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Life Of Pi wins Best New Play at WhatsOnStage Awards
The production transfers to London's Wyndham's Theatre from June 2020.
The stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s revered novel Life Of Pi has claimed the Best New Play accolade at this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards, beating the likes of The Son and The Doctor in the fan-voted category.
Transferring from its acclaimed run at the Sheffield Crucible, Life Of Pi will see London’s Wyndham’s Theatre transformed to accommodate the vast staging.
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Feature: Inside the WhatsOnStage Awards Best New Play nominees
The WhatsOnStage Awards also celebrate big wins for the likes of West End musical & Juliet, which claims victory in six of the thirteen categories it has been nominated in, including Best Actress in a Musical for Miriam-Teak Lee, and Dear Evan Hansen in both the Best Actor in a Musical and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical categories.
Come From Away, the tale of those diverted mid-air following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, claims the coveted Best New Musical gong.
The Best Musical Revival award goes to Mary Poppins, currently showing at London’s Prince Edward Theatre, with Betrayal – written by Harold Pinter and starring Tom Hiddleston, Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox in its recent West End production – taking home Best Play Revival.
Life Of Pi tells the tale of Piscine, who after a tragic accident is left stranded on a lifeboat with an adult bengal tiger for company.
The adventure was adapted for the big screen by Ang Lee in 2012, going on to receive eleven Academy Award nominations and taking home four, including Best Director and Best Cinematography.
The stage adaptation is now set to continue the story’s triumph, with five star reviews rolling in for its Sheffield run. The play has been described as unmissable by The Guardian, and The Observer agrees, stating: “Everything about this production is amazing.”
Life Of Pi arrives in London’s West End from Sunday 28 June 2020.
WhatsOnStage Awards 2020 – the complete list of winners
Best Actor In A Play Sponsored by Edwardian Hotels
Andrew Scott – Present Laughter at The Old Vic
Best Actress In A Play Sponsored by Tonic Theatre
Claire Foy – Lungs at The Old Vic
Best Supporting Actor In A Play
Hammed Animashaun – A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Bridge Theatre
Best Supporting Actress In A Play
Sophie Thompson – Present Laughter at The Old Vic
Best Actor In A Musical Sponsored by Dewynters
Sam Tutty – Dear Evan Hansen at Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actress In A Musical Sponsored by Café de Paris
Miriam-Teak Lee – & Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre
Best Supporting Actor In A Musical Sponsored by The Umbrella Rooms
Jack Loxton – Dear Evan Hansen at Noël Coward Theatre
Best Supporting Actress In A Musical Sponsored by Newman Displays
Rachel Tucker – Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre
Best New Play Sponsored by Ticketmaster
Life of Pi – Lolita Chakrabarti at Sheffield Theatres
Best Play Revival Sponsored by JHI Marketing
Betrayal at Harold Pinter Theatre
Best New Musical Sponsored by h Club London
Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre
Best Musical Revival Sponsored by Concord Theatricals
Mary Poppins at Prince Edward Theatre
Best Off-West End Production Sponsored by Les Misérables
Falsettos at The Other Palace
Best Regional Production Sponsored by MTI Europe
The Color Purple at A Curve Leicester and Birmingham Hippodrome co-production
Best Choreography
Kelly Devine – Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre
Best Costume Design
Paloma Young – & Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre
Best Direction Sponsored by LOVEtheatre
Jamie Lloyd – Evita at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Best Graphic Direction Sponsored by Hexagon Print
& Juliet – Dewynters
Best Lighting Design Sponsored by White Light
Howard Hudson – & Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre
Best Musical Direction
Ian Eisendrath, Alan Berry and team – Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre
Best Set Design Sponsored by Sine Digital
Soutra Gilmour – & Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre
Best Sound Design Sponsored by Stage Sound Services
Gareth Owen – Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre
Best Video Design Sponsored by PRG
Andrzej Goulding – & Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre
Tickets for Best New Play winner Life Of Pi are available now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.
