Brendan Gleeson has received the Best Actor award for his West End debut performance in Conor McPherson's The Weir at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards in London - a role which he will reprise in its upcoming film adaptation.
The Dublin actor beat Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston and I May Destroy You actor Paapa Essiedu – who were both up for the award for their performances in Arthur Miller's All My Sons.
The prizes, which are voted for by professional theatre critics – who are members of the Critics' Circle, were awarded during a ceremony at the National Theatre on Thursday.
Gone Girl actress Rosamund Pike took home the Best Actress award for her performance as court judge Jessica Parks in Suzie Miller’s legal drama Inter Alia.
The Best New Play prize was awarded to James Graham’s Punch while Paddington The Musical, which was written by McFly star Tom Fletcher and based on the Michael Bond book A Bear Called Paddington and the 2014 film Paddington, continued its award-winning streak with the Best New Musical award.
Ava Pickett was named the Most Promising Playwright for her historical drama 1536, with Ruby Ashbourne-Serkis picking up the Best Newcomer award for her role in Tom Stoppard’s Indian Ink.
Other winners include Ivo van Hove, who was named the Best Director for his production of All My Sons – which also took home the award for Best Revival of a Play or Musical.
Jordan Fein’s production of Into The Woods also claimed two awards, including for the Best Ensemble or Cast with Tom Scutt winning Best Designer for the production.
Source: Press Association
