Hollywood stars win stage awards

THE HOLLYWOOD stars Nicole Kidman and Kevin Spacey received the heartfelt gratitude of the theatre world yesterday for their part in reviving its fortunes in a film-dominated age.

Kidman's famously raunchy role in The Blue Room at the Donmar Warehouse won her a special prize at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her "unique contribution" to London theatre.

Spacey's acclaimed run in Arthur Miller's The Iceman Cometh at the Almeida Theatre in Islington brought him the best actor award. Both stars gained kudos from the London productions, which remained packed throughout, with audiences clamouring for tickets.

The judges said they "felt it hard ... to overstate the contribution made to live theatre ... when a star such as Ms Kidman not only takes the risk of doing live theatre, but does it so very well". Kidman and her co-star Iain Glen left Broadway previews of David Hare's play to attend the award ceremony.

Sinead Cusack was named best actress for Our Lady Of Sligo. The best play was Michael Frayn's Copenhagen and best musical was Trevor Nunn's revival of Oklahoma!.