The big winners of the night this year were Ghost the Musical, One Man Two Guvnors and Matilda the Musical which picked up a total of four awards.

Presenting the evening was a witty comedy trio made up of Alan Davies, Sheridan Smith and Jenny Eclair. And of course, we used the opportunity to do a bit more celeb spotting from our seats up in the gods. From Tim Minchin to James Corden, Danny Boyle and even Joey the Horse, it was fantastic to spot all of the West End’s major talent all under one roof.

We were treated to 10 live amazing performances from a variety of shows in between the winners being announced. The stand-out performance came from Kerry Ellis and Brian May who performed Wicked‘s well known show tune Defying Gravity as the finale number.

Here’s the list of deserving winners. A big well done to all those who were nominated, won and performed. It was a terrific night.

The Best Actress in a Play
Vanessa Redgrave – Driving Miss Daisy

The Best Actor in a Play
James Corden – One Man, Two Guvnors

Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Catherine Tate – Season’s Greetings

Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Oliver Chris – One Man, Two Guvnors

The BABY GRAND Best Actress in a Musical
Amanda Holden – Shrek the Musical

The THEATRE TOKENS Best Actor in a Musical
Richard Fleeshman – Ghost the Musical

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Hannah Waddingham – The Wizard of Oz

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Nigel Harman – Shrek the Musical

The LES MISERABLES Best Ensemble Performance
London Road

The JO HUTCHISON INTERNATIONAL Best Solo Performance
Kerry Ellis – Anthems: The Concert

The SEATLIVE Best Takeover in a Role
Alfie Boe – Les Miserables

The NICK HERN BOOKS Best New Play
Three Days in May by Ben Brown

The EMG Best New Comedy
One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean

The SEE TICKET Best New Musical
Matilda the Musical by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly

The SAMUEL FRENCH Best Play Revival
Driving Miss Daisy

The RADISSON EDWARDIAN Best Musical Revival
The Wizard of Oz

Best Shakespearean Production
Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe)

The OAKLEY CAPITAL Best Director
Danny Boyle – Frankenstein

Best Set Designer
Rob Howell – Ghost the Musical & Matilda the Musical

The WHITE LIGHT Best Lighting Designer
Hugh Vanstone – Ghost the Musical

Best Choreographer
Peter Darling – Matilda the Musical

The DEWYNTERS London Newcomer of the Year
Tim Minchin – Matilda the Musical

The TIME OUT Best Off-West End Production
The Riots

The LUCKINGS Best Regional Production
Sweeney Todd

The EQUITY Best West End Show
War Horse

The AKA Theatre Event of the Year
David Tennant & Catherine Tate reuniting on stage in Much Ado About Nothing

For all of you who are eager to see the film and play, Show and Stay are giving you the opportunity to do just that. For every Woman in Black theatre break purchased, we will give away a free Cineworld Cinema ticket for every adult on the booking.

Fancy bagging some free cinema tickets and enjoying a memorable London getaway? All you need to do is buy your Woman in Black theatre break before Friday 9th March 2012.

Don’t miss out – book your tickets and hotel stay from only £49 per person.

Terms and conditions apply:
Only one cinema ticket per every adult on each booking made to see The Woman in Black will be given.
Offer only valid for people over 18 years old.
Cinema tickets may only be used in selected Cineworld Cinemas in the UK. This excludes 3D films.
Cinema tickets expire on 30/06/2013.
Offer is only valid for bookings made before Friday 9th March 2012.
Cinema tickets will be posted 2nd class to the address provided within 2 working days of making your Show and Stay booking.
Offer only valid for bookings made from Monday 20th February 2012.
No cash alternative will be given.
We take no responsibility for lost cinema tickets.
Travel to the cinema is NOT included.

Yet there’s such a rich selection of shows that choosing the one to suit you can be tricky, so to help with your decision we’ve picked our five favourite family productions to warm you up this February.

The Lion King

Kids go wild for this stunning adaptation of the Disney animated classic, featuring a fantastically vivid array of jungle creatures brought to life through sparkling costumes, inventive puppetry and more. Families likely already know the story of Simba’s adventures, and this only adds to the charm and wonder of seeing all your favourites up on stage, from Timon and Pumbaa’s comic relief to Simba and Nala’s fated romance. The spectrum of incredible colours creates the atmosphere of the baking African savannah, while the jaw-dropping effects leave you in no doubt that the giraffes are wandering, the hyenas are snarling and the lions are roaring. All this is combined with Elton John’s inspirational soundtrack, with stunning renditions of Circle of Life and Hakuna Matata sure to keep the kids grinning from ear to ear.

