Motherfucker with the Hat, starring Ricardo Chavira and directed by Indhu Rubasingham was awarded the Best Play award at the prestigious Evening Standard Theatre Awards, which took place at the Old Vic Theatre on Sunday 22nd November 2015.

A roll call of stars including Nicole Kidman, Adrian Lester, Ruth Wilson, Anne-Marie Duff and Dominic West stepped out to celebrate British theatre at the annual London Evening Standard Theatre Awards in partnership with The Ivy.

The ceremony – presented by Rob Brydon and co-hosted by Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen.

Best Play

The title of Stephen Adly Guirgis’s play has provoked plenty of discussion. But those two coy asterisks can’t conceal the rowdy vitality of this New York story of poor judgments and blistering insults. Guirgis focuses on the struggles of Jackie, a former drug dealer just out of prison and trying hard to get his life back on track. The profound flaws of everyone he knows combine to make this a challenging process.

Guirgis’s writing has a lovely vibrancy, and he has serious things to say about infidelity, honour, friendship and addiction. In Indhu Rubasingham’s impressive production at the National Theatre, this expletive-laden drama proved touching, morally charged and ultimately hopeful.

(Henry Hitchings)