The Producers wins London Theatre Awards

American funnyman Nathan Lane is celebrating after his starring role in musical The Producers helped the show score award successes on both sides of the Atlantic.

Lane, Matthew Broderick and their New York castmates won a host of gongs, including 12 Tonys, for their Broadway run of the Mel Brooks musical in 2002 and it was named Best Musical at last night's Evening Standard Theatre Awards in Britain.

Lane replaced Richard Dreyfuss as Max Bialystock in the West End production of The Producers only weeks before opening night after Dreyfuss admitted he was finding the dancing routines difficult to master.

Stage and screen legend Judi Dench was also honoured at the ceremony in London, receiving a special award for her outstanding contribution to British theatre.

Dench enthused: "I've only been given this award for 47 years of doing a job that I absolutely adore."

Other winners on the night included Richard Griffiths as Best Actor for The History Boys and Victoria Hamilton for Best Actress in Suddenly Last Summer.