The trophies take the form of a strongly modelled statuette, a somewhat Grecian figure representing Drama, designed by Frank Dobson RA, a former Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art.
Three of the awards are given in the names of former Evening Standard notables:
Arts editor Sydney Edwards (who conceived the awards, and died suddenly in July 1979) for the Best Director category.
Editor Charles Wintour (who as deputy-editor in 1955, launched the awards after a nod from the then proprietor, Lord Beaverbrook') for Most Promising Playwright.
Long-serving theatre critic Milton Shulman (for several years a key member of the judging panel) for the Outstanding Newcomer award.
In 2009 The Special Award was given in the name of Evgeny Lebedev, executive director of the Evening Standard.
In 1980, noting the first use of the Special Award category, Shulman observed that "In 1968 the judges felt that Alan Bennett's work Forty Years On did not fit either the category of a Play or a Musical. But since they liked it so much they gave him the coveted Dobson statuette as a Special Award. In a quarter of a century, only in 1968 had no-one been designated as 'Promising' although it could conceivably be argued that Alan Bennett's Special Award was a reasonable substitute for this category."
The Special Awards process came to a climax in 2004 when, in the 50th anniversary year, the category was used to signal peaks of accomplishment by the National Theatre (an institution), Harold Pinter (a playwright) and Dame Judi Dench (a performer).
The Patricia Rothermere Award, presented biennially from 1999 to 2005 recognised those who had given outstanding support to young actors. There was also a three-year scholarship award for a drama student. Lady Rothermere is the wife of Lord Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, former owners of the Evening Standard.
Commencing in 2007, the award for Best Musical was renamed The Ned Sherrin Award, in memory of the entertainer and raconteur, for many years the witty compere of the Evening Standard Awards ceremony.
The Best Actress award is now named in tribute to Natasha Richardson, who died after a skiing accident in Quebec in March 2009.
The 2007 Awards lunchtime ceremony took place at the Savoy Hotel in London on 27 November 2007. The judges' assessments of the winners are online.
The 2008 winners were announced in a ceremony at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 24 November 2008. The judges' assessments are onlnie.
The 2009 winners were announced in a ceremony, again at the Royal Opera House, on Monday, 23 November 2009. The judges' assessments are onlnie.
The 2010 award winners were announced at a celebratory evening ceremony on Thursday 28 November 2010 in the newly refurbished Savoy Hotel. The judges' assessments are onlnie.
The 2011 short list is online.
2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012 – 2011 – 2010
2009 – 2008 – 2007 – 2006 – 2005 – 2004 – 2003 – 2002 – 2001 – 2000
1999 – 1998 – 1997 – 1996 – 1995 – 1994 – 1993 – 1992 – 1991 – 1990
1989 – 1988 – 1987 – 1986 – 1985 – 1984 – 1983 – 1982 – 1981 – 1980
2015 – James McAvoy for The Ruling Class
2014 – Tom Hiddleston for Coriolanus
2013 – Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear for Othello
2012 – Simon Russell Beale for Collaborators
2011 – Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller for Frankenstein
2010 – Rory Kinnear for Hamlet and Measure for Measure
2009 – Mark Rylance for Jerusalem
2008 – Chiwetel Ejiofor for Othello
2007 – Patrick Stewart for Macbeth
2006 – Rufus Sewell for Rock 'n' Roll
2005 – Simon Russell Beale for The Philanthropist
2004 – Richard Griffiths for The History Boys
2003 – Michael Sheen for Caligula
2002 – Simon Russell Beale for Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night
2001 – Alex Jennings for The Winter's Tale and The Relapse
2000 – Simon Russell Beale for Hamlet
1999 – Stephen Dillane for The Real Thing
1998 – Kevin Spacey for The Iceman Cometh
1997 – Ian Holm for King Lear
1996 – Paul Scofield for John Gabriel Borkman
1995 – Michael Gambon for Volpone
1994 – Tom Courtenay for Moscow Stations
1993 – Ian Holm for Moonlight
1992 – Nigel Hawthorne for The Madness of King George III
1991 – John Wood for King Lear
1990 – Richard Harris for Henry IV
1989 – Ian McKellen for Othello
1988 – Eric Porter for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1987 – Michael Gambon for A View from the Bridge
1986 – Albert Finney for Orphans
1985 – Antony Sher for Richard III
1984 – Ian McKellen for Coriolanus
1983 – Derek Jacobi for Much Ado About Nothing
1982 – Alec McCowen for The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H.
