Nicole Kidman, Ralph Fiennes and Gugu Mbatha-Raw up for Evening Standard Theatre Awards

NICOLE KIDMAN IN PHOTOGRAPH 51 CREDIT: MARC BRENNER/ THE MICHAEL GRANDAGE COMPANY

•  Tristram Fane Saunders 

18 NOVEMBER 2015 • 3:15PM

Nicole Kidman, Ralph Fiennes and Gugu Mbatha-Raw have been nominated for the 2015 Evening Standard Theatre Awards, in a shortlist that also includes James McAvoy andImelda Staunton.

Last month, Kidman returned to the London stage for the first time in 17 years to play DNA pioneer  Rosalind Franklin in Anna Ziegler’s play Photograph 51, described by The Telegraph as “a triumph”. The actress is up against a fellow Bafta winner, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, nominated for her leading role in Nell Gwynn, as the 17th century English actress who became a mistress of Charles II.

If Mbatha-Raw wins, she will be only the second non-white actress to receive the award in its 60-year history, following Josette Simon’s 1990 win. It would also be the first time an actor or actress has ever won an Evening Standard Theatre Award for a performance at Shakespeare’s Globe. Also in the running for the Best Actress award are Lia Williams, who played Klytemnestra in the Almeida Theatre’s Oresteia, and Denise Gough, for her role in People, Places and Things.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw CREDIT: 2014 TORONTO STAR/RICHARD LAUTENS

Ralph Fiennes will go head to head James McAvoy in the Best Actor category, competing with Simon Russell Beale and Kenneth Cranhamfor the award. Benedict Cumberbatch is a notable omission from the list, despite the hype surrounding his performance as Hamlet at the Barbican.

The winners will be announced on Sunday November 22 at the Old Vic theatre. Rob Brydon is set to host the awards ceremony, with Sir Ian McKellen, who has won the Best Actor award twice, and six-time Evening Standard award-winner Dame Judi Dench.

Sir Ian McKellen CREDIT: IAN WEST/PA WIRE

The full shortlists are as follows:

Best Actor

Simon Russell Beale, Temple, Donmar Warehouse
Kenneth Cranham, The Father, Ustinov Bath, Tricycle & Wyndham’s Theatre
Ralph Fiennes, Man and Superman, National Theatre’s Lyttelton
James McAvoy, The Ruling Class, Trafalgar Studios

Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress

Denise Gough, People, Places and Things, National Theatre’s Dorfman
Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51, Noël Coward Theatre
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nell Gwynn, Shakespeare’s Globe
Lia Williams, Oresteia, Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios

Best Play

The Motherf**ker With The Hat (Stephen Adly Guirgis), National Theatre’s Lyttelton
Hangmen (Martin McDonagh), Royal Court
The Father (Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton), Ustinov Bath, Tricycle & Wyndham’s Theatre

Milton Shulman Award for Best Director

Robert Icke, Oresteia, Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios
Jamie Lloyd, Assassins, Menier Chocolate Factory
Indhu Rubasingham, The Motherf**ker With The Hat, National Theatre’s Lyttelton

Best Design

Anna Fleischle, Hangmen, Royal Court
Tim Hatley, Temple, Donmar Warehouse
Robert Jones, City Of Angels, Donmar Warehouse

Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright

Molly Davies, God Bless The Child, Royal Court Upstairs
Alistair McDowall, Pomona, Orange Tree Theatre & National Theatre’s Temporary Space
Diana Nneka Atuona, Liberian Girl, Royal Court Upstairs (Peckham & Tottenham pop-up venues)

Emerging Talent Award in Partnership with Burberry

Calvin Demba, The Red Lion, National Theatre’s Dorfman
Patsy Ferran, Treasure Island, National Theatre’s Olivier
David Moorst, Violence And Son, Royal Court Upstairs

Best Musical Performance

Katie Brayben, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Aldwych Theatre Rosalie Craig, City Of Angels, Donmar Warehouse Killian Donnelly, Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre Imelda Staunton, Gypsy, Savoy Theatre

Newcomer in a Musical

Gemma Arterton, Made In Dagenham, Adelphi Theatre
Ellie Bamber, High Society, Old Vic
Natalie Dew, Bend It Like Beckham, Phoenix Theatre

Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical (voted for by the public)

Assassins, Menier Chocolate Factory
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Bend It Like Beckham, Phoenix Theatre
Gypsy, Savoy Theatre
Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre