Nick Hytner was named as the latest recipient of the Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, the organisation's highest honour, at a celebration lunch at the National Liberal Club in London on 23 September.
Drama section chair Mark Shenton said, "while Nick Hytner’s name was proposed by the drama section, following his outstanding 12-year tenure as director of the National Theatre, he has also done award-winning work in opera and Film. He is also a keen fan and supporter of dance, is a patron of Dance UK, and has brought the work of the likes of Lloyd Newson and Akram Khan onto the stage of the National.
"During his tenure at the National, Nick Hytner and his executive director Nick Starr brought in several major innovations, including the ground-breaking NT Live which has pushed NT productions around the world, as well as the introducing the Travelex sponsored reduced price ticket scheme, to make theatre more affordable to all.
"Now the two Nicks—or NHS as someone wittily dubbed them in reference to their initials—are working on changing the way commercial theatre operates, too, with their recently announced plans to help take its centre of gravity outside of the West End and relocate it to the thriving South Bank where they are opening a brand-new, purpose-built, 900-seater theatre near Tower Bridge."
On accepting the award, Hytner said, "by rights I should be accepting it in partnership with Nick Starr, and I am was delighted he is here today. I hope that some time in the future—maybe 25 years from now—we might get one jointly."
The Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts is voted for by more than 500 members across six sections: music, dance, film, drama, visual arts and literary criticism. Each section proposes a nominee from its field of the arts and then a final vote is held of all members.
Last year it was presented to the potter Grayson Perry. Previous winners include Richard Eyre, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Tom Stoppard, Alan Bennett, Ken Loach and Stephen Sondheim.