1981 – Alan Howard for Good
1980 – Tom Courtenay for The Dresser
1979 – Warren Mitchell for Death of a Salesman
1978 – Alan Howard for Coriolanus
1977 – Donald Sinden for King Lear
1976 – Albert Finney for Tamburlaine the Great
1975 – John Gielgud for No Man's Land
1974 – John Wood for Travesties
1973 – Alec McCowen for The Misanthrope
1972 – Laurence Olivier for Long Day's Journey Into Night
1971 – Alan Bates for Butley
1970 – John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson for Home
1969 – Nicol Williamson for Hamlet
1968 – Alec McCowen for Hadrian VII
1967 – Laurence Olivier for Dance of Death
1966 – Albert Finney for A Flea in Her Ear
1965 – Ian Holm for Henry V
1964 – Nicol Williamson for Inadmissible Evidence
1963 – Michael Redgrave for Uncle Vanya
1962 – Paul Scofield for King Lear
1961 – Christopher Plummer for Becket
1960 – Alec Guinness for Ross, and Rex Harrison for Platonov
*1959 – Eric Porter for Rosmersholm
1958 – Michael Redgrave for A Touch of the Sun
1957 – Laurence Olivier for The Entertainer
1956 – Paul Scofield for The Power and the Glory
1955 – Richard Burton for Henry V
Renamed in 2009 as The Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress
2015 – Nicole Kidman for Photograph 51
2014 – Gillian Anderson for A Streetcar Named Desire
2013 – Helen Mirren for The Audience
2012 – Hattie Morahan for A Doll's House
2011 – Sheridan Smith for Flare Path
2010 – Nancy Carroll for After the Dance
2009 – Rachel Weisz for A Streetcar Named Desire
2008 – Penelope Wilton and Margaret Tyzack for The Chalk Garden
2007 – Anne-Marie Duff for Saint Joan
2006 – Kathleen Turner for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
2005 – Harriet Walter for Mary Stuart
2004 – Victoria Hamilton for Suddenly, Last Summer
2003 – Sandy McDade for Iron
2002 – Clare Higgins for Vincent in Brixton
2001 – Fiona Shaw for Medea
2000 – Paola Dionisotti for Further Than the Furthest Thing
1999 – Janie Dee for Comic Potential
1998 – Sinéad Cusack for Our Lady of Sligo
1997 – Eileen Atkins for A Delicate Balance
1996 – Diana Rigg for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Mother Courage
1995 – Geraldine McEwan for The Way of the World
1994 – Maggie Smith for Three Tall Women
1993 – Fiona Shaw for Machinal
1992 – Diana Rigg for Medea
1991 – Vanessa Redgrave for When She Danced (Martin Sherman)
1990 – Josette Simon for After the Fall
1989 – Felicity Kendal for Much Ado About Nothing and Ivanov
1988 – Lindsay Duncan for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1987 – Judi Dench for Antony and Cleopatra
1986 – Julia McKenzie for Woman in Mind
1985 – Vanessa Redgrave for The Seagull
1984 – Maggie Smith for The Way of the World
1983 – Geraldine McEwan for The Rivals
1982 – Judi Dench for A Kind of Alaska and The Importance of Being Earnest
1981 – Maggie Smith for Virginia
1980 – Judi Dench for Juno and the Paycock and Frances de la Tour for Duet for One
1979 – Vanessa Redgrave for The Lady from the Sea
1978 – Kate Nelligan for Plenty
1977 – Alison Steadman for Abigail's Party
1976 – Janet Suzman for Three Sisters
1975 – Dorothy Tutin for A Month in the Country
1974 – Claire Bloom for A Streetcar Named Desire
1973 – Janet Suzman for Hello and Goodbye
1972 – Rachel Roberts for Alpha Beta
1971 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Loves of Viorne
1970 – Maggie Smith for Hedda Gabler
1969 – Rosemary Harris for Plaza Suite
1968 – Jill Bennett for Time Present
1967 – Lila Kedrova for The Cherry Orchard
1966 – Irene Worth for A Song at Twilight
1965 – Eileen Atkins for The Killing of Sister George
1964 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Wars of the Roses
1963 – Joan Plowright for Saint Joan
1962 – Maggie Smith for The Private Ear and The Public Eye
1961 – Vanessa Redgrave for As You Like It
1960 – Dorothy Tutin for Twelfth Night
1959 – Flora Robson for The Aspern Papers
1958 – Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies for Long Day's Journey Into Night
1957 – Brenda De Banzie for The Entertainer
1956 – Peggy Ashcroft for The Chalk Garden
1955 – Siobhán McKenna for Saint Joan
2014 – The Scottsboro Boys
2013 – Merrily We Roll Along
2012 – Sweeney Todd
2011 – Matilda
2010 – Passion
2009 – Hello, Dolly!
