The winners have been announced for the 34th annual Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2025.

The winners were announced today, 27 March 2025 – World Theatre Day – at an awards ceremony held at the National Theatre in London, hosted by broadcaster and critic Mark Lawson.

Winners included Mark Strong, Lesley Manville, Danny Sapani, Robert Icke, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers and Mark Rosenblatt

The Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards are judged by full members of the Drama section of the UK’s Critics’ Circle, who are accredited, working theatre critics. Judging of the awards is through a one-member, one-vote system.

Chair of the Critics’ Circle Drama Section, Rosemary Waugh said today, “It’s a real honour to bring the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards to the National Theatre, an institution that stands for the importance of theatre within the cultural life of this country. Our awards went to a varied and inspiring collection of theatremakers this year, and it’s a pleasure to be able to celebrate the brilliance of all these stars of the British theatre industry.”

The big winner was Oedipus, created by Robert Icke after Sophocles which ran at Wyndham’s Theatre, receiving three awards – Best Actor for Mark Strong, Best Actress for Lesley Manville, and Best Director for Icke. The production will debut on Broadway later this year. Icke’s latest play, Manhunt at the Royal Court, starts performances tomorrow (28 March 2025).

Mark Rosenblatt received two awards – Best New Play and Most Promising Playwright, both for Giant, his play about Roald Dahl which transfers to the West End next month after a sell out run at the Royal Court.

Completing the performance categories, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers won The Jack Tinker Award for Best Newcomer for Romeo and Juliet opposite Tom Holland; and Danny Sapani, The Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance for his acclaimed King Lear, directed by Yaël Farber, at the Almeida Theatre.

The Barbican bound Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof won The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical; with Frankie Bradshaw receiving the Best Designer sponsored by Cabbells jointly for Ballet Shoes and Dear Octopus, both at the National Theatre.

This is the third year of the acclaimed Empty Space…Peter Brook Award being part of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards. Nominees were announced earlier this month, and the award has gone to East London’s The Yard Theatre. Founded by Blanche Marvin MBE, the award recognises a theatre that embodies the spirit of Peter Brook, both in its use of space and in relationship to its locality. This year, Niki Marvin, an Oscar-nominated director/producer, has taken over the running of the award.

Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2025 – Full list of winners

Best New Play (The Michael Billington Award)
Giant, Royal Court Theatre

Best Musical (The Peter Hepple Award)
Fiddler on the Roof, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Actor
Mark Strong, Oedipus (Wyndham’s Theatre)

Best Actress
Lesley Manville, Oedipus (Wyndham’s Theatre)

Best Shakespearean Performance (The Trewin Award)
Danny Sapani, King Lear (Almeida Theatre)

Best Director
Robert Icke, Oedipus (Wyndham’s Theatre)

Best Designer
Frankie Bradshaw for Ballet Shoes & Dear Octopus (National Theatre)

Most Promising Playwright
Mark Rosenblatt, Giant (Royal Court Theatre)

Most Promising Newcomer (The Jack Tinker Award)
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, Romeo and Juliet (Duke of York’s Theatre)

The Empty Space Peter Brook Award
The Yard Theatre, London

Sign-up for news and booking alerts about these shows and more:
Main photo: Critics Circle Theatre Awards

Related News

See all

Latest News

See all