by Brian Friel
- 1987: A Small Family Business by Alan Ayckbourn
- 1986: Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton, adapted from the novel by Choderlos de Laclos
- 1985: Pravda by Howard Brenton and David Hare
- 1984: Benefactors by Michael Frayn
- 1983: "Master Harold"...and the Boys by Athol Fugard
- 1982: The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard
- 1981: Passion by Peter Nichols
- 1980: The Dresser by Ronald Harwood
- 1979: Amadeus by Peter Shaffer
- 1978: Night and Day by Tom Stoppard
- 1977: Just Between Ourselves by Alan Ayckbourn
- 1976: Weapons of Happiness by Howard Brenton
- 1975: Otherwise Engaged by Simon Gray
- 1974: The Norman Conquests by Alan Ayckbourn
- 1973: Saturday, Sunday, Monday by Eduardo De Filippo, adapted by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall
- 1972: Jumpers by Tom Stoppard
- 1971: Butley by Simon Gray
- 1970: Home by David Storey
- 1969: The National Health by Peter Nichols
- 1968: The Hotel in Amsterdam by John Osborne
- 1967: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg by Peter Nichols
- 1966: Loot by Joe Orton
- 1965: A Patriot for Me by John Osborne, and The Killing of Sister George by Frank Marcus
- 1964: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee
- 1963: Poor Bitos by Jean Anouilh, adapted by Lucienne Hill
- 1962: The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht, translated by John Holmstrom
- 1961: Becket by Jean Anouilh, adapted by Lucienne Hill
- 1960: The Caretaker by Harold Pinter
- 1959: The Long and the Short and the Tall by Willis Hall
- 1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams
- 1957: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler
- 1956: Romanoff and Juliet by Peter Ustinov
- 1955: Tiger at the Gates by Jean Giraudoux
Best Director
- 2019 – Robert Icke for The Doctor and The Wild Duck
- 2018 – Marianne Elliott for Company
- 2017 – Sam Mendes for The Ferryman
- 2016 – John Malkovich for Good Canary
- 2015 – Robert Icke for The Oresteia
- 2014 – Jeremy Herrin for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies
- 2013 – Richard Eyre for Ghosts
- 2012 – Nicholas Hytner for Timon of Athens
- 2011 – Mike Leigh for Grief
- 2010 – Howard Davies for The White Guard and All My Sons
- 2009 – Rupert Goold for Enron
- 2008 – Michael Grandage for Ivanov and Othello and The Chalk Garden
- 2007 – Rupert Goold for Macbeth
- 2006 – Marianne Elliott for Pillars of the Community
- 2005 – Michael Grandage for Don Carlos and Grand Hotel
- 2004 – Rufus Norris for Festen
- 2003 – Polly Teale for After Mrs Rochester
- 2002 – Sam Mendes for Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night
- 2001 – Deborah Warner for Medea
- 2000 – Howard Davies for All My Sons
- 1999 – Trevor Nunn for Summerfolk and The Merchant of Venice
- 1996 – Katie Mitchell for The Phoenician Women
- 1995 – Matthew Warchus for Volpone and Henry V
- 1994 – Sean Mathias for Les Parents terribles and Design for Living
- 1993 – Terry Hands for Tamburlaine The Great
- 1992 – Stephen Daldry for An Inspector Calls
- 1991 – Trevor Nunn for Timon of Athens
- 1990 – Richard Jones for Into The Woods and The Illusion
- 1989 – Nicholas Hytner for Miss Saigon and Ghetto
- 1988 – Deborah Warner for Titus Andronicus
- 1987 – Peter Hall for Antony and Cleopatra
- 1986 – Nuria Espert for The House of Bernarda Alba
- 1985 – Bill Bryden for The Mysteries
- 1984 – Christopher Morahan for Wild Honey
- 1983 – Yuri Lyubimov for Crime and Punishment
- 1982 – Richard Eyre for Guys and Dolls
- 1981 – Peter Hall for The Oresteia
- 1980 – Trevor Nunn and John Caird for The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
- 1979 – Trevor Nunn for Once in a Lifetime
Best Actor
- 2019 – Andrew Scott for Present Laughter
- 2018 – Ralph Fiennes for Antony and Cleopatra