2008 – Street Scene
2007 – Hairspray
2006 – Caroline, or Change
2005 – Billy Elliot
2004 – The Producers
2003 – Jerry Springer: The Opera
2002 – The Full Monty
2001 – Kiss Me, Kate (a revival)
2000 – The Car Man
1999 – Spend Spend Spend
1998 – Oklahoma!
1997 – Lady in the Dark
1996 – Passion
1995 – Mack and Mabel
1994 – No award
1993 – City of Angels
1992 – Kiss of the Spider Woman
1991 – Carmen Jones
1990 – Into the Woods
1989 – Miss Saigon
1988 – No award
1987 – Follies
1986 – The Phantom of the Opera
1985 – Are You Lonesome Tonight by Alan Bleasdale
1984 – 42nd Street
1983 – Little Shop of Horrors
1982 – Windy City by Dick Vosburgh and Tony Macaulay
1981 – Cats
1980 – Sweeney Todd
1979 – Songbook by Monty Norman and Julian More
1978 – Annie
1977 – Elvis
1976 – A Chorus Line
1975 – A Little Night Music
1974 – John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert by Willy Russell
1973 – The Rocky Horror Show
1972 – Applause
1971 – No award
1970 – No award
1969 – Promises, Promises
1968 – Cabaret
1967 – Sweet Charity
1966 – Funny Girl
1965 – No award
1964 – Little Me
1963 – Oh, What a Lovely War!
1962 – No award
1961 – Beyond the Fringe
1960 – Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be by Frank Norman and Lionel Bart
1959 – Make Me an Offer by Wolf Mankowitz, Monty Norman and David Heneker
1958 – West Side Story
1957 – No award
1956 – Cranks by John Cranko and John Addison
1955 – The Pajama Game
Also in 1955 Salad Days was given the Award for Most Enjoyable Show.
2015 – Anna Fleischle for Hangmen
2014 – Es Devlin for American Psycho
2013 – Bob Crowley for People and The Audience and Once
2012 – Soutra Gilmour for Inadmissible Evidence and Antigone
2011 – Adam Cork for Anna Christie and King Lear
2010 – Miriam Buether for Earthquakes in London and Sucker Punch
2009 – Mamoru Iriguchi for Mincemeat at Cordy House in Shoreditch
2008 – Neil Murray for Brief Encounter
2007 – Rae Smith and the Handspring Puppet Company for War Horse
2006 – Timothy Bird (projections) and David Farley (set and costumes) for Sunday in the Park With George
2005 – Bob Crowley for Mary Poppins
2004 – Ian MacNeil, Jean Kalman and Paul Arditti for Festen
2003 – Christopher Oram for Caligula
2002 – Ian MacNeil for Plasticine and A Number
2001 – Paul Brown for Platonov and The Tempest
2000 – Bunny Christie for Baby Doll
1999 – Rob Howell for Richard III, Troilus and Cressida and Vassa
1998 – Richard Hoover for Not about Nightingales (First award in this category)
2001 – Feelgood by Alistair Beaton
2000 – Stones in His Pocket by Marie Jones
1997 – Closer by Patrick Marber
1996 – 'Art' by Yasmina Reza
1995 – Dealer's Choice by Patrick Marber
1994 – My Night with Reg by Kevin Elyot
1993 – Jamais Vu by Ken Campbell
1992 – The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright
1991 – Kvetch by Steven Berkoff
1990 – Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn and Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse
1989 – Henceforward... by Alan Ayckbourn
1988 – Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer
1987 – Serious Money by Caryl Churchill
1986 – A Month of Sundays by Bob Larbey
1985 – A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn
1984 – Stepping Out by Richard Harris
1983 – Tales from Hollywood by Christopher Hampton
1982 – Noises Off by Michael Frayn
1981 – Goose Pimples by Mike Leigh
1980 – Make and Break by Michael Frayn
1979 – A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine by Dick Vosburgh and Frank Lazarus
1978 – Gloo-Joo by Michael Hastings
1977 – Privates on Parade by Peter Nichols
1976 – The Thoughts of Chairman Alf by Johnny Speight
1975 – Alphabetical Order by Michael Frayn
1974 – Travesties by Tom Stoppard
1973 – Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
1972 – Veterans by Charles Wood
