Prince of Wales Theatre, London – 15 February 2015
Awards concerts are an experience, almost like a show for a show. Entering the theatre via the red carpet with flashes going off everywhere makes you feel incredibly important and glamorous.
Sitting in the bar, mingling with the great and the good of the theatre world and celeb spotting before the show begins is as entertaining as watching the performances.
But the time came to take our seats in the stalls and watch one of the best concerts by far.
Mel Giedroyc started the evening off with her hilarious song and dance routine “My West End Dream” and then Steve Furst joined her on stage for a comical and amusing presentation of the awards.
For me, one of the best musical numbers of the night is Sophie Louise Dann singing Ideal World from Made In Dagenham. Dann has an outstanding voice and this one shows off her amazing vocals. But all the vocals tonight are of world class standard and Beverley Knight belts out a song from the fabulous Memphis and from Miss Saigon, Rachelle Ann Go and Eva Noblezada give us Movie in my Mind.
By the interval the audience are all itching to see Tom Hiddleston and David Tennant in the stalls bar. And then its back to the awards.
Starting off part two we have a sensational Rodgers and Hammerstein tribute to start us off. Followed by a show stopping performance from Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Nathan Amzi and the talented cast of In The Heights; a breathtaking performance from Dogfight’s Laura Jane Matthewson and a thrilling ensemble piece from Sweeney Todd. All too soon we end the show but boy what an ending by Melanie La Barrie, Amy Lennox and the phenomenal Anna Jane Casey.
Miss Saigon won the night with 9 awards. But there were some fabulous surprises with the winners and some excellent acceptance speeches. These are the only awards voted for entirely by the public and it makes the show all the more interesting for it.
Full Winners List
Best Actor in a Play
Sponsored by Radisson Blu Edwardian
© Kwame Lestrade
David Tennant, Richard II
Mark Strong, A View From the Bridge
Richard Armitage, The Crucible
Tom Bateman, Shakespeare in Love
Tom Hiddleston, Coriolanus
Best Actress in a Play
© Johan Persson
Billie Piper, Great Britain
Gillian Anderson, A Streetcar Named Desire
Helen McCrory, Medea
Imelda Staunton, Good People
Lucy Briggs-Owen, Shakespeare in Love
Best Actor in a Musical
© Matthew Murphy
Jon Jon Briones, Miss Saigon
Alistair Brammer, Miss Saigon
Killian Donnelly, Memphis the Musical
Marti Pellow, Evita
Robert Lindsay, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best Actress in a Musical
Sponsored by STAR
© Matthew Murphy
Eva Noblezada, Miss Saigon
Beverley Knight, Memphis the Musical
Gemma Arterton, Made in Dagenham
Jenna Russell, Urinetown the Musical
Madalena Alberto, Evita
Best Supporting Actor
in a Play
© Johan Persson
Mark Gatiss, Coriolanus
Adrian Schiller, The Crucible
David Oakes, Shakespeare in Love
Hadley Fraser, Coriolanus
Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall & Bring
Up the Bodies
Best Supporting Actress
in a Play
© Johan Persson
Vanessa Kirby, A Streetcar Named Desire
Anna Madeley, The Crucible
Deborah Findlay, Coriolanus
Nicola Walker, A View From the Bridge
Samantha Colley, The Crucible
Best Supporting Actor
in a Musical
© Michael Le Poer Trench
Kwang-Ho Hong, Miss Saigon
Ben Forster, Evita
George Maguire, Sunny Afternoon
Hugh Maynard, Miss Saigon
Rolan Bell, Memphis the Musical
Best Supporting Actress
in a Musical
© Michael Le Poer Trench
Rachelle Ann Go, Miss Saigon
Claire Machin, Memphis the Musical
Karis Jack, Urinetown the Musical
Katherine Kingsley, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Samantha Bond, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best New Play
Shakespeare in Love
Great Britain
King Charles III
The Nether
Wolf Hall
Best New Musical
Sponsored by Autograph
Memphis the Musical
Here Lies Love
Made in Dagenham
Sunny Afternoon
Urinetown the Musical
Best Play Revival
Coriolanus
Blithe Spirit
The Crucible
Richard II
A Streetcar Named Desire
Best Musical Revival
Sponsored by R&H Theatricals Europe
Miss Saigon
Evita
The Pajama Game
Porgy and Bess
Sweeney Todd
Best Direction
Sponsored by Managed Networks
© Matthew Murphy
Laurence Connor, Miss Saigon
Christopher Ashley, Memphis the Musical
Gregory Doran, Richard II
Jamie Lloyd, Urinetown the Musical
Yaël Farber, The Crucible
Best Choreography
Sponsored by Capezio
© Francis Loney
Bob Avian & Geoffrey Garratt,Miss Saigon
Ann Yee, Urinetown the Musical
Drew McOnie, In the Heights
Jerry Mitchell, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Sergio Trujillo, Memphis the Musical
Best Set Design
Sponsored by Feast Creative
© Michael Le Poer Trench
Totie Driver & Matt Kinley, Miss Saigon
Bunny Christie, Made in Dagenham
David Gallo, Memphis the Musical
Nick Ormerod, Shakespeare in Love
Soutra Gilmour, Urinetown the Musical
Best Lighting Design
Sponsored by White Light
© Johan Persson
Mark Henderson, Coriolanus
Adam Silverman, Urinetown the Musical
Bruno Poet, Miss Saigon
Howell Binkley, Memphis the Musical
Jon Clark, Made in Dagenham
Best Off-West End Production
Sweeney Todd, Twickenham Theatre
Dogfight, Southwark Playhouse
Forbidden Broadway, Menier Chocolate Factory
In the Heights, Southwark Playhouse
Oh, the Humanity and Other Good Intentions, Tabard Theatre
Best Regional Production
Sponsored by Travelzoo
Oliver!, Sheffield Crucible
Guys and Dolls, Chichester Festival Theatre
Gypsy, Chichester Festival Theatre
The Kite Runner, Nottingham Playhouse
Water Babies, Curve Leicester
Best Takeover in a Role
Sponsored by Equity
© Matt Crockett
Kerry Ellis, Wicked
Craige Els, Matilda the Musical
David Hunter, Once
Jennifer DiNoia, Wicked
Michael Watson, Jersey Boys
Best West End Show
Sponsored by Tiger Films
Miss Saigon
Les Misérables
Matilda the Musical
Memphis the Musical
Wicked