The Ian Charleson Awards are theatrical awards that reward the best classical stage performances in Britain by actors under age 30. The awards are named in memory of the British actor

Ian Charleson Ian Charleson (11 August 1949 – 6 January 1990) was a Scottish stage and film actor. He is best known internationally for his starring role as Olympic athlete and missionary Eric Liddell in the Academy Award, Oscar-winning 1981 film ''Chariots ...

, and are run by the ''

Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...

'' newspaper and the National Theatre. The awards were established in 1990 after Charleson's death, and have been awarded annually since then. ''Sunday Times'' theatre critic John Peter (1938–2020) initiated the creation of the awards, particularly in memory of Charleson's extraordinary Hamlet, which he had performed shortly before his death.Peter, John
"Stairway to success"
''

''. 20 June 2010. Recipients receive a cash prize, as do runners-up and third-place winners. The awards' current definition of a classical play is one written before 1918. The awards for the previous year's performances are presented in the spring of the following year. The winners for 2024 were announced 31 May 2025, and first prize went to Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.

Background and description

The ''

'' chief drama critic John Peter saw and reviewed

's extraordinary ''Hamlet'' at the National Theatre in late 1989.Rosenthal, Daniel
''The National Theatre Story''
Oberon Books, 2013. "John Peter was so moved by Charleson's 'masterful' Hamlet and Eyre's ''Guardian'' obituary of the actor, that he persuaded his editor on ''The Sunday Times'', Andrew Neill, to found the Ian Charleson Awards, in association with the National, with a £5,000 first prize for an actor under 30 for a classical performance ...." Unbeknownst to the audience, Charleson performed it during the last weeks of his life while he was seriously ill with AIDS, and died in January 1990 at the age of 40 eight weeks after his final performance. In November 1990, in memory of Charleson's fine performance, Peter established the annual Ian Charleson Award, to recognize and reward the best classical stage performance by an actor under age 30.Peter, John. "A prize fit for princes". ''

''. 11 November 1990. The awards are jointly sponsored by ''The Sunday Times'' and the National Theatre, where they are held. Upon founding the awards, Peter noted: The first annual Ian Charleson Award was presented in January 1991."Timely tributes for a new generation of actors". ''

''. 13 January 1991. The awards initially defined a classic play as one written prior to 1900; by the awards for 1992 this parameter had been extended to plays written by 1904, the year of Chekhov's death; Peter, John. "Ambassadors of the imagination" ''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...

''. 30 January 1994. this cut-off was extended to 1918 at the awards for 2008. The awards are presented at a friendly, low-key private luncheon at one of the restaurants at the National Theatre. There is no filming and no outside press, and there are no acceptance speeches; the awards are attended however by Britain's theatre royalty, who take great interest in preserving the foundations of their profession. Guests of honour have included

Alec Guinness Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. In the BFI, British Film Institute listing of 1999 of BFI Top 100 British films, the 100 most important British films of the 20th century ...

Paul Scofield David Paul Scofield (21 January 1922 – 19 March 2008) was an English actor. During a six-decade career, Scofield achieved the Triple Crown of Acting, winning an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award for his work. Scofield ...

Ian McKellen Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cu ...

, and

Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

."The life and legacy of theatre critic John Peter: The awards he gave us"
''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

''. 9 July 2020. Recipients receive a cash prize, as do runners-up and third-place winners. All shortlist nominees who are not cash-prize recipients receive a "commendation". Winners and commendees receive a plaque signed by the judges, who usually number four (a theatre critic, an actor, a casting director, and an artistic director) and until the awards for 2016 always included John Peter. The awards for the previous year's performances are presented the following year, generally in the spring. The prize money is as follows: 1st prize £5,000; 2nd prize £1,500 (sometimes £2,000 or £2,500); and 3rd prize £500.

1990s

1990

First prize

*Ian Hughes, for

Torquato Tasso Torquato Tasso ( , also , ; 11 March 154425 April 1595) was an Italian poet of the 16th century, known for his 1591 poem ''Gerusalemme liberata'' (Jerusalem Delivered), in which he depicts a highly imaginative version of the combats between ...

in ''

'' (Actors Touring Company)

Second prize

Paterson Joseph Paterson Davis Joseph (born 22 June 1964) is a British actor and author. Joseph appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) productions of ''King Lear'' and ''Love's Labour's Lost'' in 1990. On television he is best known for his roles in '' ...

, for Oswald in ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

'', Dumaine in ''

Love's Labour's Lost ''Love's Labour's Lost'' is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s for a performance at the Inns of Court before Queen Elizabeth I. It follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as ...

'', and the Marquis de Mota in ''The Last Days of Don Juan'' (

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...

)

Special commendation

Simon Russell Beale Sir Simon Russell Beale (born 12 January 1961) is an English actor. He has been described by ''The Independent'' as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". He has received various accolades, including two BAFTA Awards, three Olivier Awar ...

, for Konstantin in ''

The Seagull ''The Seagull'' () is a play by Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov, written in 1895 in literature, 1895 and first produced in 1896 in literature#Drama, 1896. ''The Seagull'' is generally considered to be the first of his four major plays. It dramati ...

'', Thersites in ''

Troilus and Cressida ''The Tragedy of Troilus and Cressida'', often shortened to ''Troilus and Cressida'' ( or ), is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1602. At Troy during the Trojan War, Troilus and Cressida begin a love affair. Cressida is forc ...

'', and Edward II in ''

Edward II Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Commendation

* Saskia Wickham, for Sonya in ''

Uncle Vanya ''Uncle Vanya'' ( rus, Дя́дя Ва́ня, r=Dyádya Ványa, p=ˈdʲædʲə ˈvanʲə) is a play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first published in 1897, and first produced in 1899 by the Moscow Art Theatre, directed by Konstan ...

'' ( Old Vic Theatre)

1991

First prize

* Joe Dixon, for Jacques in an all-male production of ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...

'' (

Cheek by Jowl Cheek by Jowl is an international theatre company founded in the United Kingdom by director Declan Donnellan and designer Nick Ormerod in 1981. Donnellan and Ormerod are Cheek by Jowl's artistic directors and together direct and design all of ...

)

Second prize

* Jennifer Ehle, for Orgon's wife in ''

Tartuffe ''Tartuffe, or The Impostor, or The Hypocrite'' (; , ), first performed in 1664, is a theatrical comedy (or more specifically, a farce) by Molière. The characters of Tartuffe, Elmire, and Orgon are considered among the greatest classical theat ...

'' ( Peter Hall Company)

Special commendation

Iain Glen Iain Alan Sutherland Glen (born 24 June 1961) is a Scottish actor. He has appeared as Dr. Alexander Isaacs/Tyrant in three films of the Resident Evil (film series), ''Resident Evil'' film series (2004–2016) and as Ser Jorah Mormont, Jorah Morm ...

, for Hamlet in ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'' (Old Vic, Bristol)

Commendations

Adrian Lester Adrian Anthony Lester (born Anthony Harvey on 14 August 1968) is a British actor. He is the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award, an Evening Standard Theatre Award and a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for his work on the London stage, an ...

, for Rosalind in an all-male production of ''

'' (

) *

Tom Hollander Thomas Anthony Hollander (; born 25 August 1967) is a British actor. He trained with National Youth Theatre and won the Ian Charleson Award in 1992 for his performance as Witwoud in ''The Way of the World''. He made his Broadway debut in the ...

, for Celia in an all-male production of ''

'' (

) *

Hugh Bonneville Hugh Richard Bonniwell Williams (born 10 November 1963), known professionally as Hugh Bonneville, is an English actor. He is best known for portraying Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in the ITV historical drama series ''Downton Abbey'' from ...

(then known as Richard Bonneville), for Sir Samuel Hearty in '' The Virtuoso'', Valentine in ''

The Two Gentlemen of Verona ''The Two Gentlemen of Verona'' is a Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. It is considered by some to be Shakespeare's first play, and is often seen as showing his first ten ...

'', Bergetto in ''

'Tis Pity She's a Whore ''Tis Pity She's a Whore'' (original spelling: ''Tis Pitty Shee's a Who'' 'o'''re'') is a tragedy written by John Ford (dramatist), John Ford. It was first performed or between 1629 and 1633, by Queen Henrietta's Men at the Cockpit Theatre. ...

'', and Kastril in '' The Alchemist'' (

) * Caroline Quentin, for Masha in ''

'' (Oxford Theatre Company)

1992

First prize

, for Witwoud in ''

The Way of the World ''The Way of the World'' is a play written by the English playwright William Congreve. It premiered in early March 1700 in the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. It is widely regarded as one of the best works of Restoration comedy ev ...

'' (

Lyric Hammersmith The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a nonprofit theatre on Lyric Square, off King Street, Hammersmith, London."About the Lyric" > "History" ''Lyric'' official website. Retrieved January 2024. Background The Lyric Theatre ...

)"Prized Performances". ''Sunday Times''. 21 February 1993.

Second prize

Toby Stephens Toby Stephens (born 21 April 1969) is an English actor who has appeared in films in the United Kingdom, United States, and India. He is known for the roles of Bond villain Gustav Graves in the 2002 James Bond film '' Die Another Day'', for whic ...

, for Bertram in ''

All's Well That Ends Well ''All's Well That Ends Well'' is a play by William Shakespeare, published in the First Folio in 1623, where it is listed among the comedies. There is a debate about the date of its composition, with possible dates ranging from 1598 to 1608. ...