1971 – Getting On by Alan Bennett
1970 – The Philanthropist by Christopher Hampton (First award in this category)
1955 – Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
2015 – Vanessa Redgrave
2014 – Kate Bush For her remarkable theatre-based comeback live shows Before the Dawn
2013 – Kevin Spacey For his contribution to British theatre
2012 – David Hare
2010 – Daniel Kaluuya for Sucker Punch
2008 – Royal Shakespeare Company for its epic cycle of history plays
2006 – Frost/Nixon
2014 – Jeremy Herrin for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies
2013 – Richard Eyre for Ghosts
2012 – Nicholas Hytner for Timon of Athens
2011 – Mike Leigh for Grief
2010 – Howard Davies for The White Guard and All My Sons
2009 – Rupert Goold for Enron
2008 – Michael Grandage for Ivanov and Othello and The Chalk Garden
2007 – Rupert Goold for Macbeth
2006 – Marianne Elliott for Pillars of the Community
2005 – Michael Grandage for Don Carlos and Grand Hotel
2004 – Rufus Norris for Festen
2003 – Polly Teale for After Mrs Rochester
2002 – Sam Mendes for Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night
2001 – Deborah Warner for Medea
2000 – Howard Davies for All My Sons
1999 – Trevor Nunn for Summerfolk and The Merchant of Venice
1996 – Katie Mitchell for The Phoenician Women
1995 – Matthew Warchus for Volpone and Henry V
1994 – Sean Mathias for Les Parents terribles and Design for Living
1993 – Terry Hands for Tamburlaine The Great
1992 – Stephen Daldry for An Inspector Calls
1991 – Trevor Nunn for Timon of Athens
1990 – Richard Jones for Into The Woods and The Illusion
1989 – Nicholas Hytner for Miss Saigon and Ghetto
1988 – Deborah Warner for Titus Andronicus
1987 – Peter Hall for Antony and Cleopatra
1986 – Nuria Espert for The House of Bernarda Alba
1985 – Bill Bryden for The Mysteries
1984 – Christopher Morahan for Wild Honey
1983 – Yuri Lyubimov for Crime and Punishment
1982 – Richard Eyre for Guys and Dolls
1981 – Peter Hall for The Oresteia
1980 – Trevor Nunn and John Caird for The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
1979 – Trevor Nunn for Once in a Lifetime (The first award in this category)
2014 – Beth Steel for Wonderland
2013 – Rachel De-lahay for Routes
2012 – Lolita Chakrabarti for Red Velvet
2011 – Penelope Skinner for The Village Bike
2010 – Anya Reiss for Spur of the Moment
2009 – Alia Bano for Shades
2008 – Tarell Alvin McCraney for In the Red and Brown Water and The Brothers Size
2007 – Polly Stenham for That Face
2006 – Nina Raine for Rabbit
2005 – Nell Leyshon for Comfort Me With Apples
2004 – No award
2003 – Kwame Kwei-Armah for Elmira's Kitchen
2002 – Vassily Sigarev for Plasticine
2001 – Roy Williams for Clubland
2000 – Gary Mitchell for The Force of Change
1999 – Rebecca Gilman for The Glory of Living
1998 – Mark Ravenhill for Handbag
1997 – Conor McPherson for The Weir
1996 – Martin McDonagh for The Beauty Queen of Leenane
1995 – Jez Butterworth for Mojo
1994 – Jonathan Harvey for Babies
1993 – Brad Fraser for Unidentified Human Remains and Simon Donald for The Life of Stuff
1992 – Philip Ridley for The Fastest Clock in the Universe
1991 – Rona Munro for Bold Girls
1990 – Clare McIntyre for My Heart's a Suitcase
1989 – Stephen Jeffreys for Valued Friends
1988 – Timberlake Wertenbaker for Our Country's Good
1987 – Stephen Bill for Curtains
1986 – Frank McGuinness for Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
1985 – Billy Hamon for Grafters
1984 – Sharman MacDonald for When I Was a Girl, I Used to Scream and Shout
1983 – Phil Young for Crystal Clear
1982 – Terry Johnson for Insignificance
1981 – Nell Dunn for Steaming
1980 – Paul Kember for Not Quite Jerusalem
1979 – Richard Harris for Outside Edge and Victoria Wood for Talent
1978 – John Byrne for The Slab Boys and Brian Clark for Whose Life Is It Anyway?
