The Ferryman triumphs at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards

Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman triumphed at this year’s London Evening Standard Theatre Awards, winning three gongs including best play.

The ceremony, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, also saw wins for Glenda Jackson, who was named best actress for King Lear at the Old Vic, and Andrew Garfield, who took home the prize for best actor for his turn in Angels in America at the National Theatre.

Butterworth’s win for The Ferryman marks his third Evening Standard Theatre award, having won most promising playwright in 1995 and best play for Jerusalem in 2009. The Ferryman also won in the director category, with Sam Mendes recognised, and in the emerging talent section, with Tom Glynn-Carney honoured.

In total, nine awards were handed out at the ceremony, which was presented by performer Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Amber Riley won the award for best musical performance for her role in Dreamgirls, while the BBC Radio 2 audience award for best musical was presented to Bat Out of Hell – The Musical.

In the design section, Bunny Christie was honoured for three productions: Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle, Ink and The Red Barn. Christie previously won best design for Baby Doll in 2000.

The most promising playwright prize was given to Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

London Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2017 – nominees and winners in full:

Best actor

Bertie Carvel for Ink at the Almeida and Duke of York’s Theatre
Andrew Garfield for Angels in America at the National Theatre – WINNER
Andrew Scott for Hamlet at the Almeida and Harold Pinter Theatre

Natasha Richardson Award for best actress

Laura Donnelly for The Ferryman at the Royal Court and Gielgud Theatre
Victoria Hamilton for Albion at the Almeida
Glenda Jackson for King Lear at the Old Vic – WINNER

Best musical performance

Janie Dee for Follies at the National Theatre
Robert Fairchild for An American in Paris at the Dominion Theatre
Amber Riley for Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre – WINNER

Best play

The Children by Lucy Kirkwood at the Royal Court
The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth at the Royal Court and Gielgud – WINNER
Ink by James Graham at the Almeida and Duke of York’s
Oslo by JT Rogers at the National Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre

Milton Shulman award for best director

Dominic Cooke for Follies at the National Theatre
Robert Icke for Hamlet at the Almeida and Harold Pinter
Sam Mendes for The Ferryman at the Royal Court and Gielgud – WINNER

Best design

Jon Bausor for Bat Out of Hell – The Musical at the London Coliseum
Bunny Christie for Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle at Wyndham’s Theatre/The Red Barn at the National Theatre/Ink at the Almeida and Duke of York’s – WINNER
Soutra Gilmour for Twelfth Night at the National Theatre

Charles Wintour award for most promising playwright

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins for An Octoroon at the Orange Tree – WINNER
Al Smith for Harrogate at High Tide Festival and the Royal Court
Katherine Soper for Wish List at the Royal Exchange Manchester and Royal Court

Emerging talent award

Sheila Atim for Girl from the North Country at the Old Vic
Tom Glynn-Carney for The Ferryman at the Royal Court and Gielgud Theatre – WINNER
Luke Thallon for Albion at the Almeida

Evening Standard Radio 2 audience award for best musical

An American in Paris at the Dominion Theatre
Bat Out of Hell – The Musical at London Coliseum – WINNER
Dreamgirls at the Savoy
Follies at the National Theatre
School of Rock at the New London Theatre
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ at the Menier Chocolate Factory
She Loves Me at the Menier Chocolate Factory