Nicole Scherzinger arriving at the WhatsOnStage awards at the London Palladium. Photograph: Doug Peters/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Live News
Sunset Boulevard was the big winner at the WhatsOnStage awards, with the Nicole Scherzinger-led musical taking seven wins, while James Norton’s A Little Life bagged two awards and was the standout play on a night that recognises West End productions.
Jamie Lloyd’s “radical rework” of Billy Wilder’s film about a screenwriter and a faded Hollywood star stunned many when it arrived at the Savoy Theatre last autumn and it dominated at the awards show voted for by theatregoers.
Arifa Akbar, of the Guardian, described Scherzinger as embodyinga “horror film succubus or murderous gorgon who would literally kill for another 15 minutes of fame”. The former Pussycat Doll won best performer in a musical, while Lloyd, described as bringing a “hipster-ish edginess”, triumphed in the best direction category.
Grace Hodgett Young also won best professional debut performance for her turn as aspiring screenwriter Betty in Sunset Boulevard, a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.
There was also recognition for Sunset Boulevard’s technical team. Jack Knowles, whose lighting was described as “manic” and gave the production horror overtones, took home best lighting design, while Adam Fisher (best sound design), Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom (best video design) and Alan Williams (best music direction/supervision) were also victorious.
Norton saw off competition from Paapa Essiedu (The Effect) and Andrew Scott (Vanya) to win best performer in a play, while his co-star in A Little Life, Luke Thompson, also took home the best supporting performer gong. Cabaret won two awards: best West End show and Aimee Lou Wood for best takeover performance.
Andrew Scott’s one-man Chekhov, which the Guardian said was “overshadowed by its high concept”, won best play revival. Other productions with one win included Operation Mincemeat – the critically lauded gag-packed musical that started life in fringe theatre – won best new musical, while Jack Wolfe took home best supporting performer in a musical for Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow was also recognised, with the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry’s reimagining of the hit Netflix drama at the Phoenix Theatre (described as “one coup de theatre after another” by the Guardian) winning best new play.
WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said: “What a year for UK theatre this has been … it is striking just how audiences are keen to lend their support to bold, experimental takes on classic tales – from solo versions of Chekhov to immersive takes on classic musicals, or radical reimaginings of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows. Long may this continue – theatre would not be able to thrive without challenging and forward-thinking creativity.”
The awards also recognised productions away from the West End, with Flowers for Mrs Harris winning best off-West End production and Paul Hart’s revival of a musical version of The Lord of the Rings at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury winning best regional production.
The concert performance of the Phantom of the Opera sequel Love Never Dies won best concert event, while best casting direction (Jill Green, The Little Big Things), best choreography (Matt Cole, Disney Newsies) and best costume design (Ryan Dawson Laight, La Cage aux Folles) rounded out the technical categories.
Nicholas Hytner’s production of Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, which was described as “a feat of innovative staging”, won best musical revival, best set design (Bunny Christie) and best graphic design (Muse Creative), as the former National Theatre artistic director’s gamble to bring the classic back to London paid off.
Hytner’s replacement at the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, who recently announced he will be stepping down as artistic director after a 10-year tenure, was recognised with a services to UK theatre award.
News Related
-
Asylum seekers travel in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP) Up to 40 Conservative MPs are poised to rebel over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy as they question ministers’ commitment to the scheme. A major row is ...
See Details:
Up to 40 Tory MPs ‘set to rebel’ if Sunak’s Rwanda plan doesn’t override ECHR
-
In the saltmarsh fringing where the Ballyboe River dissolves into Trawbreaga Bay, a little egret wears its plumage like a windblown stole. Our car swoops across the 10 arches of Malin bridge and we park along the village green. Malin is almost as far north as you can get on ...
See Details:
Country diary: A tale of three churches
-
Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/EPA Hampton Court is an enduring monument to the power of Henry VIII, a pleasure palace down the Thames from Westminster and the City of London. On Monday it was the scene of power projection of a different kind, as Rishi Sunak pitched for investment from some of ...
See Details:
Sunak woos business elite with royal welcome – but they seek certainty
-
-
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to bring an overseas defender to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report. Postecoglou’s centre-back options The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Cristian Romero and Eric ...
See Details:
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January
-
A £100m campaign urging households and businesses to use less water will be funded from customers’ bills, Ofwat has said. Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign The regulator’s chief executive David Black told MPs that if the measures worked it would be cheaper than building ...
See Details:
Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign
-
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Group B – Canada Training – Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia – July 24, 2023 Canada’s Christine Sinclair during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo (Reuters) – BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be renamed “Christine Sinclair ...
See Details:
Soccer-Venue renamed 'Christine Sinclair Place' for Canada soccer great's final game
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Phil Taylor makes his pick for 2024 World Darts Championship winner
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Soccer-Howe aims to boost Newcastle's momentum in PSG clash
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Hamilton heads for hibernation with a word of warning
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Carolina Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich after 1-10 start to the season
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
This exercise is critical for golfers. 4 tips to doing it right
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
One in three households with children 'will struggle to afford Christmas'
-
OTHER NEWS
Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ...
Read more »
Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ...
Read more »
For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ...
Read more »
The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ...
Read more »
After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ...
Read more »
Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ...
Read more »
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ...
Read more »