Sweeney Todd wins five theatre awards

Published on 18/02/2013 00:00

West End hit Sweeney Todd topped the bill at a theatre awards show last night by carrying off five prizes.

The production was named best musical revival, while its stars, Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, were named the best actor and actress in a musical at the Whatsonstage.com Awards.

Rupert Everett landed the prize for best actor in a play for his performance in the Judas Kiss.

Sheridan Smith – who has won two Olivier awards for her stage roles – took the title for best actress in a play in recognition of her portrayal of Hedda Gabler.

Chart star Will Young was rewarded as newcomer of the year for his West End debut in the show Cabaret.

Stephen Fry won a prize for his return to the London stage, with his performance as Malvolio in Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre, picking up the best supporting actor in a play prize. In 1995, he famously skipped the country after being stung by a bad review for his performance in the production Cell Mates.

He said of his win: “I am simply astonished. Seventeen years ago, I left this country in disgrace having run out of a play and I thought I might never return to the stage again. But thanks to the Globe, to Tim Carroll the director, the author William Shakespeare, and to the wonderful Sonia Friedman [producer], and most of all, to the audiences at the Globe and the Apollo, I have been back onstage in a wonderful play and had the privilege of playing with one of the best casts that has ever been assembled.”