Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards winners announced including Andrew Scott, Sophie Okonedo and David Tennant

The winners of this year’s Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards have been revealed at a ceremony at new West End venue @sohoplace.

Voted for by the body of UK theatre critics, the awards recognise performances from across 2023. This year, the winners in the two leading acting categories were Andrew Scott and Sophie Okonedo, while the Best Shakespearean Performance went to David Tennant for his turn as the regicidal thane in Macbeth. 

On the musical side, Guys and Dolls won Best Musical Production, fending off the likes of Sunset Boulevard, which recently won big at the WhatsOnStage Awards.

You can read the full list of winners below:

Best Actor: Andrew Scott for Vanya

Best Actress: Sophie Okonedo for Medea

Best Shakespearean Performance: David Tennant for Macbeth

Best Musical: Guys and Dolls 

Best New Play: The Motive and the Cue, by Jack Thorne

Most Promising Newcomer(s): jointly won by Jack Wolfe (Next to Normal) and Louis McCartney (Stranger Things)

Most Promising Playwright(s): jointly won by Marcelo Dos Santos (Backstairs Billy) and Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini (Sleepova)

Best Director: Rupert Goold for Dear England

Best Designer: Miriam Buether with 59 Productions for Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Empty Space Peter Brook Award for most innovative venue: Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond