In an outstanding year for London theatre, our judging panel have picked out the most remarkable performances and productions. The choices reflect the explosion of young talent emerging alongside theatre grandees who are at the top of their game... more
It says a good deal about the level to which the debate about defence spending has sunk that Labour backbenchers yesterday heckled David Cameron, when he referred to generals' complaining about provision for the Army, by calling them "Tories"... more
After a slightly uncertain opening, Nicholas Hytner’s production of London Assurance is wickedly entertaining, skewering several kinds of pretentiousness.... more
Dancing hippies in Hair, Domingo’s return and Lily and Dizzee sharing a stage — the best way to get through the dark months is to book something to look forward to... more
Fiona Shaw’s interpretation in The Waste Land, is bold, sharp and detailed, contemplative yet also feverishly dramatic, just occasionally tipping over into pealing hyperbole... more
The audience rose in a standing ovation as Fiona Shaw announced Mark Rylance, with whom she had studied at Rada, as best actor for his lead role in Jerusalem... more
Former winners Patrick Stewart, Fiona Shaw and Simon Russell Beale will be handing out the honours to new victors at the 55th London Evening Standard Theatre Awards next week... more
Mother Courage and her Children is a competent, confident, if ultimately underwhelming reading of one of the trickiest masterpieces of 20th-century theatre... more
Ben Hur! is brought back to life at the O2, Coldplay, Jay-Z and Girls Aloud perform at Wembley and see the first night of Mother Courage and her Children ... more
To date, Rachel Hurd-Wood's bodice has been ripped by Ben Whishaw, Ben Barnes and James Purefoy, and she's still only 19. Hettie Harvey meets costume drama's newest discovery...
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Richard Hickox has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 60, four days before he was due to conduct a new production at English National Opera... more
Evening Standard art critic Brian Sewell has questioned the point of the National Portrait Gallery. Here its director Sandy Nairne fights back.... more
In some ways, Andrew Motion has been the perfect Poet Laureate. As a poet, Motion has never shown the tiniest inkling of talent at any point in his career - and this lucky chance has freed him to perform the public duties of the laureateship without anybody worrying that he is betraying his genius... more
She's a 35-year-old actress whose good looks have won her many admirers and a previous career as a model. However it seems Saffron Burrows has gone one giant step too far in her attempt to achieve fuller lips and ended up with possibly the world's worst trout pout. It was hard not notice the British-born beauty's 'bee-stung lips' as she attended the premiere of her latest movie, The Bank Job, in New York
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A dazzling year of performances on the London stage will be honoured at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2007. Here, for the first time, is the longlist.
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A cast including Christian Slater, Ronni Ancona, Rob Brydon, and Fiona Shaw are to take up the challenge of creating and presenting six plays in 24 hours to raise money for the Old Vic.... more
The National's director Nicholas Hytner has attacked London's theatre critics for their alleged misogyny. The Standard's man in the stalls could not disagree more.... more
Nicholas de Jongh thought Fiona Shaw would be perfect for the role of Winnie in Beckett's Happy Days but her performance at the Lyttelton has sadly proved him wrong.... more
Sound check: German industrial metal band Rammstein literally play with fire in their live performances - and now they are about to unleash their singeing spectacle on London. Watch out for your eyebrows
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