'' ( Swan Theatre)

Special commendation

*Ian Hughes, for Reynaldo and Fortinbras in ''

'' ( Barbican Theatre)

Commendations

*Mabel Aitken, for Sonia in ''

'' ( Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh) *Sophie Thursfield, for Nora in ''

A Doll's House ''A Doll's House'' (Danish language, Danish and ; also translated as ''A Doll House'') is a three-act Play (theatre), play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 De ...

'' (Duke of Cambridge pub theatre, London) *Nick Waring, for Konstantin in ''

'' (

Theatr Clwyd Theatr Clwyd () is a regional arts centre and producing theatre from Mold, Flintshire, in North East Wales. It opened as Theatr Clwyd in 1976, but was known between 1998 and 2015 as Clwyd Theatr Cymru, before reverting to its original name. His ...

)

1993

First prize

* Emma Fielding, for Agnes in '' The School for Wives'' (

Almeida Theatre The Almeida Theatre is a 325-seat producing house located on Almeida Street off Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre opened in 1980, and produces a diverse range of drama. Successful plays are often transferred to West E ...

)

Second prize

*Mark Lockyer, for Stephano in ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

'', Oswald in ''

'', and Gratiano in ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...

'' (

)

Third prize

* Helen McCrory, for Rose Trelawny in ''

Trelawny of the 'Wells' Trelawny or Trelawney may refer to: Places * Trelawny (electoral division), an electoral division of Cornwall * Trelawny, Black Hill, Ballarat, a heritage house in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia * Trelawny, Jamaica, a parish of Cornwall County, Ja ...

'' ( National Theatre)

Commendations

Adrian Scarborough Adrian Philip Scarborough is an English actor. He has appeared in films including '' The Madness of King George'' (1994), '' Gosford Park'' (2001), '' Vera Drake'' (2004), '' The History Boys'' (2006), '' The King's Speech'' (2010), '' Les Misé ...

, for Dromio of Syracuse in ''

The Comedy of Errors ''The Comedy of Errors'' is one of William Shakespeare's early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play ...

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *

Michael Sheen Michael Christopher Sheen (born 5 February 1969) is a Welsh actor. After training at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he worked mainly in theatre throughout the 1990s with stage roles in ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1992), ''Don't Fool wi ...

, for Perdican in '' Don't Fool With Love'' (

) * Helen Baxendale for Marie Wesener in ''The Soldiers'' ( Citizens Theatre, Glasgow)

1994

First prize

, for Coriolanus in ''

Coriolanus ''Coriolanus'' ( or ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the same ...

'' (

)

Second prize

* Anastasia Hille, for Isabella in ''

Measure For Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...

'' (

)

Third prize

Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He began his career in theatre before landing small roles in various British television productions and feature films. Law gained international recognition for his role in An ...

, for Ion in ''

Ion An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Commendations

Henry Ian Cusick Henry Ian Cusick (born 17 April 1967) is a Peruvian-Scottish actor of television, film, and theatre and a television director best known as Desmond Hume in '' Lost'', for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He also starred as J ...

, for Creon and The Messenger in ''

Oedipus Rex ''Oedipus Rex'', also known by its Greek title, ''Oedipus Tyrannus'' (, ), or ''Oedipus the King'', is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles. While some scholars have argued that the play was first performed , this is highly uncertain. Originally, to ...

'' ( Citizens Theatre, Glasgow) and

in ''

'' (

Royal Lyceum Theatre The Royal Lyceum Theatre is a 658-seat theatre in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, named after the Theatre Royal Lyceum and English Opera House, the residence at the time of legendary Shakespearean actor Henry Irving. It was built in 1883 by a ...

, Edinburgh) *

Marianne Jean-Baptiste Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste (born 26 April 1967) is an English actress. She is known for her role in Mike Leigh's drama film ''Secrets & Lies (film), Secrets & Lies'' (1996), for which she received acclaim and earned nominations for the A ...

, for Mistress Overdone and Mariana in ''

'' (

) *Mark Bazeley, for Lucio in ''

'' (

) *Guy Lankester, for Orsino in ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...

'' (

Bristol Old Vic Bristol Old Vic is a British theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, Bristol. The present company was established in 1946 as an offshoot of the Old Vic in London. It is associated with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which became a fin ...

)

1995

First prize

*Lucy Whybrow, for Eleanora in ''

Easter Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...

'' (

)

Second prize

* Victoria Hamilton, for Hilde Wangel in ''

The Master Builder ''The Master Builder'' () is a play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was first published in December 1892 and is regarded as one of Ibsen's more significant and revealing works. Performance The play was published by Gyldendal AS in C ...

'' ( Peter Hall Company)

Third prize

* Catherine Russell, for Masha in '' Three Sisters'' ( Out of Joint)

Commendations

Paul Bettany Paul Bettany (born 27 May 1971) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as J.A.R.V.I.S. and Vision (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the Disney+ series ''WandaVision'' (2021), which garn ...

, for Strato in ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...

'' (

) * Zubin Varla, for Romeo in ''

Romeo and Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

'' (

) * Rakie Ayola, for Millamant in ''

'' ( Birmingham Rep) * Alexandra Gilbreath, for Regan in ''

'' (

West Yorkshire Playhouse Leeds Playhouse is a theatre in the city centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It opened in 1990 in the Quarry Hill area of the city as the West Yorkshire Playhouse, successor to the original Leeds Playhouse, and was rebranded in June 2018 ...

) * John Light, for Philippe D'Aulnay in ''The Tower'' (

) * Julian Rhind-Tutt, for the Duke of Aumerle in ''

Richard II Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Joan, Countess of Kent. R ...

'' ( National Theatre) * Benedick Bates, for Don Carlos in ''

Don Carlos ''Don Carlos'' is an 1867 five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French-language libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, based on the 1787 play '' Don Karlos, Infant von Spanien'' (''Don Carlos, Infante of Spain'') by Fried ...

'' ( Citizens Theatre, Glasgow)

1996

First prize

* Alexandra Gilbreath, for Hedda in ''

Hedda Gabler ''Hedda Gabler'' () is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The world premiere was staged on 31 January 1891 at the Residenztheater in Munich. Ibsen himself was in attendance, although he remained back-stage.Meyer, Michael Lever ...

'' (

English Touring Theatre English Touring Theatre (ETT) is a major touring theatre company based in London, England. History English Touring Theatre was founded in 1993 by Stephen Unwin. In 2008, the directorship of the company was taken over by Rachel Tackley, making E ...

)

Second prize

*Derbhle Crotty, for Asta in '' Little Eyolf'' (

)

Third prize

Damian Lewis Damian Watcyn Lewis (born 11 February 1971) is a British actor, musician and producer. He rose to prominence portraying U.S. Army Major Richard Winters in the HBO miniseries ''Band of Brothers (miniseries), Band of Brothers''. Lewis won a Prime ...

, for Borghejm in '' Little Eyolf'' (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Special commendation

, for Tartuffe in ''

'' (

)

Commendations

*Ian Pepperell, for Hamlet in ''

'' ( Oxford Stage Company) * Carol Starks, for Mrs. Elvsted in ''

'' (

) *Rebecca Johnson, for Lady Windermere in ''

Lady Windermere's Fan ''Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman'' is a four-act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first performed on Saturday, 20 February 1892, at the St James's Theatre in London. The story concerns Lady Windermere, who suspects that her husband is ...

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester;

Theatre Royal, Haymarket The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foote ...

) *Scott Handy, for Ferdinand in ''

The Duchess of Malfi ''The Duchess of Malfi'' (originally published as ''The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy'') is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written by English dramatist John Webster in 1612–1613. It was first performed privately at the Blackfriars Theat ...

'' (

)

1997

First prize

*Mark Bazeley, for Konstantin in ''

'' (

) (tie)Harlow, John. "Winning in a double act". ''Sunday Times''. 26 April 1998. (Online reprint

. * Dominic West, for Konstantin in ''

'' ( Peter Hall Company, Old Vic Theatre) (tie)

Second prize

James Dreyfus James Louis de Zogheb Dreyfus (born 9 October 1968) is an English actor most notable for roles on television sitcoms '' The Thin Blue Line'' as Constable Kevin Goody, and '' Gimme Gimme Gimme'' as Tom Farrell. Dreyfus is most recently known for ...

, for Cassius in ''

'' (

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

)

Special commendations

, for Henry V in ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1216–1281 ...

'' (

) *

, for Khlestakov in ''

The Government Inspector ''The Government Inspector'', also known as ''The Inspector General'' (, literally: "Inspector"), is a satirical play by Russian dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol. Originally published in 1836, the play was revised for an 1842 edition. Base ...

'' (

)

Commendations

Kate Ashfield Kate Ashfield (born 28 May 1972) is an English actress and screenwriter, who has appeared in stage, TV and film roles, most famously in her role as Liz in the 2004 zombie comedy '' Shaun of the Dead''. She is the co-writer of the 2017 TV series ...

, for Marie in '' Woyzeck'' (

Gate Theatre The Gate Theatre is a theatre on Cavendish Row in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1928. History Beginnings The Gate Theatre was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir with Daisy Bannard Cogley and Gearóid Ó Lochla ...

) *Toby Cockerell, for Katherine and the Boy in ''

'' (

Shakespeare's Globe Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse first built in 1599 for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays. Like the original, it is located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Southwark, Lon ...

) *Dominic Curtis, for Orlando in ''

'' ( Perth Theatre) * Anne-Marie Duff, for Cordelia in ''

'' ( National Theatre) * Ray Fearon, for Romeo in ''

'' (

) *Zoe Waites, for Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Victoria Hamilton, for Lady Brute in '' The Provok'd Wife'' ( Peter Hall Company) * Andrew Howard, for Orestes in ''

Electra Electra, also spelt Elektra (; ; ), is one of the most popular Greek mythology, mythological characters in tragedies.Evans (1970), p. 79 She is the main character in two Greek tragedies, ''Electra (Sophocles play), Electra'' by Sophocles and ''Ele ...

