Awards will be presented in the following categories: Best Actor, Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress, Best Play, Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical, Milton Shulman Award for Best Director, Best Design, Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright, Emerging Talent Award in partnership with Burberry, Editor’s Award in partnership with The Ivy and Lebedev Award.
New productions and performances seen on the London stage between Oct. 22, 2014-Oct. 16, 2015, are eligible for consideration.
In a new move, the winner of the Best Musical category - previously given by the judging panel of professional arts critics and commentators - will be decided by public vote, sought via BBC Radio 2, which also sponsors the annual Laurence Olivier Audience Award.
In a press statement, Lebedev commented, "In an iconic London venue, two giants of the acting profession - Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen - will host a lavish celebration of the world's best theatrical talent. With the help of our generous sponsors, I am looking forward to making this the best Evening Standard Theatre Awards yet."
The Theatre Awards shortlist will be announced in early November. For further details, visit www.standard.co.uk/ESTA2015.