- 2017 – Andrew Garfield for Angels in America
- 2016 – Ralph Fiennes for The Master Builder and Richard III
- 2015 – James McAvoy for The Ruling Class
- 2014 – Tom Hiddleston for Coriolanus
- 2013 – Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear for Othello
- 2012 – Simon Russell Beale for Collaborators
- 2011 – Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller for Frankenstein
- 2010 – Rory Kinnear for Hamlet and Measure for Measure
- 2009 – Mark Rylance for Jerusalem
- 2008 – Chiwetel Ejiofor for Othello
- 2007 – Patrick Stewart for Macbeth
- 2006 – Rufus Sewell for Rock 'n' Roll
- 2005 – Simon Russell Beale for The Philanthropist
- 2004 – Richard Griffiths for The History Boys
- 2003 – Michael Sheen for Caligula
- 2002 – Simon Russell Beale for Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night
- 2001 – Alex Jennings for The Winter's Tale and The Relapse
- 2000 – Simon Russell Beale for Hamlet
- 1999 – Stephen Dillane for The Real Thing
- 1998 – Kevin Spacey for The Iceman Cometh
- 1997 – Ian Holm for King Lear
- 1996 – Paul Scofield for John Gabriel Borkman
- 1995 – Michael Gambon for Volpone
- 1994 – Tom Courtenay for Moscow Stations
- 1993 – Ian Holm for Moonlight
- 1992 – Nigel Hawthorne for The Madness of King George III
- 1991 – John Wood for King Lear
- 1990 – Richard Harris for Henry IV
- 1989 – Ian McKellen for Othello
- 1988 – Eric Porter for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- 1987 – Michael Gambon for A View from the Bridge
- 1986 – Albert Finney for Orphans
- 1985 – Antony Sher for Richard III
- 1984 – Ian McKellen for Coriolanus
- 1983 – Derek Jacobi for Much Ado About Nothing
- 1982 – Alec McCowen for The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H.
- 1981 – Alan Howard for Good
- 1980 – Tom Courtenay for The Dresser
- 1979 – Warren Mitchell for Death of a Salesman
- 1978 – Alan Howard for Coriolanus
- 1977 – Donald Sinden for King Lear
- 1976 – Albert Finney for Tamburlaine the Great
- 1975 – John Gielgud for No Man's Land
- 1974 – John Wood for Travesties
- 1973 – Alec McCowen for The Misanthrope
- 1972 – Laurence Olivier for Long Day's Journey Into Night
- 1971 – Alan Bates for Butley
- 1970 – John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson for Home
- 1969 – Nicol Williamson for Hamlet
- 1968 – Alec McCowen for Hadrian VII
- 1967 – Laurence Olivier for Dance of Death
- 1966 – Albert Finney for A Flea in Her Ear
- 1965 – Ian Holm for Henry V
- 1964 – Nicol Williamson for Inadmissible Evidence
- 1963 – Michael Redgrave for Uncle Vanya
- 1962 – Paul Scofield for King Lear
- 1961 – Christopher Plummer for Becket
- 1960 – Alec Guinness for Ross, and Rex Harrison for Platonov
- 1959 – Eric Porter for Rosmersholm
- 1958 – Michael Redgrave for A Touch of the Sun
- 1957 – Laurence Olivier for The Entertainer
- 1956 – Paul Scofield for The Power and the Glory
- 1955 – Richard Burton for Henry V
Best Actress
- 2019 – Maggie Smith for A German Life
- 2018 – Sophie Okonedo for Antony and Cleopatra
- 2017 – Glenda Jackson for King Lear
- 2016 – Billie Piper for Yerma
- 2015 – Nicole Kidman for Photograph 51
- 2014 – Gillian Anderson for A Streetcar Named Desire
- 2013 – Helen Mirren for The Audience
- 2012 – Hattie Morahan for A Doll's House
- 2011 – Sheridan Smith for Flare Path
- 2010 – Nancy Carroll for After the Dance
- 2009 – Rachel Weisz for A Streetcar Named Desire
- 2008 – Penelope Wilton and Margaret Tyzack for The Chalk Garden
- 2007 – Anne-Marie Duff for Saint Joan
- 2006 – Kathleen Turner for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- 2005 – Harriet Walter for Mary Stuart
- 2004 – Victoria Hamilton for Suddenly, Last Summer
- 2003 – Sandy McDade for Iron
- 2002 – Clare Higgins for Vincent in Brixton
- 2001 – Fiona Shaw for Medea
