National Theatre receives four 2004 Evening Standard Awards

The National Theatre of Great Britain received four 2004 Evening Standard Awards, it was announced today in a ceremony at the National's Olivier Theatre.

The National's production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys won the award for Best Play, in a category that also included Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Silvia? and the National's production of Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman. It was the second year in a row that a National production won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, with Michael Frayn's Democracy receiving the top honor in 2003.

Richard Griffiths won the award for Best Actor for his performance in The History Boys, in a category that also included Douglas Hodge for Dumb Show and Stanley Townsend for Shining City, both seen at the Royal Court.

The Charles Wintour Bursary Award for New Playwriting went to Owen McCafferty for Scenes from the Big Picture, which was produced at the National's Cottesloe Theatre last year.

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Evening Standard Awards, the National also received a special award as an institution for the memorable contributions they have made to theatre during the past half-century.

Additional winners of the 2004 Evening Standard Awards are available at the link below: http://www.whatsonstage.com/dl/page.php?page=greenroom&story=E8821102940375&PHPSESSID=018ac202168c28e59102dbe1801c8442