'' ( Minerva Theatre, Chichester;

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit Off-West End theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke and Michael Longhurst have all served as artistic direc ...

) * Jason Hughes, for Pleribo, Adraste, and Prince Florilame in '' The Illusion'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *

Julia Sawalha Julia Sawalha (born 9 September 1968) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Saffron "Saffy" Monsoon in the BBC sitcom '' Absolutely Fabulous'' (1992–2012). Her other television roles include as Lynda Day in '' Press Gang'' (198 ...

, for Melibea, Isabelle, and Hippolyta in '' The Illusion'' (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *Paul McEneany, for Mustardseed and Flute in ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...

'' ( Lyric Theatre,

Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...

) *Lise Stevenson, for Isabella in ''Measure for Measure'' ( Nottingham Playhouse)

1998

First prize

* Claudie Blakley, for Nina in ''

'' (

)

Second prize

Kevin McKidd Kevin McKidd (born 9 August 1973) is a Scottish actor and television director best known as Dr. Owen Hunt in ''Grey's Anatomy'' and Tommy Mackenzie in Danny Boyle's '' Trainspotting'' (1996). McKidd played Colin in the 2008 film Made of Hono ...

, for

Britannicus Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus (12 February AD 41 – 11 February AD 55), usually called Britannicus, was the son of Roman Emperor Claudius and his third wife, Valeria Messalina. For a time, he was considered his father's heir, but t ...

in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

* Paul Hilton, for Orlando in ''

'' (

)

Commendations

*Kathy Kiera Clarke, for Medea in ''

Medea In Greek mythology, Medea (; ; ) is the daughter of Aeëtes, King Aeëtes of Colchis. Medea is known in most stories as a sorceress, an accomplished "wiktionary:φαρμακεία, pharmakeía" (medicinal magic), and is often depicted as a high- ...

'' ( Citizens Theatre, Glasgow) * Hermione Gulliford, for Olivia in ''

'' (

Crucible Theatre The Crucible Theatre, or simply The Crucible, is a theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, which opened in 1971. Its name refers to crucible steel, which was developed in Sheffield in 1740 and drove the industrialisation of the city. ...

, Sheffield) * Thusitha Jayasundera, for Viola in ''

'' (

Young Vic The Young Vic Theatre is a performing arts venue located on The Cut, near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The Young Vic was established by Frank Dunlop in 1970. Nadia Fall has been artistic director since 2025, succeeding ...

) *

Susan Lynch Susan Lynch (born 1971) is an actress from Northern Ireland. She is known for her role in the 2003 film '' 16 Years of Alcohol''. Her other film appearances include '' Waking Ned Devine'' (1998), '' Nora'' (2000), '' Beautiful Creatures'' (200 ...

, for Katerina in '' The Storm'' (

) *

Stephen Mangan Stephen James Mangan (born 16 May 1968) is a British actor, comedian, presenter and writer. He has played Guy Secretan in '' Green Wing'', Dan Moody in '' I'm Alan Partridge'', Seán Lincoln in ''Episodes'', Bigwig in ''Watership Down'', Postma ...

, for Don Pedro in ''

Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' (W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. ...

'' (

), and Sir Benjamin Backbite in '' The School for Scandal'' (

) *

Matthew Macfadyen David Matthew Macfadyen (; born 17 October 1974) is an English actor. Known for his performances on stage and screen, he Breakthrough role, gained prominence for his role as Mr. Darcy in Joe Wright's ''Pride & Prejudice (2005 film), Pride & Prej ...

, for Benedick in ''

'' (

), and Charles Surface in '' The School for Scandal'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *Jo McInnes, for Sonya in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *

David Oyelowo David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo ( ; ; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awar ...

, for the King in '' The Suppliants'' (

) *

Kelly Reilly Jessica Kelly Siobhán Reilly (born 18 July 1977) is an English actress. She first appeared on screen in 1995 on the series ''The Biz (TV series), The Biz''. Her other television work includes starring roles in the British crime drama ''Above S ...

, for Peggy Riley in '' The London Cuckolds'' ( National Theatre)

1999

First prize

* Rupert Penry-Jones, for Don Carlos in ''

'' (

)

Second prize

*Gabrielle Jourdan, for Jessica in ''

'' ( National Theatre)

Third prize

Megan Dodds Megan Dodds is an American actress. She played Kate in the 2006 series ''Not Going Out'', alongside Lee Mack and Tim Vine, and has appeared in the series '' Spooks'', ''House'', '' Detroit 1-8-7'', and '' CSI: NY'', and the films '' Ever After'' ...

, for Ophelia in ''Hamlet'' (

)

Commendations

* Ariyon Bakare, for Florindo in '' The Servant of Two Masters'' (

) * Emma Cunniffe, for Hilde in ''The Master Builder'' (

) *

, for Giovanni in ''

'' (

) * Aidan McArdle, for Rodrigo in ''

Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...

'', and Puck in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *Patrick Moy, for Malcolm in ''

Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...

'' (

, Edinburgh) *Kirsten Parker, for Viola in ''

'' (

) * Claire Price, for Princess Eboli in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Iain Robertson, for Adam/Isaac/Shepherd in ''

The Mysteries ''The Mysteries'' is a cycle of three medieval English mystery plays first presented at London's National Theatre in 1977 which tell a story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Background It is based largely on the Wakefield cycle of p ...

'' (National Theatre)

2000s

2000

First prize

, for Henry VI in '' Henry VI'' (

)

Second prize

* John Light, for Konstantin in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Third prize

*Zoe Waites, for Vittoria in '' The White Devil'' (

)

Commendations

* Nancy Carroll, for Lady Percy in ''

Henry VI, Part 1 ''Henry VI, Part 1'', often referred to as ''1 Henry VI'', is a Shakespearean history, history play by William Shakespeare—possibly in collaboration with Thomas Nashe and others—believed to have been written in 1591. It is set during the ...

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *James O'Donnell, for Page and Ostler in '' Henry VI'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *Joe Renton, for Peto in '' Henry VI'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *

Chiwetel Ejiofor Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor ( ; born 10 July 1977) is a British actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emm ...

, for Romeo in ''

'' ( National Theatre) *Martin Hutson, for Silvius in ''As You Like It'' (

, Sheffield) *Molly Innes, for Electra in ''

'' (Theatre Babel) * Justine Waddell, for Nina in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *

David Tennant David John Tennant (; born 18 April 1971) is a Scottish actor. He is best known for portraying the Tenth Doctor, tenth and Fourteenth Doctor, fourteenth incarnations of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor in the science fiction series ''Docto ...

, for Antipholus of Syracuse in ''

'' (RSC) *

Sam Troughton Sam John Troughton (born 21 March 1977) is an English actor who has made appearances in ''Robin Hood'' (2006–2009), '' Alien vs. Predator'' (2004), ''Hex'' (2005), ''The Town'' (2012), ''The Hollow Crown'' (2016), '' The Ritual'' (2017), ' ...

, for Young Talbot in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company)

2001

First prize

*Claire Price, for Berinthia in '' The Relapse'' ( National Theatre)

Second prize

*Zoe Waites, for Viola in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

* James D'Arcy, for Gaveston in ''

'' (

, Sheffield)

Commendations

Claire Cox Claire Cox is a British actress. Her television appearances include acclaimed series '' The Last Salute'', '' Fresh Meat'', '' Spooks'', ''Wallander'' and '' Jamestown'' for Sky. Career Cox graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama ...

, for Portia in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *

Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch (born 19 July 1976) is an English actor. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Benedict Cumberbatch, various accolades, including a BAFTA TV Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Laurenc ...

, for the King of Navarre in ''

'' (

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is an open-air theatre in Regent's Park in central London, established in 1932. Originally known for its Shakespearean productions, the theatre now features a wide variety of performances, including musicals, ope ...

) * August Diehl, for Konstantin ''

'' (

Edinburgh Festival __NOTOC__ This is a list of Arts festival, arts and cultural festivals regularly taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland. The city has become known for its festivals since the establishment in 1947 of the Edinburgh International Festival and the ...

) * John Hopkins, for Octavius in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Johanna Wokalek, for Nina in ''

'' (

) *Martin Hutson, for Oswald in ''

Ghosts In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...

'' (

Comedy Theatre The Harold Pinter Theatre, known as the Comedy Theatre until 2011,

) * Gerald Kyd, for the King of Bavarre in ''

'' (

) *Kevin Lennon, for Giovanni in ''

'' (Theatre Babel, Glasgow) *Kirsten Parker, for the Princess in ''

'' (

) *

, for Richmond in ''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Boswor ...

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Zubin Varla, for Caliban in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Kaye Wragg, for Sonya in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester)

2002

First prize

Rebecca Hall Rebecca Maria Hall (born 3 May 1982) is an English actress and director. She made her first onscreen appearance at the age of 10 in the 1992 The Camomile Lawn (TV serial), television adaptation of ''The Camomile Lawn'', directed by her father, ...

, for Vivvie in '' Mrs Warren's Profession'' ( Strand Theatre)Lathan, P
"Another Hall Hits the Heights"
''The British Theatre Guide'', April 20, 2003, retrieved November 9, 2006.

