Patsy Ferran wins Critics’ Circle theatre award for 11th-hour Streetcar role

Lizzie Annis wins best newcomer and Arthur Hughes wins best Shakesperean performance as actors with disabilities take two prizes

Patsy Ferran has been named best actress at the Critics' Circle theatre awards for her performance as A Streetcar Named Desire's Blanche Dubois - a role that she took over as an 11th-hour replacement.

Lydia Wilson had been cast in the production at the Almeida theatre in London in 2022 but when she withdrew for health reasons, Ferran was parachuted in with just days to prepare. The play, starring Paul Mescal as Stanley and Anjana Vasan as Stella, has transferred to the West End where it runs until May. Ferran was nominated for best actress at the Olivier awards, where Rebecca Frecknall's production of the Tennessee Williams classic was named best revival earlier this month.