The Lion King has been running at The Lyceum Theatre for 12 years and the show just gets better with age, remaining a tremendously fresh treat for families.

The Wizard of Oz

Tap your heels together and journey to the magical land of Oz, where kids will encounter the Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow on an enchanting trek along the yellow brick road. Keeping the beloved songs families adore, from Over the Rainbow to Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead, Andrew Lloyd Webber also adds his own masterful stamp to the spectacular story with an array of joyful new numbers. Kids will love witnessing this classic masterpiece play out before their very eyes as the unlikely group thwarts the Wicked Witch of the West and uncovers the great Oz’s secrets.

Dorothy and the gang have been delighting families at the London Palladium since March 2011, and after a 34-year absence at the famous theatre Russell Grant has joined the cast as the Wizard, bringing his off-the-wall energy to the already boisterous show.

Matilda The Musical

Roald Dahl’s beloved story about a super-smart schoolgirl who takes on her horrid headmistress is a gleefully wicked tale of triumph against the odds. Kids make up much of the brilliant cast and their choreography is sublime, while plucky heroine Matilda is brilliantly played by a rotation of four young actresses who bring out her passion for books and special telekinetic gift. The beastly Miss Trunchbull is a grotesque baddie who children will love to hiss, and her mean-spirited punishments make for unforgettable set pieces – watch out when she starts throwing a girl by the pigtails! Tim Minchin’s lively, swiftly-paced showstoppers are overflowing with words, a perfect treat for kids as they try to keep up.

Ingeniously staged at the Cambridge Theatre, Matilda The Musical is a bright, extraordinary show filled with delicious dark comedy and unbridled silliness. Children and adults alike will enjoy seeing the show’s self-absorbed grown-ups get their timely comeuppance, and with a stellar cast including Paul Kaye and a show-stealing Bertie Carvell, there’s no more unique family-friendly night in the West End.

Shrek The Musical

Join everyone’s favourite lovable green ogre and his loudmouthed sidekick Donkey as they journey through a fairytale turned wackily upside down! The pretty Princess Fiona, lofty Lord Farquaad and dazzling Dragon all make their appearance on stage to recreate the enchanting comedy families know and love, while the brand new songs offer spellbinding slices of musical magic to bring Shrek’s fantastical world to life. Families won’t be able to resist the show’s huge, blindingly bright sets or the brilliant array of hilarious characters, making for a remarkable evening in the West End.

Shrek The Musical boasts a star-studded cast including Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh and continues to run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where it has been bringing off-kilter joy and laughter to families since May 2011.

War Horse

If a musical doesn’t take your fancy, there’s this acclaimed adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 children’s novel, now also adapted into an astonishing film by Steven Spielberg. When a young man’s horse is cruelly sold off and shipped away to help out in the Great War, he sets off on a moving quest to find and reclaim his friend.

The play is renowned for its incredible puppetry that allows audiences young and old to feel as if they’re watching a real life horse take to the stage. Despite addressing tough subjects like the experiences of animals and soldiers in war, the play is a touching and simple story suitable for the whole family to enjoy together. War Horse is one of London’s most hugely popular productions, playing to packed houses at the New London Theatre since early 2009.

Book one of these family favourites with Show and Stay this half term and enjoy our best price promise. You’ll also have the choice of making your package that extra bit special by adding a tasty meal or visit to a top London attraction.

Veteran lead Gaumond will play his final performance in the Queen-inspired musical on Saturday 18th February. Cast members continuing their roles through the show’s 10th anniversary include Over The Rainbow runner-up Lauren Samuels as Scaramouche and X-Factor contestant Brenda Edwards as corporation head Killer Queen.

We Will Rock You has also confirmed that Ben Elton and Arlene Phillips’ popular production will run throughout the London Olympics, maintaining its regular schedule during July and August.

Book your ticket and hotel package to see We Will Rock You with Show and Stay from £95pp.

The competition closed on 31st January and we’ve picked our two winners. First prize is a West End theatre break for two adults to see the show of their choice, complete with an overnight stay at a London hotel, while the runner-up receives a copy of Michael Morpurgo’s powerful War Horse novel, signed by Steven Spielberg himself at the film’s London premiere.

We’ll be announcing the winners shortly, so don’t forget to check back regularly to Show and Stay.

Russell Grant is no stranger to the West End, having starred in Tom Brown’s Schooldays in 1971, but his upcoming turn in The Wizard of Oz marks the culmination of an unstoppable comeback.

