Evening Standard Theatre Awards longlist announced

The longlist for this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards has been announced.  Nominees include:

THE NATASHA RICHARDSON AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS

Nancy Carroll (AFTER THE DANCE - NT Lyttelton), Keira Knightley (THE MISANTHROPE - Comedy) and Anna Maxwell Martin (MEASURE FOR MEASURE - Almeida).

BEST PLAY

THE BIG FELLAH by Richard Bean, THE HABIT OF ART by Alan Bennett and BEAUTIFUL BURNOUT by Bryony Lavery.

BEST DIRECTOR

Howard Davies (THE WHITE GUARD - NT Lyttelton), Rupert Goold (ROMEO AND JULIET - RSC Stratford / EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON - NT Cottesloe) and Nicholas Hytner (THE HABIT OF ART / LONDON ASSURANCE / HAMLET - all NT Olivier).

THE CHARLES WINTOUR AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING PLAYWRIGHT

Anya Reiss (SPUR OF THE MOMENT - Royal Court) and Penelope Skinner (EIGENGRAU - Bush).

THE MILTON SHULMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER

Laura Dos Santos (EDUCATING RITA - Menier Chocolate Factory and transfer for Trafalgar Studios) and Shannon Tarbet (SPUR OF THE MOMENT - Royal Court).

The shortlists will be published a week before the winners are announced, at a ceremony at the Savoy on 28th November.