STR Theatre Book Prize

Michael Billington wins STR Theatre Book Prize with The State of the Nation

A large crowd in the Grand Saloon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane heard theatre veteran Sir Donald Sinden declare the winner of the Theatre Book Prize to be The Guardian's theatre critic Michael Billington for his book which surveys the relationship between theatre and society over the last sixty years. It seemed a very popular winner with those present and has, of course, already been greeted enthusiastically by both critics and readers.

This year the judges were actress Siân Phillips, Claire Allfree, both theatre and book reviewer for Metro, and Professor Jeffery Richards, short-listed for this prize a couple of years ago for his fine book on Henry Irving.

A mixture of writers, publishers, theatre people and academics heard the judges speak about their short-list choices and some other titles they that they particularly liked. Miss Phillips appeared on video, for she is just about to open on Broadway in a revival of Les Liasons Dangereuse.

This year there was a particularly large entry from publishers. The judges received more than eighty titles for their consideration.

The reception at Drury Lane was supported by Really Useful Theatres Group and the producers of The Lord of the Rings, which is currently playing at the theatre, and by dewynters.