Since opening at the London Palladium The Wizard of Oz has starred Danielle Hope, winner of BBC’s Over The Rainbow, who also leaves the yellow brick road in February to be replaced as Dorothy by runner-up Sophie Evans.

Book your ticket and hotel package to see The Wizard of Oz with Show and Stay from £70pp.

Carley Stenson made the role her own from July 2011 and will continue for the rest of the show’s run, alongside Stephen Ashfield as affable attorney Emmett and veteran Peter Davison who has played Professor Callahan since opening night.

Jerry Mitchell’s production will be much missed in the West End but the musical continues its UK tour and is set to open in Sydney later this year.

There’s still time to see this sensational musical comedy before it closes, so book your Legally Blonde ticket and hotel package with Show and Stay from £67pp.

A reworking of the Ealing comedy classic by prolific comedy writer Graham Linehan (Father Ted, The IT Crowd) and starring some of Britain’s best contemporary comedy actors; with so many glittering components, it’s no surprise that there are high hopes for this farcical caper comedy.

Linehan’s adaptation of the film delivers a humorously erratic robbery plot executed with bags of buffoonery and charming whimsy. The stellar cast are ceaselessly entertaining as they plan out their hair-brained heist; an unlikely group of cons masquerading as a chamber music quintet, who pretend to practice their Boccherini in the boarding rooms of a good-natured old lady. The performance is peppered with some glimmers of pure comedy gold, from a magnificently idiotic argument about ‘tea-time’ to a hilarious episode in a cupboard. Die-hard Linehan fans be warned: the recurring slapstick at times borders on the banal — there’s an incident with a blackboard that is more ‘Carry On’ than ‘Father Ted’, but this is broad comedy that will appeal to your Nan as well as younger audiences.

The performance is well-balanced; the first half is a jovial comedy jaunt that brings to life the curious, if slightly cliched characters and their maladjusted relationships with one another. Peter Capaldi’s Professor is wonderfully unctuous, heading up the frenetic tomfoolery in a whirlwind of animated gestures and quick-witted asides, albeit with a rather questionable accent. Marcia Warren is instantly likable as the sweet-natured and unwitting Mrs Wilberforce, who remains oblivious to the gang’s dastardly antics until the end of act one. Ben Miller is brilliant as the sinister Romanian mobster with a fear of old ladies, and James Fleet provides plenty of laughs as the cross-dressing Major with a nervous disposition. Additional comedy mastery comes from Stephen Wight’s pill-popping cockney wheeler-dealer Harry, and pantomime favourite Clive Rowe adds a touch of bumbling silliness as the slow-witted ex-boxer One Round. The first act culminates in a marvellous moment of pure absurdity, as the hapless crooks are forced into an impromptu music recital which looks certain to blow their cover. The second half descends quite rapidly into comedy-noir that at times verges on the ridiculous, but this is balanced with some incredible special-effects that facilitate a credible-looking knife throw and an improbable impalement.

Michael Taylor’s beautifully-lopsided, revolving set provides multiple aspects of the ramshackle house where all the action takes place. The robbery itself is acted out entirely with remote control vehicles, which is a gleefully screwball idea that very nearly works, but falls short by rendering the details too confusing to follow effectively. All in all, this is a cheerfully satisfying show that ticks all the right boxes in terms of comic entertainment. With sufficient alterations to the original, the stage adaptation does no disservice to the classic film, and Ealing fans will revel in this frenetic re-imagining.

Ticket and hotel packages are available from £118.50 from show-and-stay.co.uk.

A West End theatre break is pretty much the perfect Valentine’s present.

They’re glamorous and romantic without being showy or over-the-top, they’re not too expensive, but not so cheap that you look miserly when you give them and with so many shows to choose from, West End theatre breaks are suitable for pretty much anybody.

The only real challenge when booking your Valentine’s break is selecting the perfect show. Luckily, we’re here to help.

For romantics

If you’re booking a treat for one of life’s romantics, the West End has plenty of heart-warming love stories for you to choose from. How about one of the following?
Ghost The Musical
A moving screen-to-stage transfer of the hit 1990 movie boasting some of the most impressive special effects to be seen in the West End. Expect a faithful interpretation of the film with some amazing new songs thrown in.

Dreamboats and Petticoats
A toe-tapping jukebox musical about a pair of young musicians competing to win a songwriting competition and the affections of the same beautiful girl. Good, clean fun and plenty of hits from the 1950s and early 1960s.

Crazy for You
A stunning old-fashioned musical featuring Gershwin hits such as Embraceable You and I Got Rhythm. A charming throwback to the golden age of musicals.

