Robert Icke’s contemporary adaptation of “Oedipus” dominated the U.K. Critics’ Circle theater awards 2025, taking home three top prizes during Wednesday’s ceremony at London’s National Theatre.
The Wyndham’s Theatre production, which is Broadway-bound later this year, earned Mark Strong the best actor award and Lesley Manville best actress honors, while Icke himself nabbed the best director trophy.
Mark Rosenblatt scored both the Michael Billington Award for best new play and most promising playwright for “Giant,” his biographical drama about Roald Dahl. The production is set to transfer to the West End next month following its sold-out run at the Royal Court.
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Rising star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers won the Jack Tinker Award for best newcomer for her performance as Juliet opposite Tom Holland’s Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet,” while veteran performer Danny Sapani received the Trewin Award for best Shakespearean performance for his acclaimed turn in “King Lear” at the Almeida Theatre under Yaël Farber’s direction.
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Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” which is headed to the Barbican, claimed the Peter Hepple Award for best musical. Designer Frankie Bradshaw took home the best designer award for her work on both “Ballet Shoes” and “Dear Octopus” at the National Theatre.
The Yard Theatre in East London won the Empty Space… Peter Brook Award, recognizing venues that embody the legendary director’s spirit in both space utilization and community connection. The award, originally founded by Blanche Marvin, is now overseen by Oscar-nominated director-producer Niki Marvin.
“It’s a real honor to bring the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards to the National Theatre, an institution that stands for the importance of theatre within the cultural life of this country,” said Rosemary Waugh, chair of the Critics’ Circle drama section. “Our awards went to a varied and inspiring collection of theatermakers this year, and it’s a pleasure to be able to celebrate the brilliance of all these stars of the British theater industry.”
The Critics’ Circle theater awards remain unique as the only theater honors determined entirely by votes from professional theater critics. The ceremony was hosted by Mark Lawson.
