Andrew Scott, Sophie Okonedo, and David Tennant Triumph at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards

So, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards just wrapped up at this cool new spot in the West End called Soho Place, and let me tell you, it was quite the show. Andrew Scott and Sophie Okonedo totally nailed it and took home the top acting prizes, while David Tennant got the nod for Best Shakespearean Performance as Macbeth. Honestly, his Macbeth is something else.

 

‘Guys and Dolls’ scooped up Best Musical, which is pretty awesome considering it beat out ‘Sunset Boulevard’, a show that’s been cleaning up at other award ceremonies like the WhatsOnStage Awards.

Here’s the lowdown on all the winners:

• Best Actor: Andrew Scott, because he was absolutely brilliant in ‘Vanya.’
• Best Actress: Sophie Okonedo, for her stunning performance in ‘Medea.’
• Best Shakespearean Performance: David Tennant, for bringing a whole new vibe to Macbeth.
• Best Musical Production: ‘Guys and Dolls,’ for just being a blast from start to finish.
• Best New Play: ‘The Motive and the Cue,’ by Jack Thorne, because it’s just that good.
• Most Promising Newcomer(s): Jack Wolfe (‘Next to Normal’) and Louis McCartney (‘Stranger Things’), both were just phenomenal.
• Most Promising Playwright(s): Marcelo Dos Santos (‘Backstairs Billy’) and Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini (‘Sleepova’), for bringing fresh stories to the stage.
• Best Director: Rupert Goold, for his killer direction of ‘Dear England.’
• Best Designer: Miriam Buether with 59 Productions, for making ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ look insane.
• Empty Space Peter Brook Award: Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, for being an incredibly cool and innovative place to catch a show.

Guess who’s having an absolutely epic year? Andrew Scott, that’s who! The Irish actor just pulled off a historic win, snagging Critics’ Circle awards for both his roles in film and theatre — and yes, in the very same year. Talk about a double whammy!

So here’s the scoop: Scott was crowned the best actor at the Critics’ Circle theatre awards for his jaw-dropping performance in “Vanya,” a one-man show that takes on Anton Chekhov’s classic in a way only Scott can. But that’s not all. He also clinched the Critics’ Circle film award for best actor for his role in “All of Us Strangers.” I mean, come on, how cool is that?

At 47, Scott’s no stranger to the stage award, having won it back in 2019 for “Present Laughter.” But this year, he really outdid himself by playing eight characters in “Vanya,” who often chat among themselves. While not everyone was head over heels for the play as a whole, Scott’s performance was a hit across the board.

And get this — despite getting overlooked by the Bafta and Oscar folks for “All of Us Strangers,” Scott’s still making waves. Meanwhile, Sophie Okonedo snagged the best actress award for her role in “Medea,” and David Tennant was hailed as “the greatest Shakespearean actor of his generation” for his “Macbeth” role, bagging the Trewin award.

The National Theatre also had a moment in the spotlight, with “Dear England” taking home a best director award for Rupert Goold and “The Motive and the Cue” winning the Michael Billington award for best new play.

What’s really cool is how the Critics’ Circle, which is all about celebrating different and diverse voices, chose “Guys and Dolls” as this year’s top musical, showing they’ve got a different beat from the audience-chosen WhatsOnStage awards.

And in a nod to their commitment to diversity, the most promising playwright award was shared between Marcelo dos Santos and Matilda Feyisayo Ibini, showcasing some serious talent and stories that really resonate.

So yeah, Andrew Scott is basically the critics’ darling this year, proving that whether on stage or screen, he’s absolutely unbeatable.

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