Second prize

* Daniel Evans, for Ariel in ''

'' (

, Sheffield) and Oswald in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

* Iain Robertson, for Trinculo in ''

'' (

, Sheffield)

Commendations

Nonso Anozie Nonso Anozie (; born 17 November 1978) is a British actor. On television, he is known for his roles as Xaro Xhoan Daxos in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'' (2012), R.M. Renfield on the Sky series ''Dracula'' (2013), Abraham Kenyatta on the C ...

, for King Lear in ''

'' (

) *Justin Avoth, for Demetrius in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *Lucy Black, for Olivia in ''

'' ( Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol) * Nancy Carroll, for Cordelia in ''

'' (

) *Dan Fredenburgh, for the Prince in '' The Prince of Homburg'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Naomi Frederick, for Irina in '' Three Sisters'' (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton) *Ryan Kiggell, for Gloucester in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Kananu Kirimi, for Marina in ''

Pericles Pericles (; ; –429 BC) was a Greek statesman and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He was prominent and influential in Ancient Athenian politics, particularly between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War, and was acclaimed ...

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Claire Price, for Miranda in ''

'' (

, Sheffield) *

, for Valère in ''

'' ( National Theatre)

2003

First prize

* Lisa Dillon, for Hilda Wangel in ''

'' (

)

Second prize

Louisa Clein Louisa Clein (born 6 July 1979) is a British actress, known for portraying the role of Maya Stepney in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. Life and career Clein was born in Poole, Dorset to Jewish parents, Peter and Channa Clein (née Salomon ...

, for Hilde in ''

The Lady from the Sea ''The Lady from the Sea'' () is a Play (theatre), play written in 1888 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen inspired by the ballad ''Agnete og Havmanden''. The drama introduces the character of Hilde Wangel who is again portrayed in Ibsen's late ...

'' (

)

Third prize

* Eve Myles, for Lavinia in ''

Titus Andronicus ''The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus'', often shortened to ''Titus Andronicus'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first t ...

'' and Bianca in ''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunke ...

'' (

)

Special commendations

, for Rosalind in ''

'' ( Peter Hall Company) * Felicite du Jeu, for Katherine in ''

'' ( National Theatre)

Commendations

*Jamie Beamish, for Sir Thurio in '' Two Gentlemen of Verona'' (

) * Kellie Bright, for Masha in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre) * Nancy Carroll, for Helena in ''

'' (

, Sheffield) * Rory Kinnear, for Tranio in ''

'' (

) * Emma Lowndes, for Nina in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *

Tobias Menzies Tobias Simpson Menzies (born 7 March 1974) is an English actor. He is known for playing Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in the third and fourth seasons of the series ''The Crown'', for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding S ...

, for Tusenbach in '' Three Sisters'' (

Playhouse Theatre The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square, central London. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt in ...

) * Joseph Millson, for Orlando in ''

'' ( Peter Hall Company) * Paul Ready, for Dromio of Syracuse in ''

'' (

) * Steven Robertson, for Konstantin in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester)

2004

First prize

, for Othello in ''Othello'' (

)

Second prize

* Naomi Frederick, for Isabella in ''

Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...

'' ( Complicite at the National Theatre)

Third prize

Ben Whishaw Benjamin John Whishaw (born 14 October 1980) is an English actor. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ben Whishaw, various accolades, including three British Academy Television Awards, two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Aw ...

, for Hamlet in ''

'' (

Old Vic Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...

)

Commendations

* Nikki Amuka-Bird, for Viola in ''

'' (

) * Elliot Cowan, for Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa in ''

'' (

, Sheffield) *Richard Glaves, for Marchbanks in ''

Candida Candida, or Cándida (Spanish), may refer to: Biology and medicine * ''Candida'' (fungus), a genus of yeasts ** Candidiasis, an infection by ''Candida'' organisms * Malvasia Candida, a variety of grape Places * Candida, Campania, a ''comu ...

'' ( Oxford Stage Company) * Jake Harders, for Reverend Alexander Mill in ''

'' (Oxford Stage Company) *Caroline Martin, for Desdemona in ''

'' (

) *David Nicolle, for Ion in ''

'' (

Mercury Theatre, Colchester The Mercury Theatre is a theatre in Colchester, producing highly regarded original work under the title "Mercury Productions" and also receiving touring shows. The theatre has two auditoria, and is led by Steve Mannix (Executive Director & CEO ...

) *

Matthew Rhys Matthew Rhys Evans ( ; born 8 November 1974) is a Welsh actor. He gained recognition for playing Kevin Walker in the family drama series '' Brothers & Sisters'' (2006–2011) and Philip Jennings in the spy drama series ''The Americans'' (2013 ...

, for Edmund in ''

'' (

) *

Dan Stevens Daniel Jonathan Stevens (born 10 October 1982) is an English actor. He first drew international attention for his role as Matthew Crawley in the ITV period drama series ''Downton Abbey'' (2010–2012). He also starred as David in the thriller ...

, for Orlando in ''

'' ( Peter Hall Company)

2005

First prize

Mariah Gale Mariah Gale (born c.1980) is a British actress of film, stage and television. Early life She was born in Australia to an Australian mother and British father, both architects. She grew up in her father's native United Kingdom. She studied at Univ ...

, for Viola in ''

'' (

), Annabella in '' Tis Pity She's a Whore'' ( Southwark Playhouse), and Nurse Ludmilla and Klara in ''The Last Waltz'' (

Arcola Theatre Arcola Theatre is in the London Borough of Hackney. It presents plays, operas and musicals featuring established and emerging artists. The theatre building, in the former Colourworks paint factory on Ashwin Street, Dalston, houses two studio ...

)

Second prize

* Sinead Matthews, for Hedvig in ''

The Wild Duck ''The Wild Duck'' (original Norwegian title: ''Vildanden'') is an 1884 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It explores the complexities of truth and illusion through the story of a family torn apart by secrets and the intrusion of a ...

'' (

), and Dolly in '' You Never Can Tell'' ( Peter Hall Company)

Third prize

, for Tesman in ''

'' (

)

Commendations

*Peter Bramhill, for Lifter and Lady Vanity in ''

Thomas More Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, theologian, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VII ...

'' (

) *

Michelle Dockery Michelle Suzanne Dockery (born 15 December 1981) is an English actress. She is best known for starring as List of Downton Abbey characters#Lady Mary Talbot, Lady Mary Crawley in the ITV (TV network), ITV television period drama series ''Downton ...

, for Dina Dorf in '' Pillars of the Community'' ( National Theatre) * Edward Hogg, for Woyzeck in '' Woyzeck'' (

) * Rory Kinnear, for Mortimer in '' Mary Stuart'' (

) * James Loye, for Cloten in ''

Cymbeline ''Cymbeline'' (), also known as ''The Tragedie of Cymbeline'' or ''Cymbeline, King of Britain'', is a play by William Shakespeare set in British Iron Age, Ancient Britain () and based on legends that formed part of the Matter of Britain concer ...

'', and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in ''

'' (

) *

Lyndsey Marshal Lyndsey Marshal (born 16 June 1978) is an English actress best known for her performance in '' The Hours'', as the recurring character Cleopatra on HBO's ''Rome'', and as Lady Sarah Hill in BBC period drama '' Garrow's Law''. Biography Marshal ...

, for Toinette in '' The Hypochondriac'' (

) *Caitlin Mottram, for Helena in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Nicholas Shaw, for Benjamin in ''

'' ( Oxford Stage Company)

2006

First prize

Andrea Riseborough Andrea Louise Riseborough (born 20 November 1981) is an English actress. She made her film debut with a small part in ''Venus'' (2006), and has since appeared in more prominent roles in '' Brighton Rock'' (2010), '' W.E.'' (2011), '' Shadow Dan ...

, for Isabella in ''

'' and Miss Julie in '' Miss Julie'' ( Peter Hall Company)

Second prize

*Catherine Hamilton, for Jessica in ''The Madras House'' (

Orange Tree Theatre The Orange Tree Theatre is a 180-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south-west London, which was built specifically as a theatre in the round. It is housed within a disused 1867 primary school, built in Victorian Gothic style. Th ...

)

Third prize

* Hattie Morahan, for Nina in ''

'' ( National Theatre)

Commendations

* Bryan Dick, for Dapper in '' The Alchemist'' ( National Theatre) * Trystan Gravelle, for Young Shepherd in '' A Winter's Tale'' (

) *

Tom Hiddleston Thomas William Hiddleston (born 9 February 1981) is a British actor. He gained international fame portraying Loki (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), beginning with ''Thor (film), Thor'' in 2011 and incl ...

, for Alsemero in '' The Changeling'' (

) *Sally Leonard, for Lipochka in ''A Family Affair'' (

) * Laura Rees, for Lavinia in ''

'' (

) *Amit Shah, for Abel Drugger in '' The Alchemist'' ( National Theatre) * Lex Shrapnel, for John, Talbot's son; Ghost of John Talbot; Henry, Earl of Richmond; and Son that killed his father in '' Henry VI'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Ony Uhiara, for Marina in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *

Jodie Whittaker Jodie Auckland Whittaker (born 17 June 1982) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles on television as Beth Latimer in ''Broadchurch'' (2013–2017) and the Thirteenth Doctor in ''Doctor Who'' (2017–2022, 2025). She came to pro ...

, for Nadya in ''Enemies'' (

)

2007

First prize

* Rory Kinnear, for Pytor in ''Philistines'' and Sir Fopling Flutter in ''

The Man of Mode ''The Man of Mode, or, Sir Fopling Flutter'' is a Restoration comedy by George Etherege, written in 1676. The play is set in Restoration London and follows the womanizer Dorimant as he tries to win over the young heiress Harriet and to dise ...

