Comedy opera named best musical

Jerry Springer The Opera has been named the year's best musical.

The show, which gives the trashy, expletive-riddled TV show the full-blown operatic treatment, took the title at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

It was written by former stand-up Stewart Lee and composer Richard Thomas, and stars Dempsey & Makepeace's Michael Brandon as the TV host.

National Theatre boss Nicholas Hytner said: "We've been very lucky to be at the receiving end of a great burst of creativity."

And Lee added:"Due to opposition from Pudsey the Bear and the Duke of Edinburgh we were unable to take our place alongside other West End shows on Children In Need and The Royal Variety Performance, so we hope The Evening Standard Award helps to make the public aware of Jerry Springer The Opera."

The opera has recently transferred from the National to the Cambridge Theatre in the West End. Click to buy tickets.

Other awards, handed out at a ceremony hosted by Rory Bremner, went to Michael Sheen, Lord Attenborough and Michael Frayn's play Democracy.

Review: Jerry Springer The Opera

Published: 24 Nov 2003