For big kids

Everyone knows that growing up is massively over-rated. If you’re shopping for your very own Peter (or Patricia) Pan, try one of these shows.
Matilda The Musical
This critically-acclaimed musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s must-read children’s novel never fails to wow audiences. With music by Australian comic Tim Minchin and a truly sinister incarnation of Ms Trunchbull played by Bertie Carvel, Matilda The Musical is a great choice.

Shrek The Musical
Everyone’s favourite green-skinned, swamp-dwelling ogre has finally come to the West End. This side-splitting stage adaptation of the hit Dreamworks animated movie has a star-studded cast and a fun, lighthearted auditorium atmosphere, perfect if you don’t want to take Valentine’s TOO seriously.

The Lion King
The Lion King is less a musical, more a West End phenomenon. The show is packed with amazing performances of some of Disney’s most unforgettable songs and incredible costumes. The vibrant cast really bring this screen-to-stage adaptation to life.

For ‘blokey’ blokes

There are shows in the West End that are perfect for even the most hardened sports-watching, pub-loving blokes out there. If your partner doesn’t ‘do’ musicals then consider one of the following.
Rock of Ages
This hard-rocking jukebox musical features amazing performances of some of the biggest 1980s rock tracks ever recorded. The music of Journey, Whitesnake and Pet Benatar ensure that there’s not a sentimental showtune in sight. Quite simply, it’s the best musical in town for people who “don’t get musicals”.

War Horse
War Horse is absolutely guaranteed to amaze anyone who sees it. The combination of jaw-droppingly realistic horse puppets and a genuinely moving story make for truly compelling viewing. Make sure you see the play before the new Hollywood movie adaptation.

We Will Rock You
For an electric auditorium atmosphere and impassioned performances of iconic songs, it’s hard to beat Queen jukebox musical, We Will Rock You. The show is full of the rock legends’ greatest hits and features a wacky story by Ben Elton. If your chap is a Queen fan, there’s no better show in the world.

For ‘girly’ girls

If you’re shopping for a lady who you might consider to be a traditional ‘girly’ girl, a trip to see one of these glittering West End extravaganzas would make a great gift.
Legally Blonde the Musical
If your special lady is a fan of pink things, sparkly things, pretty things, fluffy things and/or tiny dogs, this is the show for you. With a love story, catchy songs and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, Legally Blonde the Musical is non-stop girly fun.

Mamma Mia!
It was inevitable really, wasn’t it? If you’ve ever overheard your lady singing Dancing Queen or Fernando in the shower, chances are that she’ll enjoy this sensational compilation of Abba hits. In fact, pretty much anyone will enjoy Mamma Mia!, it’s that good.

Chicago
This glamorous, sassy tale of murder and vaudeville is always a hit with West End audiences. Saucy costumes, a cast which invariably features a celebrity and singalong showtunes like All That Jazz combine to create one of Theatreland’s best shows.

The safe bets

If the person who you’re shopping for doesn’t fit into any of the above categories, try one of our ‘safe bet’ shows. These are the West End classics that everyone should see at least once in their lives .
Blood Brothers
There’s a very good reason to explain why Blood Brothers has been running in the West End for so long: It’s a gritty, powerful show with a wide appeal. It’s a tragic tale, but we all enjoy a sad story every once in a while.

Billy Elliot
A heart-warming story of a boy following his creams with a score by Elton John, what’s not to like about that? Billy Elliot has proved phenomenally popular wherever it opens, why not see what all the fuss is about?

Les Miserables
Ask someone to name a West End musical and chances are that Les Mis will come up. It’s a big, bold show that’s offers everything that a good West End show should.

The darkly comedic play revolves around Charlie, a crushingly depressed 30-something whose plans to depart the mortal coil are destroyed when his peace is shattered by the arrival of a ragtag group of oddballs.

An escort, a drug-dealing fireman and an eccentric British real estate agent all find themselves thrown together in Charlie’s beach house, despite Charlie just wanting to get rid of them so he can end it all.

Myles – best-known for her role as Gwen Cooper in Doctor Who spinoff, Torchwood – is to play Emma the real estate agent. The casting marks Myles’ first major stage role since 2005, when she appeared in Henry VI opposite Michael Gambon at the National Theatre.

Speaking about her new role, Myles said: “I’m delighted to have been cast as the character of Emma in such a well anticipated and funny play. Having concentrated on TV work recently I’m excited to be returning to the stage and I’m very much looking forward to working with Zach and Peter DuBois.”