Phoebe Waller-Bridge Unapologetically Calls Out Industry Sexism at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards

For all the drama lovers in London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane at last night’s Evening Standard Theatre Awards, there were many excellent moments to savor. Cate Blanchett presented Best Actress to Glenda Jackson, 81—who waved down her standing ovation before delivering a magisterially withering pop at the politics of the newspaper underwriting her prize. Accepting the Best Director award for his work on The Ferryman (which scooped Best Play too), Sam Mendes dedicated it to his 2-month-old daughter Phoebe; the audience “awwed” as one. Arinzé Kene’s performance of “A Change Is Gonna Come” left Dame Shirley Bassey—and many of the rest of us—lost in eyes-closed rapture. And keep your eyes open for Tom Glynn-Carney: Last night’s winner of the Emerging Talent award follows a long line of stars, including Eddie Redmayne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Eve Best, and Andrew Garfield, who was himself named Best Actor last night for his role in Angels in America at the National Theatre.