'' ( National Theatre)

Second prize

, for Eliza Doolittle in '' Pygmalion'' ( Peter Hall Company)

Third prize

, for Cassio in ''Othello'' (

)

Commendations

* Edward Bennett, for Dick Gurvil in ''Nan'', Victor Bretherton in ''

Diana of Dobson's Diana most commonly refers to: * Diana (name), given name (including a list of people with the name) * Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon * Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) ...

'' (

); Freddy in ''Pygmalion'' ( Peter Hall Company); and Roderigo in ''

'' (

) * Sam Crane, for Oswald in ''

'' (

), and Roderigo in ''

'' (

) *Gabriel Fleary, for Alonso in ''The Changling'' (

) * Harry Hadden-Paton, for Mercutio in ''

'' (

Battersea Arts Centre The Battersea Arts Centre ("BAC") is a performance space specialising in Theater, theatre productions. Located near Clapham Junction railway station in Battersea, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, it was formerly Battersea Town Hall. It is a ...

), and John Worthing in ''

The Importance of Being Earnest ''The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People'' is a play by Oscar Wilde, the last of his four drawing-room plays, following ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' (1892), ''A Woman of No Importance'' (1893) and ''An Ideal Husban ...

'' (

Theatre Royal Bath The Theatre Royal in Bath, Somerset, Bath, England, was built in 1805. A Grade II* listed building, it has been described by the Theatres Trust as "One of the most important surviving examples of Georgian theatre architecture". It has a capacit ...

) * Daniel Hawksford, for Claudio in ''

'' ( National Theatre) * John Heffernan, for Oswald in ''

'' (

) * Richard Madden, for Romeo in ''

'' (

touring) *

Carey Mulligan Carey Hannah Mulligan (born 28 May 1985) is a British actress. She has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. She w ...

, for Nina in ''

'' (

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a West End theatre#London's non-commercial theatres, non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, London, England, opene ...

) *Pippa Nixon, for Jessica in ''

'' (

) *Amy Noble, for Lily Wilson in ''

Chains A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A ...

'' (

) *Claudia Renton, for Mabel Chiltern in ''

An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *Dominic Tighe, for the Tailor and the Widow in ''

'' (

Propeller A propeller (often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon a working flu ...

at the Watermill) * Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, for the Dauphin in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester)

2008

First prize

* Tom Burke, for Adolph in ''

Creditors A creditor or lender is a Party (law), party (e.g., person, organization, company, or government) that has a claim on the services of a second party. It is a person or institution to whom money is owed. The first party, in general, has provided ...

'' (

)

Second prize

* Edward Bennett, for Hamlet in ''

'', and Navarre in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

* John Heffernan, for Stephen Undershaft in ''

Major Barbara ''Major Barbara'' is a three-act English play by George Bernard Shaw, written and premiered in 1905 and first published in 1907. The story concerns an idealistic young woman, Barbara Undershaft, who is engaged in helping the poor as a Major in ...

'' ( National Theatre)

Special commendations

, for Ophelia in ''

'' (

) *

, for Lvov in '' Ivanov'' ( Donmar West End at Wyndhams Theatre) *

, for Sasha in '' Ivanov'' ( Donmar West End at Wyndhams Theatre)

Commendations

*Charles Aitken, for Iago in ''

'' (Frantic Assembly) * David Ajala, for Reynaldo in ''

'', and Cobweb in ''

'' (

) * Hayley Atwell, for Barbara in ''

'' ( National Theatre) *Beth Cooke, for Irina in '' Three Sisters'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *Tom Davey, for Laertes in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) * Natalie Dew, for Viola in ''

'' (

) *

Ryan Gage Ryan Gage (born 17 January 1983) is an English actor who has worked in theatre, television, films, and video games. On television, he is best known for his roles as King Louis XIII in the BBC series ''The Musketeers'' and Ted Bundy in the TV f ...

, for Flute in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *Oliver Le Sueur, for Lucentio ''

'' and Laertes in ''

'' ( Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol) *

Gwilym Lee Gwilym Lee (born 24 November 1983) is a British actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Midsomer Murders'' (2013–2016), '' A Song for Jenny'' (2015), '' Jamestown'' (2017), '' Top End Wedding'' (2019), '' The Great'' (2020–2023), and for ...

, for the Messenger in ''

Oedipus Oedipus (, ; "swollen foot") was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his city and family. ...

'' ( National Theatre) * Ella Smith, for Jaquenetta in ''

'' (

Rose Theatre The Rose was an Elizabethan playhouse, built by theatre entrepreneur Philip Henslowe in 1587. It was the fifth public playhouse to be built in London, after the Red Lion in Whitechapel (1567), The Theatre (1576) and the Curtain (1577), both i ...

) * Alex Waldmann, for Sebastian in ''

'' ( Donmar West End at Wyndhams Theatre)

2009

First prize

* Ruth Negga, for Aricia in ''

Phèdre ''Phèdre'' (; originally ''Phèdre et Hippolyte'') is a French dramatic tragedy in five acts written in alexandrine verse by Jean Racine, first performed in 1677 at the theatre of the Hôtel de Bourgogne in Paris. Composition and premiere With ...

'' ( National Theatre)

Second prize

* Max Bennett, for Claudio in ''

'' ( Theatre Royal, Plymouth) and Frank in '' Mrs Warren's Profession'' ( Theatre Royal, Bath)

Third prize

* Natalie Dew, for Celia in ''

'' ( Curve Theatre)

Special commendations as previous winners

, for Celia in ''

'' (

) *

, for Hermione in ''

The Winter's Tale ''The Winter's Tale'' is a play by William Shakespeare originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, many modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some criti ...

'' (Bridge Project at the

)

Commendations

*Hedydd Dylan, for Eliza Doolittle in '' Pygmalion'' ( Clwyd Theatr Cymru) * Tracy Ifeachor, for Rosalind in ''

'' (Curve Theatre) *

Max Irons Maximilian Paul Diarmuid Irons (born 17 October 1985) is an English and Irish actor. He is known for his roles in films such as ''Red Riding Hood (2011 film), Red Riding Hood'' (2011), ''The White Queen (miniseries), The White Queen'' (2013), '' ...

, for Max Piccolomini in '' Wallenstein'' (

Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...

) *Tunji Kasim, for Lucius and Romulus in ''

'' (

) *

Vanessa Kirby Vanessa Nuala Kirby (born 18 April 1987 or 1988) is an English actress and producer. She rose to international prominence with her portrayal of Princess Margaret in the Netflix drama series ''The Crown'' (2016–2017), for which she won the Bri ...

, for Regina in ''

'' (

Octagon Theatre, Bolton The Octagon Theatre is a producing theatre located in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Programme The Octagon produces eight or nine professional theatre productions each year in its Main Auditorium. Productions come from a wide range of ...

) *

Keira Knightley Keira Christina Knightley ( ; born 26 March 1985) is an English actress. Known for her work in independent films and Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters, particularly Historical drama, period dramas, she has received List of awards and no ...

, for Jennifer in ''

The Misanthrope ''The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover'' (; ) is a 17th-century comedy of manners in verse written by Molière. It was first performed on 4 June 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal (rue Saint-Honoré), Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris by ...

'' (

Comedy Theatre The Harold Pinter Theatre, known as the Comedy Theatre until 2011,

) * Jack Laskey, for Orlando in ''

'' (

) * Harry Lloyd, for Oswald in ''

'' (

) * John MacMillan, for Malcolm in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre), and Rosencrantz in ''

'' ( Wyndhams Theatre) *David Ononokpono, for Orlando in ''

'' (Curve Theatre) *Henry Pettigrew, for Marcellus and Second Gravedigger in ''

'' ( Wyndhams Theatre) * Prasanna Puwanarajah, for Messenger in ''

Thyestes In Greek mythology, Thyestes (pronounced , , ) was a king of Olympia. Thyestes and his brother, Atreus, were exiled by their father for having murdered their half-brother, Chrysippus, in their desire for the throne of Olympia. They took refuge ...

'' (

) * George Rainsford, for Bertram in ''

'' ( National Theatre) *Sam Swainsbury, for Demetrius in ''

'', and Salerio in ''

'' (

) *Ellie Turner, for Agnes in '' The School for Wives'' ( Upstairs at the Gatehouse)

2010s

2010

First prize

, for Edgar in ''

'' (

)

Second prize

* Zawe Ashton, for Salome in ''

Salome Salome (; , related to , "peace"; ), also known as Salome III, was a Jews, Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II and princess Herodias. She was granddaughter of Herod the Great and stepdaughter of Herod Antipas. She is known from the New T ...

'' ( Headlong Theatre)

Third prize

, for Isabella in '' Women Beware Women'' ( National Theatre), Rosalind in ''

'' (

), and Helena in ''

'' ( Octagon Theatre)

Commendations

* Pippa Bennett-Warner, for Cordelia in ''

'' (

) * Natalie Dormer, for Mitzi in '' Sweet Nothings'' (

) * Susannah Fielding, for Petra in ''

An Enemy of the People ''An Enemy of the People'' (original Norwegian title: ''En folkefiende'') is an 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen that explores the conflict between personal integrity and societal norms. The play centers on Dr. Thomas Stockmann, w ...

'' (

, Sheffield) *Melody Grove, for Gwendolen in ''

'' (

, Edinburgh) * Cush Jumbo, for Eliza Doolittle in '' Pygmalion'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) * Ferdinand Kingsley, for Rosencrantz in ''

'' ( National Theatre) * James McArdle, for Malcolm in ''

'' (

), and Aleksey in '' A Month in the Country'' (

) * Jessica Raine, for Regina in ''

'' ( Duchess Theatre) * Catrin Stewart, for Hilde in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) *Joseph Timms, for John of Lancaster in '' Henry IV Parts 1 and 2'' (

) * Charity Wakefield, for Lydio Languish in ''

The Rivals ''The Rivals'' is a comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in five acts which was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958 List of Maverick ...

