Theatre News

Benedict Cumberbatch and The Jungle honoured at South Bank Awards

Other winners included grime artist Stormzy and Glyndebourne for their production of ”Hamlet”

Ammar Haj Ahmad in The Jungle and Benedict Cumberbatch
Ammar Haj Ahmad in The Jungle and Benedict Cumberbatch
© Marc Brenner/Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

The winners of this year's South Bank Awards have been announced, with the Young Vic's production of The Jungle among those recognised.

Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson's play about the refugee camp in Calais was honoured in the theatre category and presented by Emily Berrington – who is currently starring in Machinal at the Almeida. The production, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, opened at the Young Vic in December last year and has since transferred to the Playhouse in London's West End, where it runs until 3 November.

In her five-star review for WhatsOnStage, Sarah Crompton said the piece was 'searing, emotional and profound.'

The awards represent the entire spectrum of the arts in Britain and previous winners include Harold Pinter, Judi Dench and JK Rowling. This year Benedict Cumberbatch was given the Outstanding Achievement Award and said: "I am quite flabbergasted to be receiving this award especially when looking at past recipients.

"I am needless to say immensely grateful and humbled. The South Bank Show has always had a place in my heart as being an inspirational exploration of the best of culture so to be recognised in this way by Melvyn [Bragg, editor and presenter of The South Bank Show and host of the awards] and the show is incredibly flattering and I am very humbled to be this year's recipient. Many many thanks."

Other winners on the night included Inside No 9 (Comedy), Paddington 2 (Film), maliphantworks by Russell Maliphant Company (Dance), Hamlet at Glyndebourne (Opera), Stormzy for Gang Signs & Prayer (Pop) and BBC One's Howards End (TV Drama). Jazz saxophonist Nubya Garcia won the Times Breakthrough Award.

The South Bank Sky Arts Awards airs 4 July on Sky Arts at 8pm.