1977 – Mary O'Malley for Once a Catholic and James Robson for Factory Birds
1976 – Stewart Parker for Spokesong
1975 – Stephen Poliakoff for Hitting Town
1974 – Mustapha Matura for Play Mas
1973 – David Williamson for The Removalists
1972 – Wilson John Haire for Within Two Shadows
1971 – E A Whitehead for The Foursoe
1970 – David Hare for Slag and Heathcote Williams for AC/DC
1969 – Peter Barnes for The Ruling Class
1968 – No award
1967 – Tom Stoppard for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and David Storey for The Restoration of Arnold Middleton
1966 – David Halliwell for Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs
1965 – David Mercer for Ride a Cock Horse
1964 – No award
1963 – Charles Wood for Cockade and James Saunders for Next Time I'll Sing To You
1962 – David Rudkin for Afore Night Come
1961 – Gwyn Thomas for The Keep (1962) and Henry Livings for Stop It Whoever You Are
1960 – J P Donleavy for Fairy Tales of New York
1959 – John Arden for Serjeant Musgrave's Dance and Arnold Wesker for Roots
1958 – Peter Shaffer for Five Finger Exercise
1957 – Robert Bolt for Flowering Cherry
1956 – John Osborne for Look Back in Anger
1955 – No award
The Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer
2014 – Laura Jane Matthewson for Dogfight
2013 – Seth Numrich for Sweet Bird of Youth
2012 – Matthew Tennyson for Making Noise Quietly
2011 – Kyle Soller for The Faith Machine, The Glass Menagerie and Government Inspector
2010 – Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd for You Me Bum Bum Train
2009 – Lenny Henry for Othello
2008 – Ella Smith for Fat Pig
2007 – Stephen Wight for Dealer's Choice and Don Juan in Soho
2006 – Andrew Garfield for Beautiful Thing; Burn/Chatroom/Citizenship; The Overwhelming
2005 – Menier Chocolate Factory: David Babani and Danielle Tarento
2004 – Eddie Redmayne for The Goat: or, Who Is Sylvia?
2003 – Tom Hardy for Blood and In Arabia We'd All Be Kings
2002 – Jake Gyllenhaal for This Is Our Youth
2001 – Rufus Norris for Afore Night Come
2000 – Chiwetel Ejiofor for Blue/Orange
1999 – Eve Best for Tis Pity She's a Whore (First award in this category)
1998 – Jonathan Kent and Ian McDiarmid of the Almeida Theatre (Only award in this category)
2005 – Penelope Keith. And Hannah Croft scholarship award
2003 – Richard Attenborough for exceptional support for young actors. And Elif Yesil scholarship award
2001 – Prunella Scales. And Cassandre Joseph scholarship award
1999 – Simon Callow for Outstanding services to the theatre. And Martin Rea scholarship award
1997 – Judi Dench (Outstanding services to the theatre) and Mark Rice-Oxley (scholarship award)
1993 – Matthew Rhys (scholarship award)
2014 – Tom Stoppard
2013 – Andrew Lloyd Webber
2012 – Nicholas Hytner
2011 – Kristin Scott Thomas
2010 – Michael Gambon
2009 – Ian McKellen for his contribution to British theatre
2008 – Kevin Spacey for bringing new life to the Old Vic
2007 – Stephen Tompkins for innovative theatre architecture
2006 – The Tricycle Theatre for its pioneering work in political theatre
2005 – The Royal Court Theatre
2004 – 50th Anniversary Special Award: Harold Pinter (playwright), National Theatre (institution) and Dame Judi Dench (performer)
2003 – Max Stafford-Clark
2002 – Shakespeare's Globe
1998 – Nicole Kidman for The Blue Room
1989 – Stephen Sondheim
1988 – National Theatre 1963–1988: 25 Years of Achievement
1984 – Graeae Theatre Company sharing with The Theatre of Comedy Company
1982 – John Gielgud
1981 – The Royal Shakespeare Company
1980 – Sir Ralph Richardson
1979 – 25th Anniversary Special Award: Sir Peter Hall
1977 – Hampstead Theatre
1976 – Peggy Ashcroft
1975 – Ben Travers
1973 – Laurence Olivier
1972 – Peter Daubeny (Impresario and organizer of the annual World Theatre Season, Aldwych Theatre 1967–1973)
1968 – Alan Bennett for Forty Years On (First award in this category)
2013 – Maggie Smith
2012 – Judi Dench
2011 – Sir Tom Stoppard
2010 – Sir Peter Hall
2014 – Here Lies Love
2013 – BBC Proms 2013
2012 – Danny Boyle and his teams for the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics
2011 – Pet Shop Boys and Javier de Frutos for The Most Incredible Thing
2013 – Cush Jumbo for Josephine and I
2016 - Glenn Close for Sunset Boulevard
2015 – Imelda Staunton for Gypsy: A Musical Fable
2013 – Rosalie Craig for The Light Princess
2013 – David Walliams for A Midsummer Night's Dream
2014 – Skylight