'' ( Southwark Playhouse) *Ashley Zhangazha, for the King of France in ''

'' (

)

2011

First prize

* Cush Jumbo, for Rosalind in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester)

Second prize

* Damien Molony, for Giovanni in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

*Jodie McNee, for Masha in ''

'' (

)

Commendations

*Hiran Abeysekera, for Valère in ''

'' (

) * Jade Anouka, for Ophelia in ''

'' (

) *Mark Arends, for Malcolm in ''

'' ( Liverpool Everyman) *

Sebastian Armesto Sebastian Felipe Xavier Fernández-Garcia Armesto (born 3 June 1982) is an English film, television and theatre actor. He is the son of historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto. Career Television and film Armesto played Charles V, Holy Roman Emp ...

, for Wendoll in ''

A Woman Killed with Kindness ''A Woman Killed with Kindness'' is an early seventeenth-century stage play, a tragedy written by Thomas Heywood. Acted in 1603 and first published in 1607, the play has generally been considered Heywood's masterpiece, and has received the mo ...

'' ( National Theatre) * John Heffernan, for Richard II in ''

'' ( Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory) *Ffion Jolly, for Luciana in ''

'' ( Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory) * Ben Mansfield, for Sebastian in ''

'' ( National Theatre) *Sam Marks, for Friar Peter, Froth, and Gentleman 2 in ''

'' (

) *

Matthew Needham Matthew Needham (born 13 April 1984) is a British actor. He has worked on stage and screen, appearing in television series such as '' Casualty'', '' Endeavour'', and '' Sanditon.'' As of 2022, Needham portrays Larys Strong on the HBO fantasy ser ...

, for Nero in ''

'' (

Wilton's Music Hall Wilton's Music Hall is a Grade II* listed building in Shadwell, built as a music hall and now run as a multi-arts performance space in Graces Alley, off Cable Street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is one of very few surviving music ...

) *

Eddie Redmayne Edward John David Redmayne OBE (; born 6 January 1982) is an English actor. His accolades include an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Olivier Awards. Redmayne began his professional ac ...

, for Richard II in ''

'' (

) *Lara Rossi, for Myrrha and Macrina in '' Emperor and Galilean'' ( National Theatre) * Sara Vickers, for Annabella in ''

'' (

)

2012

First prize

*Ashley Zhangazha, for Ross in ''

'' (

, Sheffield)

Second prize

*Amy Morgan, for Margery Pinchwife in ''

The Country Wife ''The Country Wife'' is a Restoration comedy written by William Wycherley and first performed in 1675. A product of the tolerant early Restoration period, the play reflects an aristocratic and anti-Puritan ideology, and was controversial fo ...

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester)

Third prize

*Lara Rossi, for Dol Common in '' The Alchemist'' (

Liverpool Playhouse The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actre ...

)

Commendations

* Jade Anouka, for Calpurnia, Metellus Cimber, and Pindarus in ''

'' (

) *Alys Daroy, for Yelena in '' The Wood Demon'' (Theatre Collection) * Holly Earl, for Bertha in '' The Father'' ( Belgrade Theatre, Coventry) * Kurt Egyiawan, for Arsace in '' Berenice'' (

) * Paapa Essiedu, for Fenton in ''

The Merry Wives of Windsor ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' or ''Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a ref ...

'' (

) * Johnny Flynn, for Viola in ''

'' (

and West End) * Aysha Kala, for Maid in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *

, for Masha in '' Three Sisters'' (

) * Simon Manyonda, for Lucius in ''

'' (

) *Luke Norris, for The Soldier in ''

Antigone ANTIGONE (Algorithms for coNTinuous / Integer Global Optimization of Nonlinear Equations), is a deterministic global optimization solver for general Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programs (MINLP). History ANTIGONE is an evolution of GloMIQO, a global ...

'' ( National Theatre) *Ailish Symons, for Cecily in ''

'' ( Lyric Theatre, Belfast) *Ellie Turner, for Fanny Hawthorn in '' Hindle Wakes'' (

Finborough Theatre The Finborough Theatre is a fifty-seat theatre in the West Brompton area of London (part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) under artistic director Neil McPherson. The theatre presents new British writing, as well as UK and world p ...

)

2013

First prize

* Jack Lowden, for Oswald in ''

'' (

)

Second prize

* Jessie Buckley, for Miranda in ''

'' (

) and Princess Katharine in ''

'' (

Noël Coward Theatre The Noël Coward Theatre, formerly known as the Albery Theatre, is a West End theatre in St. Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster, London. It opened on 12 March 1903 as the New Theatre and was built by Sir Charles Wyndham behind Wyndham's ...

)

Third prize

*Graham Butler, for Henry VI in '' Henry VI, Parts I, II & III'' (

)

Commendations

* Fisayo Akinade, for Adam, Silvius, and William in ''

'' (Transport Theatre on tour) *Elliot Barnes-Worrell, for the Groom in ''

'' (

) *Nari Blair-Mangat, for Caithness in ''

'' (

Manchester International Festival The Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival, with a specific focus on original new work, held in the English city of Manchester and run by Factory International. The festival is a biennial event, first takin ...

) *Gavin Fowler, for Puck in ''

'' (

) and Florizel in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *Kim Hardy, for Konstantin in ''

'' (The White Bear) *Brian Markey, for Hugh in '' Mixed Marriage'' ( Lyric Theatre, Belfast) * Charlene McKenna, for Regina in ''

'' (

) * Rose Reynolds, for Lavinia in ''

'' (Royal Shakespeare Company) *Gemma Soul, for Rose in ''

The Recruiting Officer ''The Recruiting Officer'' is a 1706 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar, which follows the social and sexual exploits of two English Army officers, the womanising Plume and the cowardly Brazen, in the town of Shrewsbury (the town where ...

'' (

Salisbury Playhouse Salisbury Playhouse is a theatre in the English city of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Built in 1976, it comprises the 517-seat Main House and the 149-seat Salberg Studio, a rehearsal room, a daytime café, and a community and education space. It is pa ...

) * Luke Thompson, for Lysander in ''

'' (

) * Olivia Vinall, for Desdemona in ''

'' ( National Theatre)

2014

First prize

* Susannah Fielding, for Portia in ''

'' (

)"2015 Ian Charleson Awards"
''

''. 28 June 2015.Snow, Georgia
"Susannah Fielding wins Ian Charleson award"
''

The Stage ''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. Founded in 1880, ''The Stage'' contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at thos ...

''. 19 June 2015.

Second prize

*Tom Mothersdale, for Yasha in ''

The Cherry Orchard ''The Cherry Orchard'' () is the last play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Written in 1903, it was first published by '' Znaniye'' (Book Two, 1904), and came out as a separate edition later that year in Saint Petersburg, via A.F. Marks Pu ...

'' (

)

Third prize

Cynthia Erivo Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Amarachukwu Owezuke Echimino Erivo ( ; born 8 January 1987) is a British actress and singer. Known for her work on both stage and screen, she is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Cynt ...

, for Poins and Earl of Douglas in ''Henry IV'' (

)

Commendations

*Stefano Braschi, for Soranzo in ''

'' (

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is an indoor theatre forming part of the Shakespeare's Globe complex, along with the recreated Globe Theatre on Bankside in Southwark, London. Built by making use of 17th-century plans for an indoor English theatre, ...

) *Rebecca Collingwood, for Blanche in '' Widowers' Houses'' (

) *

Ncuti Gatwa Mizero Ncuti Gatwa ( ; born 15 October 1992) is a Rwandan-Scottish actor. After a screen Breakthrough role, breakthrough portraying Eric Effiong in Sex Education (TV series), ''Sex Education'' (2019–2023), he rose to further prominence as the ...

, for Mercutio in ''

'' (

HOME A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or more human occupants, and sometimes various companion animals. Homes provide sheltered spaces, for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be p ...

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

) *Emma Hall, for Phaedra, Aphrodite, and Artemis in '' Hippolytos'' (Antic Face, at The Colepit) * Jennifer Kirby, for Lady Percy in '' Henry IV Parts 1'' '' and 2'' (

) *Daisy May, for Celia in ''

'' ( Tobacco Factory Theatre,

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

) *Frances McNamee, for Finea in '' A Lady of Little Sense'' ( Theatre Royal,

Bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...

) * Ekow Quartey, for Hans in '' Spring Awakening'' (touring production by Headlong/

/ Nuffield Theatre) *Michael Shelford, for Willie Mossop in '' Hobson's Choice'' ( Octagon Theatre,

Bolton Bolton ( , locally ) is a town in Greater Manchester in England. In the foothills of the West Pennine Moors, Bolton is between Manchester, Blackburn, Wigan, Bury, Greater Manchester, Bury and Salford. It is surrounded by several towns and vill ...

) * Thalissa Teixeira, for Chorus in ''

'' (

)

2015

First prize

* James McArdle, for Platonov in '' Platonov'' (

)Hawkins, Helen
"Next steppe to greatness"
''

''. 3 July 2016.Snow, Georgia
"James McArdle wins 2015 Ian Charleson award"
''

''. 24 June 2016.

Second prize

*Elliot Barnes-Worrell, for Straker in ''

Man and Superman ''Man and Superman'' is a four-act drama written by George Bernard Shaw in 1903, in response to a call for Shaw to write a play based on the Don Juan theme. ''Man and Superman'' opened at the Royal Court Theatre in London on 21 May 1905 as a fou ...

