The 62nd annual London Evening Standard Theatre Awards will be co-hosted by the newspaper’s owner, Evgeny Lebedev, and Sir Elton John CBE. The awards, directed this year by Sean Mathias, have been presented annually since 1955 and past winners include Laurence Olivier, Michael Gambon, Rachel Weisz, Helen Mirren, Tom Hiddleston and Imelda Staunton.
Owner of the London Evening Standard, Evgeny Lebedev said: “In a tumultuous year for Britain, London’s theatres continue to represent the international gold standard by which productions around the world are measured. I am delighted once again to be hosting these awards, which reward the very best stage talent going. There could be no finer setting than The Old Vic, the scene of so many wonderful performances over the years and such an integral part of the capital’s cultural life.”
Sir Elton, who is an Honorary Trustee of The Old Vic, will break from the European leg of his Rocket Club tour to co-host the awards. “I am delighted to have Sir Elton John as my co-host for the 62nd Evening Standard Theatre Awards” Evgeny adds. “He is a man of immense talent and a great patron of the theatre. The musicals he has composed, including Billy Elliot, which opened first in London, have entertained audiences globally.”
Sir Elton said, “I think we produce some of the best theatre in the world here and I feel passionately that we must support it. The London stage has nurtured and given a creative voice for many, many talented individuals and it’s such a great honour for me to co-host these illustrious theatre awards at The Old Vic this year.”
The awards ceremony will take place at The Old Vic Theatre on Sunday 13 November. You can purchase tickets for the Old Vic Theatre’s upcoming production of No’s Knife here.