Weisz, "Jerusalem" win London Standard theatre awards

LONDON (Reuters) - Rural English tale "Jerusalem" was named best play at the London Evening Standard Theater Awards on Monday, and Briton Rachel Weisz picked up the best actress prize for her role in "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Comic actor Lenny Henry scooped best newcomer for his theatrical debut in the title role of Shakespeare's "Othello," and "Enron," about the collapsed U.S. energy trading company, was honored when Rupert Goold was named best director.

Weisz's award was presented by Vanessa Redgrave, mother of the late Natasha Richardson who died from a skiing accident earlier this year and after whom the prize has been named.

"It is even more of an honor because this is the first year that the award has been named after the great and much, much-loved Natasha Richardson," Weisz, who is filming in Romania, said in a statement.

Mark Rylance garnered the best actor award for his performance as drug dealer and wastrel Johnny "Rooster" Byron, the lead in Jez Butterworth's "Jerusalem".

Following is the full list of winners:

- Best play: "Jerusalem" by Jez Butterworth

- Best actor: Mark Rylance in "Jerusalem"

- Best actress: Rachel Weisz in "A Streetcar Named Desire"

- Best director: Rupert Goold for "Enron"

- Best musical: "Hello Dolly"

- Best design: Mamoru Iriguchi for "Mincemeat"

- Most promising playwright: Alia Bano for "Shades"

- Outstanding newcomer: Lenny Henry in "Othello"

- Special award: Ian McKellen (for contribution to British theater)

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)