'' ( National Theatre)

Third prize

* Freddie Fox, for Romeo in ''

'' (

Sheffield Crucible The Crucible Theatre, or simply The Crucible, is a theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, which opened in 1971. Its name refers to Crucible steel#History of production in England, crucible steel, which was developed in Sheffield in 174 ...

)

Commendations

*Joel MacCormack, for

Orestes In Greek mythology, Orestes or Orestis (; ) was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and the brother of Electra and Iphigenia. He was also known by the patronymic Agamemnonides (), meaning "son of Agamemnon." He is the subject of several ...

in ''

The Oresteia The ''Oresteia'' () is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus in the 5th century BC, concerning the murder of Agamemnon by Clytemnestra, the murder of Clytemnestra by Orestes, the trial of Orestes, the end of the curse on the House of ...

'' (

) * Ken Nwosu, for Silvius in ''

'' ( National Theatre) *Jack Colgrave Hirst, for Clown in ''

'' (Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company at the

Garrick Theatre The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, named after the stage actor David Garrick. It opened in 1889 with ''The Profligate'', a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, and another Pinero play, ...

) *Joshua James, for Konstantin in ''

'' and Nikolai in '' Platonov'' (

) *Emily Barber, for Imogen in ''

'' (

) *Jenny Rainsford, for Miss Prue in ''

Love for Love ''Love for Love'' is a Restoration comedy written by English playwright William Congreve. It premiered on 30 April 1695 at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. Staged by Thomas Betterton's company the original cast included Betterton as Valenti ...

'' (

) * Jessica Baglow, for Marina in ''

'' (

) *

Jessica Brown Findlay Jessica Rose Brown Findlay (born 14 September 1987) is an English actress. She played Lady Sybil Crawley (2010–2012) in the ITV television period drama series ''Downton Abbey'' and Emelia Conan Doyle in the 2011 British comedy-drama featu ...

, for Elektra in ''

'' (

and

Trafalgar Studios Trafalgar Theatre is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London. The Grade II listed building was built in 1930 with interiors in the Art Deco style as the Whitehall Theatre; it regularly staged ...

)

2016

First prize

* Paapa Essiedu, for Hamlet in ''

'' and Edmund in ''

'' (

)Hawkins, Helen
"Paapa Essiedu wins the Ian Charleson award 2016"
''

''. 11 June 2017.

Second prize

, for Sonya in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

* Fisayo Akinade, for The Dauphin in '' Saint Joan'' (

)

Commendations

*James Corrigan, for Palamon in ''

The Two Noble Kinsmen ''The Two Noble Kinsmen'' is a Jacobean tragicomedy, first published in 1634 and attributed jointly to John Fletcher and William Shakespeare. Its plot derives from "The Knight's Tale" in Geoffrey Chaucer's ''The Canterbury Tales'' (1387–140 ...

'' (

) *Emma Curtis, for The Lady in '' Comus'' (

) *Marcus Griffiths, for Laertes in ''

'' (

) *Felicity Huxley-Miners, for Elena Popova in '' The Bear'' (The London Theatre – New Cross) * Francesca Mills, for Maria in ''

'' (

) *

Marc Rhys Marc Rhys (born ''Marc Alun Williams''; September 8, 1988 in Bridgend, South Wales), is a professional actor and one of the recipients of the 2016 Ian Charleston Award. The youngest son of teachers Nevin and Jean Williams. Trained as an actor in ...

, for Christian in ''

Cyrano de Bergerac Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac ( , ; 6 March 1619 – 28 July 1655) was a French novelist, playwright, epistolarian, and duelist. A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the 17th ce ...

'' (

) *Natalie Simpson, for Cordelia in ''

'', Ophelia in ''

'', and Guideria in ''

'' (

) *Ewan Somers, for Claudio in ''

'' ( Dundee Repertory Theatre) * Marli Siu, for Hero in ''

'' ( Dundee Repertory Theatre) * Joanna Vanderham, for Queen Anne in ''

'' (

) *Paksie Vernon, for Sylvia Craven in ''

The Philanderer ''The Philanderer'' is a play by George Bernard Shaw. It was written in 1893 but the strict British censorship laws at the time meant that it was not produced on stage until 1902. It is one of the three plays Shaw published as ''Plays Unpleas ...

'' (

)

2017

First prize

*Natalie Simpson, for Duchess Rosaura in ''

The Cardinal ''The Cardinal'' is a 1963 American drama film produced independently, directed by Otto Preminger and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Robert Dozier, based on the novel by the same by Henry Morton Robinson. The ...

'' ( Southwark Playhouse)Masso, Giverny
"Natalie Simpson wins 2017 Ian Charleson Award"
''

''. 18 May 2018

Second prize

* Tamara Lawrance, for Viola in ''

'' ( National Theatre)

Third prize

* Ellie Bamber, for Hilde in ''

'' (

)

Commendations

*Daniel Ezra, for Sebastian in ''

'' ( National Theatre) *Rebecca Lee, for Friar Laurence in ''

'' ( Watermill Theatre, Newbury) *James Corrigan, for Mark Antony in ''

'' (

) *Ned Derrington, for Lysander in ''

'' (

) *

Sope Dirisu Sope Dirisu (, ; born 1991) is an English actor. He made his film debut in 2016 with '' Sand Castle'', ''Criminal'', and '' The Huntsman: Winter's War''. Since 2020, he has starred as Elliot Carter / Finch in the Sky Atlantic series '' Gangs of ...

, for Coriolanus in ''

'' (

) *Arthur Hughes, for Lucius in ''

'' (

) *Douggie McMeekin, for Snug in ''

'' (

) *Hannah Morrish, for Lavinia in ''

'' (

)

2018

First prize

* Bally Gill, for Romeo in ''

'' (

)Hawkins, Helen
"And the winner of the Ian Charleson Awards is..."
''

''. 19 May 2019.

Second prize

*Hannah Morrish, for Octavia in ''

Antony and Cleopatra ''Antony and Cleopatra'' is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was first performed around 1607, by the King's Men at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre. Its first appearance in print was in the First Folio published ...

'' ( National Theatre)

Third prize

Luke Newberry Luke Newberry is an English actor. He is known for his Leading actor, leading role in the drama television series ''In the Flesh (TV series), In the Flesh'' (2013–2014), which earned him a British Academy Television Award nomination. Early l ...

, for Malcolm in ''

'' (

)

Commendations

*Daniel Burke, for Diomed in ''

'' (

)Snow, Georgia
"Bally Gill wins 2018 Ian Charleson Award"
''

''. 13 May 2019. Snow, Georgia
"Tyrone Huntley among nominees for 2018 Ian Charleson Awards"
''

''. 18 March 2019."Shortlist announced for the 2018 Sunday Times/National Theatre Ian Charleson Awards"
''

''. 17 March 2019. *Heledd Gwynn, for Katharine and Dauphin in ''

'' ( Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol) * Tyrone Huntley, for Lysander in ''

'' ( Watermill Theatre, Newbury) * Martins Imhangbe, for Bagot and Aumerle in ''

'' (

) * Toheeb Jimoh, for Demetrius in ''

'' (

, Sheffield) * Aaron Pierre, for Cassio in ''

'' (

) * Ellora Torchia, for Emilia in ''

Two Noble Kinsmen ''The Two Noble Kinsmen'' is a Jacobean tragicomedy, first published in 1634 and attributed jointly to John Fletcher and William Shakespeare. Its plot derives from "The Knight's Tale" in Geoffrey Chaucer's ''The Canterbury Tales'' (1387–140 ...

'' (

) *Helena Wilson, for Mariana in ''

'' (

)

2019

First prize

*Heledd Gwynn, for Hedda in ''

'' (

Sherman Theatre The Sherman Theatre () is a venue in the Cathays district of Cardiff. It was built as a twin-auditorium venue in 1973 with financial support from University College Cardiff (now Cardiff University). Sherman Cymru was the name of the Sherman Thea ...

, Cardiff) and Hastings and Ratcliffe in ''

'' ( Headlong)Angelini, Francesca
"And the winner of the Ian Charleson awards is . . ."
''

''. 4 April 2021.Bosanquet, Theo
"Winners announced of 30th Ian Charleson awards"
''

WhatsOnStage.com WhatsOnStage is a UK-based theatre website providing news, reviews, interviews, and a comprehensive listings database of performances across the country. The platform claims to list over 5,000 performances at any given time and also operates a tick ...

''. 29 March 2021.

Second prize

*Hammed Animashaun, for Bottom in ''

'' ( Bridge Theatre)

Third prize

* Ronke Adekoluejo, for Abosede in '' Three Sisters'' ( National Theatre)

Commendations

*Kitty Archer, for Mariane in ''

'' ( National Theatre)"2019 Ian Charleson awards"
''

''. 24 May 2020. *Eben Figueiredo, for Christian in ''

'' ( Jamie Lloyd Company at the

) * Isis Hainsworth, for Hermia in ''

'' ( Bridge Theatre) *Ebony Jonelle, for Rosalind in ''

'' ( National Theatre Public Acts at the

Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch The Queen's Theatre is a 507-seat mid-scale producing theatre located in Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering, east London. The theatre was originally located on Station Lane, Hornchurch, on a site that was used as a cinema and had be ...