- 2000 – Paola Dionisotti for Further Than the Furthest Thing
- 1999 – Janie Dee for Comic Potential
- 1998 – Sinéad Cusack for Our Lady of Sligo
- 1997 – Eileen Atkins for A Delicate Balance
- 1996 – Diana Rigg for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Mother Courage
- 1995 – Geraldine McEwan for The Way of the World
- 1994 – Maggie Smith for Three Tall Women
- 1993 – Fiona Shaw for Machinal
- 1992 – Diana Rigg for Medea
- 1991 – Vanessa Redgrave for When She Danced
- 1990 – Josette Simon for After the Fall
- 1989 – Felicity Kendal for Much Ado About Nothing and Ivanov
- 1988 – Lindsay Duncan for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- 1987 – Judi Dench for Antony and Cleopatra
- 1986 – Julia McKenzie for Woman in Mind
- 1985 – Vanessa Redgrave for The Seagull
- 1984 – Maggie Smith for The Way of the World
- 1983 – Geraldine McEwan for The Rivals
- 1982 – Judi Dench for A Kind of Alaska and The Importance of Being Earnest
- 1981 – Maggie Smith for Virginia
- 1980 – Judi Dench for Juno and the Paycock and Frances de la Tour for Duet for One
- 1979 – Vanessa Redgrave for The Lady from the Sea
- 1978 – Kate Nelligan for Plenty
- 1977 – Alison Steadman for Abigail's Party
- 1976 – Janet Suzman for Three Sisters
- 1975 – Dorothy Tutin for A Month in the Country
- 1974 – Claire Bloom for A Streetcar Named Desire
- 1973 – Janet Suzman for Hello and Goodbye
- 1972 – Rachel Roberts for Alpha Beta
- 1971 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Loves of Viorne
- 1970 – Maggie Smith for Hedda Gabler
- 1969 – Rosemary Harris for Plaza Suite
- 1968 – Jill Bennett for Time Present
- 1967 – Lila Kedrova for The Cherry Orchard
- 1966 – Irene Worth for A Song at Twilight
- 1965 – Eileen Atkins for The Killing of Sister George
- 1964 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Wars of the Roses
- 1963 – Joan Plowright for Saint Joan
- 1962 – Maggie Smith for The Private Ear and The Public Eye
- 1961 – Vanessa Redgrave for As You Like It
- 1960 – Dorothy Tutin for Twelfth Night
- 1959 – Flora Robson for The Aspern Papers
- 1958 – Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies for Long Day's Journey Into Night
- 1957 – Brenda De Banzie for The Entertainer
- 1956 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Chalk Garden
- 1955 – Siobhán McKenna for Saint Joan
Best Musical
- 2019 – Evita
- 2018 – Hamilton
- 2017 – Bat Out of Hell: The Musical
- 2016 – Jesus Christ Superstar
- 2015 – Kinky Boots
- 2014 – The Scottsboro Boys
- 2013 – Merrily We Roll Along
- 2012 – Sweeney Todd
- 2011 – Matilda
- 2010 – Passion
- 2009 – Hello, Dolly!
- 2008 – Street Scene
- 2007 – Hairspray
- 2006 – Caroline, or Change
- 2005 – Billy Elliot
- 2004 – The Producers
- 2003 –
- 2002 – The Full Monty
- 2001 – Kiss Me, Kate
- 2000 – The Car Man
- 1999 – Spend Spend Spend
- 1998 – Oklahoma!
- 1997 – Lady in the Dark
- 1996 – Passion
- 1995 – Mack and Mabel
- 1994 – No award
- 1993 – City of Angels
- 1992 – Kiss of the Spider Woman
- 1991 – Carmen Jones
- 1990 – Into the Woods
- 1989 – Miss Saigon
- 1988 – No award
- 1987 – Follies
- 1986 – The Phantom of the Opera
- 1985 – Are You Lonesome Tonight by Alan Bleasdale
- 1984 – 42nd Street
- 1983 – Little Shop of Horrors
- 1982 – Windy City by Dick Vosburgh and Tony Macaulay
- 1981 – Cats
- 1980 – Sweeney Todd
- 1979 – Songbook by Monty Norman and Julian More
- 1978 – Annie
- 1977 – Elvis
- 1976 – A Chorus Line
- 1975 – A Little Night Music
- 1974 – John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert by Willy Russell
- 1973 – The Rocky Horror Show
- 1972 – Applause
- 1971 – No award
- 1970 – No award
- 1969 – Promises, Promises
- 1968 – Cabaret
- 1967 – Sweet Charity
- 1966 – Funny Girl
- 1965 – No award
- 1964 – Little Me
- 1963 – Oh, What a Lovely War!
