Michael Billington was presented with a special poster of critics' reviews of him at the 2019 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards

Critics’ reviews of Michael Billington: “A long-running success”

Terri Paddock News

Honouring his nearly 50 years as the Guardian newspaper’s chief theatre critic, a role he stepped down from at the end of last year, the Critics’ Circle renamed the Best New Play Award in honour of former chair Michael Billington. And at this year’s ceremony, he was presented with a theatre poster of five-star “reviews” about his long-running success, written …

A view from the stalls on the theatre critic of critics: Michael Billington

Michael Darvell on Michael Billington: ‘He has demonstrated only too well his love of the stage in all its diverse forms’

Terri Paddock News

In addition to the critics’ quotes collected for the theatre poster gifted to the Guardian‘s revered Michael Billington, fellow Critics’ Circle member Michael Darvell submitted this longer contribution. Published in full here with permission. Michael Billington has been a constant personal guide for me to what was good, bad or indifferent in the theatre over a period of fifty years. …

Andrew Scott wins Best Actor at the 2019 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards for Present Laughter

PHOTOS: Critics’ Circle Awards 2019 – from the ceremony

Terri Paddock News

In addition to the critics and the winners, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards are attended by an invitation-only audience including cast members from the winning productions, producers, directors, publicists and other industry guests, along with our sponsors. Here’s a selection of photos – care of our house photographer Anthony Kelly – from the ceremony of the 2019 Awards, held on Tuesday 11 February 2020 at the West …

PHOTOS: Critics’ Circle Awards 2019 – From the press room

Terri Paddock News

In addition to the critics and the winners, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards are attended by an invitation-only audience including cast members from the winning productions, producers, directors, publicists and other industry guests, along with our sponsors. Here’s a selection of photos – care of our house photographer Peter Jones – from the press room of the 2019 Awards, held on Tuesday 11 …

PHOTOS: Critics’ Circle Awards 2019 – from the reception

Terri Paddock News

In addition to the critics and the winners, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards are attended by an invitation-only audience including cast members from the winning productions, producers, directors, publicists and other industry guests, along with our sponsors. Here’s a selection of photos – care of our house photographers Anthony Kelly and Peter Jones – from the reception of the 2019 Awards, held on Tuesday 11 …

Old Vic Theatre

Just announced! Full list of 2019 Critics’ Circle Awards winners and production photos

Terri Paddock News

Winners were announced today (Tuesday 11 February 202o) in the 30th annual Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards. The 2019 awards, covering the past calendar year in theatre, were presented in a ceremony hosted by the Critics’ Circle Drama Section’s outgoing Chair, Henry Hitchings, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London. The Old Vic Theatre was the big winner with three prizes, two of them …

Henry Hitchings presides over the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards for one year only

Criticism in flux: Chair Henry Hitchings on hosting this year’s Awards, then stepping down

Terri Paddock News

Tomorrow, 11 February 2020, Henry Hitchings hosts his first and last Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards as chair of the Drama Section. He strikes notes of melancholy but also celebration as he looks ahead to the new generation of critics. Recently I asked some friends to complete the sentence ‘Theatre critics are…’ Somehow stifling the urge to say ‘always wrong’, they …

Best New Play Award renamed after outgoing Guardian chief critic Michael Billington

Terri Paddock News

From the 2019 Awards, the prestigious prize for Best New Play will be named after former Critics’ Circle chair Michael Billington, honouring his record-breaking career at the Guardian. Billington announced last month that he would be stepping down as the newspaper’s chief critic, a role he has held since 1971. Commenting on the naming news, Billington said: “I am unbelievably chuffed, …

The 2019 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards takes place on 11 February 2020

Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards moves to second Tuesday in February in 2020

Terri Paddock News

Traditionally held on the last Tuesday in January, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2019, celebrating the best of this past year’s theatre, will take place at 1.00pm on Tuesday 11 February 2020 at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End, hosted by Critics’ Circle Drama Section Chairman Henry Hitchings. The ceremony is one of the best-loved in the …