A 2017 functionality of Hamlet took an odd turn when Fleabag actor Andrew Scott accidentally fired a prop gun at the actress playing his mother.

The prop gun did not hearth projectiles and co-star Juliet Stevenson was unharmed – but Scott mentioned he was even now still left “shaken” and “upset” by the mishap.

“For some explanation a single night the gun just went off in Juliet’s confront,” mentioned Scott. “I couldn’t think it transpired.”

When he apologised afterwards though, the actress mentioned she experienced “cherished” the error.

“Didn’t it include a thing?” Scott recalled her indicating, prompting laughter from the audience at this year’s Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.

“This is a girl who was shot in the confront,” he marvelled, citing the incident as “an case in point of authentic[ly] brave performing”.

Scott’s admission arrived as he was named greatest actor for his part in Noel Coward’s Present Laughter at London’s Old Vic final 12 months.

The Irish actor played Hamlet in the Almeida Theatre manufacturing in the funds three yrs ago, with Stevenson playing his mother Gertrude.

Guns have been utilised instead of daggers in the manufacturing of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, which was afterwards recorded for BBC Two.

Stevenson acquired her individual accolade at Tuesday’s lunchtime celebration, winning greatest actress for her part in one more Almeida manufacturing, The Medical professional.

She shared the award with Sharon D Clarke, who was recognised for her perform in the Youthful Vic’s new staging of Death of a Salesman.

Jamie Lloyd was named greatest director for three London productions – Betrayal at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Evita at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park and Cyrano de Bergerac at the Playhouse.

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As he collected his award, the director paid tribute to Michael Billington, who acquired his individual tribute in recognition of his in the vicinity of 50 %-century as The Guardian’s theatre critic.

The greatest new play award, recently re-named in Billington’s honour, went to A Extremely High priced Poison, Lucy Prebble’s drama about the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Occur From Away won greatest musical, although Sam Tutty was named most promising newcomer for playing the title part in Dear Evan Hansen.

Scott’s earn arrived just hours soon after he was nominated for the greatest movie star prize at this year’s British LGBT Awards.

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