- 1962 – No award
- 1961 – Beyond the Fringe
- 1960 – Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be by Frank Norman and Lionel Bart
- 1959 – Make Me an Offer by Wolf Mankowitz, Monty Norman and David Heneker
- 1958 – West Side Story
- 1957 – No award
- 1956 – Cranks by John Cranko and John Addison
- 1955 – The Pajama Game
- Also in 1955 Salad Days was given the Award for Most Enjoyable Show.
Best Musical Performance
- 2019 – Anne-Marie Duff for Sweet Charity
- 2018 – Rosalie Craig for Company
- 2017 – Amber Riley for Dreamgirls
- 2016 – Glenn Close for Sunset Boulevard
- 2015 – Imelda Staunton for
- 2014 – No Award
- 2013 – Rosalie Craig for The Light Princess
Best Designer
- 2019 – Bunny Christie for A Midsummer Night's Dream
- 2018 – Miriam Buether for The Jungle
- 2017 – Bunny Christie for Heisenberg, Ink and The Red Barn
- 2016 – Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin for The Encounter
- 2015 – Anna Fleischle for Hangmen
- 2014 – Es Devlin for American Psycho
- 2013 – Bob Crowley for People and The Audience and Once
- 2012 – Soutra Gilmour for Inadmissible Evidence and Antigone
- 2011 – Adam Cork for Anna Christie and King Lear
- 2010 – Miriam Buether for Earthquakes in London and Sucker Punch
- 2009 – Mamoru Iriguchi for Mincemeat at Cordy House in Shoreditch
- 2008 – Neil Murray for Brief Encounter
- 2007 – Rae Smith and the Handspring Puppet Company for War Horse
- 2006 – Timothy Bird and David Farley for Sunday in the Park With George
- 2005 – Bob Crowley for Mary Poppins
- 2004 – Ian MacNeil, Jean Kalman and Paul Arditti for Festen
- 2003 – Christopher Oram for Caligula
- 2002 – Ian MacNeil for Plasticine and A Number
- 2001 – Paul Brown for Platonov and The Tempest
- 2000 – Bunny Christie for Baby Doll
- 1999 – Rob Howell for Richard III, Troilus and Cressida and Vassa
- 1998 – Richard Hoover for Not about Nightingales
Best Comedy
- 2001 – Feelgood by Alistair Beaton
- 2000 – Stones in His Pocket by Marie Jones
- 1999 – not awarded
- 1998 – not awarded
- 1997 – Closer by Patrick Marber
- 1996 – Art by Yasmina Reza
- 1995 – Dealer's Choice by Patrick Marber
- 1994 – My Night with Reg by Kevin Elyot
- 1993 – Jamais Vu by Ken Campbell
- 1992 – The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright
- 1991 – Kvetch by Steven Berkoff
- 1990 – Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn and Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse
- 1989 – Henceforward... by Alan Ayckbourn
- 1988 – Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer
- 1987 – Serious Money by Caryl Churchill
- 1986 – A Month of Sundays by Bob Larbey
- 1985 – A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn
- 1984 – Stepping Out by Richard Harris
- 1983 – Tales from Hollywood by Christopher Hampton
- 1982 – Noises Off by Michael Frayn
- 1981 – Goose Pimples by Mike Leigh
- 1980 – Make and Break by Michael Frayn
- 1979 – A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine by Dick Vosburgh and Frank Lazarus
- 1978 – Gloo-Joo by Michael Hastings
- 1977 – Privates on Parade by Peter Nichols
- 1976 – The Thoughts of Chairman Alf by Johnny Speight
- 1975 – Alphabetical Order by Michael Frayn
- 1974 – Travesties by Tom Stoppard
- 1973 – Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
- 1972 – Veterans by Charles Wood
- 1971 – Getting On by Alan Bennett
- 1970 – The Philanthropist by Christopher Hampton
Most Controversial Play
- 1955 – Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Editor's Award (renamed 'for a Shooting Star' in 2010)
- 2019 – Ian McKellen
- 2018 – not awarded
- 2017 – not awarded
