Hairspray Celebrates As 'It Takes Two' Awards!
The West End production of Hairspray has celebrated its transfer from Broadway with a double-scoop at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards. The musical set in 1962 Baltimore has shown that it is far from old news by winning the acclaimed Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical won in previous years by Billy Elliot and Chicago amongst others.
A big winner at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards was newcomer Leanne Jones - who burst onto the West End scene in Jack O’Brien's Hairspray and was rewarded with the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer. Leanne trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts before joining the cast of Hairspray and follows in the illustrious footsteps of previous award-winners Sam Mendes, Rachel Weisz and last year's winner Connie Fisher.
The other big winner at the awards was the theatre's old favourite - William Shakespeare. Both Macbeth and Othello gained the lead actors a share of the Best Shakespearean Performance with Patrick Stewart and Chiwetel Ejiofor celebrating respectively. Rupert Goold enjoyed the honour of the Best Director crown for his exceptional direction of Macbeth at Gielgud Theatre to mark a successful ceremony for the great bard.
Critics' Circle Theatre Awards Round Up
Best Musical - Hairspray
Most Promising Newcomer - Leanne Jones
Best Actor - Charles Dance
Best Actress - Anne-Marie Duff
Best Shakespearean Performance - Patrick Stewart and Chiwetel Ejiofor
Best New Play - A Disappearing Number
Published by: James Pickard
