Photos: Spacey Buries Critics’ Hatchet + Speeches

Critics themselves came under fire at the 17th annual Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards ceremony, held this afternoon at the West End’s Prince of Wales Theatre simultaneously with the online announcement of our own Theatregoers’ Choice Awards (See Today’s Other News for head-to-head results).

In introducing Kevin Spacey (pictured at today’s event), the recipient of the critics’ award for Best Shakespearean Performance for his title performance in Richard II, Michael Coveney, formerly of the Daily Mail made an oblique reference to the rough ride his critical colleagues had given Spacey during his first year as artistic director of the Old Vic. “We’re here to bury the hatchet,” said Coveney, “and not into his back.”

When Spacey took to the stage himself, he held up the John and Wendy Trewin medallion that accompanies the Shakespearean award, and asked with more than a hint of sarcasm - “This is from the critics, right?” – before picking up Coveney’s theme and adding “we’re happy to bury the hatchet.”

(The Critics’ Circle Award brought the Old Vic’s prizes haul today to a total of five. In our own Theatregoers’ Choice Awards, Spacey was named Best Actor for Richard II, which also won Best Shakespearean Production. I addition, Ian McKellen’s pantomime dame debut in Aladdin at the Old Vic was named the Planet Hollywood Theatre Event of the Year.)

Harvest playwright Richard Bean also made a few digs when he accepted his Critics’ Circle award for Best New Play. He opened his speech by making it clear that he’d read the Harvest reviews written by those in the audience, which, despite today’s award, weren’t without misgivings. “I’ve written a speech,” he said. “It’s three hours long and you won’t like the ending.” He closed with a parting swipe. “When you get a lot of writers in a pub, they all sit around slagging off critics” – long pause as the audience laughed – “What? Full stop,” Bean said as he left the stage.

CRITICS’ CIRCLE WINNERS’ REMARKS

Other also had their say on presenting and receiving today’s Critics’ Circle Awards. Amongst them:

For a final voting percentages for all winners & nominees in the Theatregoers’ Choice winners, click here

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