- 2016 – Good Chance Theatre
- 2015 – Vanessa Redgrave
- 2014 – Kate Bush for her remarkable theatre-based comeback live shows Before the Dawn
- 2013 – Kevin Spacey for his contribution to British theatre
- 2012 – David Hare
- 2011 – not awarded
- 2010 – Daniel Kaluuya for Sucker Punch
- 2009 – not awarded
- 2008 – Royal Shakespeare Company for its epic cycle of history plays
- 2007 – not awarded
- 2006 – Frost/Nixon
Most Promising Playwright
- 2019 – Jasmine Lee-Jones for seven methods of killing kylie jenner
- 2018 – Natasha Gordon for Nine Night
- 2017 – Branden Jacobs-Jenkins for An Octoroon
- 2016 – Charlene James for Cuttin It
- 2015 – Molly Davies for God Bless The Child
- 2014 – Beth Steel for Wonderland
- 2013 – Rachel De-lahay for Routes
- 2012 – Lolita Chakrabarti for Red Velvet
- 2011 – Penelope Skinner for The Village Bike
- 2010 – Anya Reiss for Spur of the Moment
- 2009 – Alia Bano for Shades
- 2008 – Tarell Alvin McCraney for In the Red and Brown Water and The Brothers Size
- 2007 – Polly Stenham for That Face
- 2006 – Nina Raine for Rabbit
- 2005 – Nell Leyshon for Comfort Me With Apples
- 2004 – No award
- 2003 – Kwame Kwei-Armah for Elmira's Kitchen
- 2002 – :ru:Vassily Sigarev|Vassily Sigarev for Plasticine
- 2001 – Roy Williams for Clubland
- 2000 – Gary Mitchell for The Force of Change
- 1999 – Rebecca Gilman for The Glory of Living
- 1998 – Mark Ravenhill for Handbag
- 1997 – Conor McPherson for The Weir
- 1996 – Martin McDonagh for The Beauty Queen of Leenane
- 1995 – Jez Butterworth for Mojo
- 1994 – Jonathan Harvey for Babies
- 1993 – Brad Fraser for Unidentified Human Remains and Simon Donald for The Life of Stuff
- 1992 – Philip Ridley for The Fastest Clock in the Universe
- 1991 – Rona Munro for Bold Girls
- 1990 – Clare McIntyre for My Heart's a Suitcase
- 1989 – Stephen Jeffreys for Valued Friends
- 1988 – Timberlake Wertenbaker for Our Country's Good
- 1987 – Stephen Bill for Curtains
- 1986 – Frank McGuinness for Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
- 1985 – Billy Hamon for Grafters
- 1984 – Sharman MacDonald for When I Was a Girl, I Used to Scream and Shout
- 1983 – Phil Young for Crystal Clear
- 1982 – Terry Johnson for Insignificance
- 1981 – Nell Dunn for Steaming
- 1980 – Paul Kember for Not Quite Jerusalem
- 1979 – Richard Harris for Outside Edge and Victoria Wood for Talent
- 1978 – John Byrne for The Slab Boys and Brian Clark for Whose Life Is It Anyway?
- 1977 – Mary O'Malley for Once a Catholic and James Robson for Factory Birds
- 1976 – Stewart Parker for Spokesong
- 1975 – Stephen Poliakoff for Hitting Town
- 1974 – Mustapha Matura for Play Mas
- 1973 – David Williamson for The Removalists
- 1972 – Wilson John Haire for Within Two Shadows
- 1971 – E A Whitehead for The Foursoe
- 1970 – David Hare for Slag and Heathcote Williams for AC/DC
- 1969 – Peter Barnes for The Ruling Class
- 1968 – No award
- 1967 – Tom Stoppard for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and David Storey for The Restoration of Arnold Middleton
- 1966 – David Halliwell for Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs
- 1965 – David Mercer for Ride a Cock Horse
- 1964 – No award
- 1963 – Charles Wood for Cockade and James Saunders for Next Time I'll Sing To You
- 1962 – David Rudkin for Afore Night Come
- 1961 – Gwyn Thomas for The Keep and Henry Livings for Stop It Whoever You Are
- 1960 – J P Donleavy for Fairy Tales of New York
- 1959 – John Arden for Serjeant Musgrave's Dance and Arnold Wesker for Roots
- 1958 – Peter Shaffer for Five Finger Exercise
