NEWS: Nominees Announced for 2025 Standard Theatre Awards

Photos: Manuel Harlan/Marc Brenner/Matt Crockett/Rich Gilligan

The nominees have been confirmed for the 2025 Standard Theatre Awards, which were originally formed in 1955 to celebrate the best of the theatre in the past year.

Those nominated for awards are as follows:

Emerging Talent

* Ebenezer Bamgboye (director): The Lonely Londoners, Jermyn Street/Kiln Theatre
* Gracie Oddie-James: The Lady from the Sea, Bridge Theatre
* Diego Andres Rodriguez: Evita, The London Palladium
* Lucy Karczewski: Stereophonic, Duke of York’s
* Zoe Brough: Playhouse Creatures, Orange Tree Theatre

Best Director
* Jamie Lloyd: Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
* Thomas Ostermeier: The Seagull, Barbican
* Omar Elerian: Rhinoceros, Almeida
* Rebecca Frecknall: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Almeida
* Nicholas Hytner: Richard II, Bridge

Best Musical
Evita, The London Palladium
The Producers, Menier/Garrick Theatre
Here We Are, National Theatre
Oliver!, Gielgud Theatre
Shucked, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Musical Performance
Rachel ZeglerEvita, The London Palladium
Andy NymanThe Producers, Garrick Theatre / Menier Chocolate Factory
Simon LipkinOliver!, Gielgud Theatre
Tracie BennettHere We Are, National Theatre
Vanessa Williams: The Devil Wears Prada, Dominion Theatre

Best Actor
* Tom Hiddleston: Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
* Michael Shannon: Moon for the Misbegotten, Almeida
* Brendan Gleeson: The Weir, Harold Pinter
* David Shields: Punch, Young Vic / Apollo Theatre
* Jonathan Bailey: Richard II, Bridge

Best Actress
* Rosamund Pike: Inter Alia, National Theatre
* Sharon D Clarke: The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre
* Hayley Atwell: Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
* Cate Blanchett: The Seagull, Barbican
* Ruth Wilson: Moon for the Misbegotten, Almeida

Best Play
Till the Stars Come Down, Beth Steel, National Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket
Punch, James Graham, Young Vic and Apollo Theatre
Stereophonic, David Adjmi, Duke of York’s Theatre
Romans: A Novel, Alice Birch, Almeida Theatre
The Brightening Air, Conor McPherson, Old Vic

Best Production
* Soutra Gilmour: Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
* Magda Willi: The Seagull, Barbican Theatre
* David Zinn (set) and Enver Chakartash (costumes): Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre
* Frankie Bradshaw: Ballet Shoes, National Theatre
* Rosanna Vize, The Maids, Donmar Warehouse

Most Promising Playwright
* Ava Pickett: 1536, Almeida Theatre
* Azuka Oforka: The Women of Llanrumney, Stratford East
* Katherine Moar: Ragdoll, Jermyn Street Theatre