News: Finito Education to Host Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards at the National Theatre

Finito World

This Thursday, Finito will host one of the most prestigious events in the theatrical calendar, as the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards take place at the National Theatre.

Now in their 37th year, the awards are distinctive in being judged entirely by professional critics, offering a uniquely authoritative perspective on the year in theatre. This year also sees an evolution in the voting process, with longlists and shortlists introduced for the first time—widening the field and recognising a broader range of talent across the industry.

Among the most nominated productions are Ivo van Hove’s All My Sons and the musical revivals Into the Woods and Evita, each receiving five nominations. Close behind are Paddington The Musical, Stereophonic, and Much Ado About Nothing, all of which have attracted strong recognition.

The National Theatre itself features prominently, with multiple nominations across several productions—reinforcing its central role in the UK’s cultural landscape.

For Finito, the evening marks an important moment. Having long supported the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer, the organisation steps into the role of principal sponsor in its tenth anniversary year. The partnership reflects Finito’s belief in nurturing talent at every stage and supporting pathways into meaningful, fulfilling careers.

As the theatre world gathers on the South Bank, the awards promise not only to celebrate established excellence, but to shine a light on the next generation shaping the future of the stage.

THE NOMINATIONS IN FULL:

THE MICHAEL BILLINGTON AWARD FOR BEST NEW PLAY

David Adjmi – Stereophonic (Duke of York’s Theatre)

Alice Birch – Romans A Novel (Almeida Theatre)

Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian – Kenrex (The Other Palace)

James Graham – Punch (from a book by Jacob Dunne) (Young Vic / Apollo Theatre)

David Ireland – The Fifth Step (@sohoplace)

Suzie Miller – Inter Alia (National Theatre)

Joe Murphy & Joe Robertson – Kyoto (@sohoplace)

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY OR MUSICAL

All My Sons (Wyndham’s Theatre)

Brigadoon (Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park)

Evita (London Palladium)

Intimate Apparel (Donmar Warehouse)

Into The Woods (Bridge Theatre)

Indian Ink (Hampstead Theatre)

The Weir (Harold Pinter Theatre)

THE PETER HEPPLE AWARD FOR BEST NEW MUSICAL

Cable Street (Southwark Playhouse)

Here We Are (National Theatre)

Paddington The Musical (Savoy Theatre)

Shucked (Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park)

Sing Street (Lyric Hammersmith)

Titanique (Criterion Theatre)

THE 5RB AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR

Daniel Aukin – Stereophonic (Duke of York’s Theatre)

Jordan Fein – Into The Woods (Bridge Theatre)

Lynette Linton – Intimate Apparel (Donmar Warehouse)

Jamie Lloyd – Evita (London Palladium) and Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)

Luke Sheppard – Paddington The Musical (Savoy Theatre)

Ivo Van Hove – All My Sons (Wyndham’s Theatre)

BEST ENSEMBLE OR CAST

1536 (Almeida Theatre)

Here We Are (National Theatre)

Into The Woods (Bridge Theatre)

Stereophonic (Duke of York’s Theatre)

The Weir (Harold Pinter Theatre)

When We Are Married (Donmar Warehouse)

MOST PROMISING PLAYWRIGHT

Jamie Armitage – A Ghost in Your Ear (Hampstead Theatre) and An Interrogation (Hampstead Theatre)

Sophia Chetin-Leuner – Porn Play (Royal Court)

Hannah Doran – The Meat Kings! (Inc) of Brooklyn Heights (Park Theatre)

Sophia Griffin – After Sunday (Bush Theatre)

Katherine Moar – Ragdoll (Jermyn Street Theatre)

Ava Pickett – 1536 (Almeida Theatre)

Shaan Sahota – The Estate (National Theatre)

BEST ACTOR

Adeel Akhtar – The Estate (National Theatre)

Bryan Cranston – All My Sons (Wyndham’s Theatre)

Paapa Essiedu – All My Sons (Wyndham’s Theatre)

Brendan Gleeson – The Weir (Harold Pinter Theatre)

Sean Hayes – Goodnight, Oscar (Barbican Theatre)

James Hameed & Arti Shah – Paddington (Savoy Theatre)

David Shields – Punch (Young Vic / Apollo Theatre)

THE NLP AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS

Kate Fleetwood – Into The Woods (Bridge Theatre)

Julie Hesmondhalgh – Punch (Young Vic / Apollo Theatre)

Marianne Jean-Baptiste – All My Sons (Wyndham’s Theatr

Rosamund Pike – Inter Alia (National Theatre)

Nicola Walker – The Unbelievers (Royal Court)

Samira Wiley – Intimate Apparel (Donmar Warehouse)

Rachel Zegler – Evita (The London Palladium)

BEST DESIGNER

Miriam Buether – Kyoto (@sohoplace)

The Land of the Living (National Theatre)

Lizzie Clachan – The Lady From The Sea (The Bridge)

Soutra Gilmour – Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Evita (The London Palladium)

Tom Pye – Paddington The Musical (Savoy Theatre)

Tom Scutt – Into The Woods (Bridge Theatre)

David Zinn – Stereophonic (Duke of York’s) and Here We Are (National Theatre)

THE TREWIN AWARD FOR BEST SHAKESPEAREAN PERFORMANCE

Hayley Atwell – Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)

Jonathan Bailey – Richard II (Bridge Theatre)

David Harewood – Othello (Theatre Royal Haymarket)

Tom Hiddleston – Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)

Francesca Mills – Hamlet (National Theatre)

Samuel West – Twelfth Night (Barbican)

THE JACK TINKER AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER (SPONSORED BY FINITO)

Isobel Akuwudike – The Lady From The Sea (The Bridge)

Ruby Ashbourne-Serkis – Indian Ink (Hampstead Theatre)

Asa Butterfield – Second Best (Riverside Studios)

Kate Phillips – The Weir (Harold Pinter Theatre)

Diego Andres Rodriguez – Evita (The London Palladium)

Jasper Talbot – Inter Alia (National Theatre)

Artie Wilkinson-Hunt – The Land of the Living (National Theatre)