Curtain up on theatrical winners

JUDE Law, Rachel Weisz, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart and Rowan Atkinson won top theatre awards last night, voted for by record numbers of the public.

Law and Weisz won best acting in a play at the Whatsonstage.com Awards, Law for his title role in Hamlet and Oscar winner Weisz for playing fading beauty Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, which also won the award for best play revival.

The Royal Shakespeare Company's rival production of Hamlet, headed by former Doctor Who star David Tennant, was also a winner, with Sir Patrick named best supporting actor in a play for essaying scheming ruler Claudius.

Sir Patrick also took home the theatre event of the year award – sharing the prize with his X-Men co-star Sir Ian, for their pairing in Waiting For Godot.

Atkinson, well known for his TV roles in Blackadder and Mr Bean, was named best actor in a musical for his portrayal of Fagin in Oliver! while his co-star, I'd Do Anything winner Jodie Prenger, received the best supporting actress in a musical award for playing Nancy.

Theatregoers voted online for their favourites across 26 different categories between December and January. This year saw a record 46,000 voters take part – 11,000 more than the previous record, set in 2009.

The musical Wicked took the title of best West End show, following a "closely fought" battle with War Horse, the only play nominated in the category, organisers said.

Oliver! and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert received the highest number of awards, with three and four respectively.

Sir Trevor Nunn won his fourth Whatsonstage.com award, scooping best director for Inherit The Wind at the Old Vic and the Menier Chocolate Factory revival of A Little Night Music.