- 1957 – Robert Bolt for Flowering Cherry
- 1956 – John Osborne for Look Back in Anger
- 1955 – No award
Outstanding Newcomer
- 2013 – Seth Numrich for Sweet Bird of Youth
- 2012 – Matthew Tennyson for Making Noise Quietly
- 2011 – Kyle Soller for The Faith Machine, The Glass Menagerie and Government Inspector
- 2010 – Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd for You Me Bum Bum Train
- 2009 – Lenny Henry for Othello
- 2008 – Ella Smith for Fat Pig
- 2007 – Stephen Wight for Dealer's Choice and Don Juan in Soho
- 2006 – Andrew Garfield for Beautiful Thing; Burn/Chatroom/Citizenship; The Overwhelming
- 2005 – Menier Chocolate Factory: David Babani and Danielle Tarento
- 2004 – Eddie Redmayne for
- 2003 – Tom Hardy for Blood and In Arabia We'd All Be Kings
- 2002 – Jake Gyllenhaal for This Is Our Youth
- 2001 – Rufus Norris for Afore Night Come
- 2000 – Chiwetel Ejiofor for Blue/Orange
- 1999 – Eve Best for Tis Pity She's a Whore
Theatrical Achievement
- 1998 – Jonathan Kent and Ian McDiarmid of the Almeida Theatre
Patricia Rothermere Award">Patricia Harmsworth, Viscountess Rothermere">Patricia Rothermere Award
- 2005 – Penelope Keith. And Hannah Croft scholarship award
- 2003 – Richard Attenborough for exceptional support for young actors. And Elif Yesil scholarship award
- 2001 – Prunella Scales. And Cassandre Joseph scholarship award
- 1999 – Simon Callow for Outstanding services to the theatre. And Martin Rea scholarship award
- 1997 – Judi Dench and Mark Rice-Oxley
- 1993 – Matthew Rhys
The Special Award (given as The Lebedev Special Award in 2009)
- 2019 – Peter Brook
- 2018 – Cameron Mackintosh
- 2017 – not awarded
- 2016 – Kenneth Branagh
- 2015 – Stephen Sondheim
- 2014 – Tom Stoppard
- 2013 – Andrew Lloyd Webber
- 2012 – Nicholas Hytner
- 2011 – Kristin Scott Thomas
- 2010 – Michael Gambon
- 2009 – Ian McKellen for his contribution to British theatre
- 2008 – Kevin Spacey for bringing new life to the Old Vic
- 2007 – Stephen Tompkins for innovative theatre architecture
- 2006 – The Tricycle Theatre for its pioneering work in political theatre
- 2005 – The Royal Court Theatre
- 2004 – 50th Anniversary Special Award: Harold Pinter, National Theatre and Dame Judi Dench
- 2003 – Max Stafford-Clark
- 2002 – Shakespeare's Globe
- 1998 – Nicole Kidman for The Blue Room
- 1989 – Stephen Sondheim
- 1988 – National Theatre 1963–1988: 25 Years of Achievement
- 1984 – Graeae Theatre Company sharing with The Theatre of Comedy Company
- 1982 – John Gielgud
- 1981 – The Royal Shakespeare Company
- 1980 – Sir Ralph Richardson
- 1979 – 25th Anniversary Special Award: Sir Peter Hall
- 1977 – Hampstead Theatre
- 1976 – Peggy Ashcroft
- 1975 – Ben Travers
- 1973 – Laurence Olivier
- 1972 – Peter Daubeny
- 1968 – Alan Bennett for Forty Years On
Theatre Icon Award
- 2013 – Maggie Smith
Moscow Art Theatre's Golden Seagull
- 2012 – Judi Dench
- 2011 – Sir Tom Stoppard
- 2010 – Sir Peter Hall
Beyond Theatre award
- 2014 – Here Lies Love
- 2013 – BBC Proms 2013
- 2012 – Danny Boyle and his teams for the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics
- 2011 – Pet Shop Boys and Javier de Frutos for The Most Incredible Thing
Emerging Talent
- 2019 – Laurie Kynaston for The Son
- 2018 – Jamael Westman for Hamilton
- 2017 – Tom Glynn-Carney for The Ferryman
- 2016 – Tyrone Huntley for Jesus Christ Superstar
- 2015 – David Moorst for Violence and Son
- 2014 – Laura Jane Matthewson for Dogfight
- 2013 – Cush Jumbo for Josephine and I
Award For Comedy
- 2013 – David Walliams for A Midsummer Night's Dream
Best Revival of the Year
- 2014 – Skylight