) * Ioanna Kimbook, for Cariola in ''

'' (

) *Racheal Ofori, for Udo in '' Three Sisters'' ( National Theatre) *Billy Postlethwaite, for Macbeth in ''

'' ( Watermill Theatre) * Ekow Quartey, for Lysander in ''

'' (

) * Kit Young, for Lysander in ''

'' ( Bridge Theatre)

2020s

2020/2021

First prize

*Gloria Obianyo, for Neoptolemus in Kae Tempest's ''Paradise'' ( National Theatre)

Second prize

* Aimee Lou Wood, for Sonya in ''

'' ( Harold Pinter Theatre)

Third prize

* Lorn Macdonald, for Segismundo in '' Life Is a Dream'' (

, Edinburgh)

Commendations

*Jonathan Ajayi, for Laertes in ''

'' (

) *Norah Lopez Holden, for Ophelia in ''

'' (

) *Baker Mukasa, for Angelo in ''

'' (

) *Rebekah Murrell, for Juliet in ''

'' (

) *Anna Russell-Martin, for Rosaura in '' Life Is a Dream'' (

, Edinburgh) * Josh Zaré, for Claudio in ''

'' (

)

2022

First prize

*Abiola Owokoniran, for Algernon Moncrieff in ''

'' (

)

Second prize

*William Robinson, for

Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68) was a Roman emperor and the final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his ...

in ''

'' (

)

Third Prize

* Rosy McEwen, for Desdemona in ''

'' ( National Theatre)

Commendations

* Rose Ayling-Ellis, for Celia in ''

'' ( @sohoplace) *Ralph Davis, for Benedick in ''

'' (

) *Eben Figueiredo, for Claudio in ''

'' ( National Theatre) *Conor Glean, for Dick the Butcher in '' Henry VI: Rebellion'', Young Clifford in '' Henry VI: War of the Roses'', and Murderer 2 in ''

'' (

) *Phoebe Horn, for Margaret in ''

'' ( National Theatre) * Mirren Mack, for Ophelia in ''

'' (

) *Daniel Rock, for King Richard II in ''

'' (Omnibus Theatre) * Rosie Sheehy, for

Lady Anne Neville Anne Neville (11 June 1456 – 16 March 1485) was Queen of England from 26 June 1483 until her death in 1485 as the wife of King Richard III. She was the younger of the two daughters and co-heiresses of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick (th ...

in ''

'' and Helena in ''

'' (

) *Chanel Waddock, for Desdemona in ''

'' ( Frantic Assembly) *Claire Wetherall, for Hero in ''

'' (

Sheffield Theatres Sheffield Theatres is a theatre complex in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It comprises four theatres: the Crucible, the Lyceum, the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, and (as of January 2025) the Montgomery Theatre. These theatres make up ...

/Ramps on the Moon) *Benjamin Wilson, for Borachio in ''

'' (

/Ramps on the Moon)

2023

First prize

* Francesca Mills, for Hermia in ''

'' (

)

Second prize

* Toheeb Jimoh, for Romeo in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

*Joseph Payne, for Ferdinand in ''

'' (

). and Malcolm in ''

'' ( Shakespeare’s Globe)

Commendations

*Shyvonne Ahmmad, for Malcolm in ''

'' (

) *Jonathan Case, for Seyton in ''

'' (Wessex Grove/Underbelly Touring) *Joséphine Callies, for Katherine and Boy in ''

'' (

and Headlong) *Samuel Creasey, for Young Shepherd in ''

'' (

) *Amber James, for Imogen in ''

'' and Liz Bridges in '' The Fair Maid of the West'' (

) *Shalisha James-Davis, for Juliet in ''

Romeo & Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre) *Tyreke Leslie, for Player in ''

'' (

) * Taheen Modak, for Freddy in '' Pygmalion'' (

) *Danielle Phillips, for Luce / Second Merchant / Messenger in ''

'' ( Shakespeare’s Globe) *Anna Russell-Martin, for Banquo in ''

'' (

) *Kibong Tanji, for Aaron in ''

'' (

)

2024

First prize

* Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, for Juliet in ''

'' (

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by ...

)

Second prize

*Ralph Davis, for Iago in ''

'' (

)

Third prize

Éanna Hardwicke Éanna Hardwicke is an Irish actor and filmmaker. He began his career as a child actor in Conor McPherson's '' The Eclipse'' (2009). His films since include '' Lakelands'' (2022). On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC One series '' ...

, for Epikhodov in ''

'' (

)

Special commendation

* Francesca Mills, for the Duchess in ''

'' ( Shakespeare’s Globe)

Commendations

*Melanie-Joyce Bermudez, for the Princess of France in ''

'' (

) *Tom Glenister, for Torvald in '' A Doll’s House'' (

, Sheffield) *Madeleine Gray, for Sonya in ''

'' (

) * Oli Higginson, for Cassio in ''

'' (

) *Nadeem Islam, for the messenger in ''

'' ( Shakespeare’s Globe) * Siena Kelly, for Nora in ''

'' (

, Sheffield) *Daniel Quinn-Toye, for Paris in ''

'' (

) *Andrew Richardson, for Rostrov in ''

'' (

), and Oberon and Theseus in ''

'' (

Barbican Centre The Barbican Centre is a performing arts centre in the Barbican Estate of the City of London, England, and the largest of its kind in Europe. The centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings a ...

) *Rumi Sutton, for Cecily in ''

'' ( Royal Exchange Theatre)

Judges

1990s

1990

* John Peter – ''

'' drama critic *Ian Brown – drama director of the

Arts Council of Great Britain The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. It was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England (now Arts Council England), the Scottish Arts Council (l ...

Sylvia Syms Sylvia May Laura Syms (6 January 1934 – 27 January 2023) was an English stage and screen actress. Her best-known film roles include '' My Teenage Daughter'' (1956), '' Woman in a Dressing Gown'' (1957), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA ...

– actress

1991

* John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic *Ian Brown – drama director of the

– actress

1992

* John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic *Ian Brown – drama director of the

– actress

1993

* John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic * Jane Lapotaire – actress * Nicholas Wright – playwright and director

1994

*Serena Hill – National Theatre casting director * Jane Lapotaire – actress * Nicholas Wright – National Theatre associate director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

1995

*Serena Hill – National Theatre casting director * Jane Lapotaire – actress * Nicholas Wright – National Theatre associate director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

1996

* Jane Lapotaire – actress *Serena Hill – National Theatre casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

1997

* Peter Gill – playwright and director *Serena Hill – National Theatre casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

1998

Penelope Wilton Dame Penelope Alice Wilton (born 3 June 1946) is an English actress. She was formerly married to fellow actor Sir Ian Holm and, as she has not remarried, retains her married style of Lady Holm. Wilton is known for starring opposite Richard ...

– actress * Peter Gill – playwright and director *Wendy Spon – National Theatre deputy casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

1999

''(unpublished)''

2000s

2000

– actress * Peter Gill – playwright and director *Wendy Spon – National Theatre deputy casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2001

– actress * Howard Davies – National Theatre associate director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2002

Eileen Atkins Dame Eileen June Atkins (born 15 June 1934) is an English actress. She has worked in the theatre, film, and television consistently since 1953. In 2008, she won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress and the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting ...

– actress * Howard Davies – National Theatre associate director *Gabrielle Dawes – National Theatre casting director *Hannah Miller – National Theatre casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2003

* Lindsay Posner – director * Penny Downie – actress *Toby Whale – head of casting at the National Theatre * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2004

''(unpublished)''

2005

* Francesca Annis – actress * Lindsay Posner – director *Toby Whale – National Theatre casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2006

* Francesca Annis – actress * Lindsay Posner – director *Toby Whale – National Theatre casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2007

* Penny Downie – actress *

Michael Grandage Michael Grandage Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 2 May 1962) is a British theatre director and producer. He is currently artistic director of the Michael Grandage Company. From 2002 to 2012 he was artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse ...

– director *Wendy Spon – National Theatre casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2008

''(unpublished)''

2009

*Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting * Geraldine James – actress *

– director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2010s

2010

* Geraldine James – actress *

– director *Alastair Coomer – National Theatre casting director * John Peter – ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2011

''(unpublished)''

2012

– director * Geraldine James – actress *Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting * John Peter – former ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2013

– director * Francesca Annis – actress *Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting * John Peter – former ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2014

– director * Francesca Annis – actress *Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting * John Peter – former ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2015

– director * Deborah Findlay – actress *Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting * John Peter – former ''Sunday Times'' drama critic

2016

– director * Deborah Findlay – actress *Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting

2017

– director * Deborah Findlay – actress *Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting

2018

– director * Deborah Findlay – actress *Wendy Spon – National Theatre head of casting * Kate Bassett – ''

'' theatre critic and literary associate at

2019

*Lyndsey Turner – director * Deborah Findlay – actress *Alastair Coomer – casting director * Kate Bassett – ''

'' theatre critic and literary associate at

2020s

2020/2021

* Emma Fielding – actress *Ashley Zhangazha – actor *Alastair Coomer – National Theatre casting director * Kate Bassett – former theatre critic at ''

2022

* Emma Fielding – actress *Ashley Zhangazha – actor *Alastair Coomer – National Theatre casting director *Robert Hastie – artistic director of

2023

* Emma Fielding – actress *Ashley Zhangazha – actor *Alastair Coomer – National Theatre casting director *Robert Hastie – artistic director of

2024

* Fisayo Akinade – actor *Alastair Coomer – head of casting at National Theatre *Robert Hastie – deputy artistic director of National Theatre *Hannah Miller – casting director

References

{{Ian Charleson Award Awards established in 1990 British theatre awards Theatre acting awards Awards for classical theatre 1990 establishments in the United Kingdom Early career awards