The winners of this year's Critics' Circle Theatre Awards were announced today (27 January), with Nick Hern Books authors Mike Bartlett and Antony Sher both taking home prizes.

King Charles III by Mike Bartlett was named Best New Play. Set in the aftermath of Elizabeth II's death, Mike Bartlett's provocative drama explores the people beneath their crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family.

Drawing on the style and structure of a Shakespearean history play, and written largely in highly accomplished blank verse, King Charles III opened in 2014 at London’s Almeida Theatre, directed by Rupert Goold, before transferring to the West End. To celebrate its rapturous reception NHB has published a special clothbound hardback edition of the play, featuring a Foreword by the broadcaster Jon Snow, an essay on the original production and Afterword by the author, as well as the full script, which is available here.

Antony Sher's performance as Falstaff in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Henry IV Parts I and II was given the prize for Best Shakespearean Performance. Antony Sher's process of researching, rehearsing and performing one of Shakespeare’s best-known and most popular characters is the focus of his forthcoming book Year of the Fat Knight: The Falstaff Diaries. Splendidly supplemented by his own paintings and sketches, Year of the Fat Knight is published on 7 May.

Also successful at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards was Gypsy by Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and Jule Styne, which won the Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical. The acclaimed Chichester Festival production transfers to the Savoy Theatre, London, from 28 March 2015.

The winners of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards were revealed yesterday (19 January), with two Nick Hern Books plays taking the prize in both of the Best Play categories.

James I, part of Rona Munro's The James Plays, was named Best Play. Co-produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and National Theatre, London, this vividly imagined trilogy, which brings to life three generations of Stewart kings who ruled Scotland in the tumultuous fifteenth century, premiered at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, in August as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. It later transferred to the National Theatre, London, in September. The trilogy was also named Best New Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2014.

Best Play for Young Audiences was awarded to Girls Like That by Evan Placey. The play, which explores the pressures on young people today in the wake of advancing technology, was first premiered by youth theatre groups in Birmingham, Leeds and Plymouth. It was later staged at the Unicorn Theatre, London, in November 2014. The Guardian called it an 'eye-opening, often uncomfortably honest play... deserves to be widely seen by teenage audiences. And by their parents too.'

There was also success for NHB author Stefan Golaszewski, who won Best Situation Comedy for the final series of Him & Her.

Writers' Guild Awards winners - Special Offer

To celebrate their success, we're offering a special deal on The James Plays, winner of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Best Play, and Girls Like That, winner of the Best Play for Young Audiences.

Get the scripts at 50% off when you use the code WG15 at checkout. This offer is valid until 28 February.

The nominees for the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards 2014 were announced today (4 December), with Nick Hern Books authors Howard Brenton, Rona Munro and Evan Placey all shortlisted in playwriting categories.

Doctor Scroggy's War by Howard Brenton is nominated for Best Play. First seen at Shakespeare's Globe, London, in September 2014, this epic, hilarious and moving play takes a sideways look at the First World War. It was described by the Telegraph as 'compelling... [a] big, warm, perceptive play'.

Also shortlisted in the Best Play category is James I, part of Rona Munro's The James Plays. Co-produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, this vividly imagined trilogy, which brings to life three generations of Stewart kings who ruled Scotland in the tumultuous fifteenth century, premiered at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, in August as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. It later transferred to the National Theatre, London, in September. The trilogy was named Best New Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2014.

Evan Placey's Girls Like That, which explores of the pressures on young people today in the wake of advancing technology, is nominated for Best Play for Young Audiences. First premiered by youth theatre groups in Birmingham, Leeds and Plymouth, the play was staged at the Unicorn Theatre, London, in November 2014. The Guardian called it an 'eye-opening, often uncomfortably honest play... deserves to be widely seen by teenage audiences. And by their parents too.' Author Mike Kenny is also nominated in the same category for his play The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

A number of other NHB authors are shortlisted for their work in other mediums at the Awards. Stefan Golaszewski is nominated in the TV Situation Comedy category for Him and Her, Lee Mattinson is shorlisted for Radio Drama for Mapgie, while Stephen Beresford is nominated for Best First Screenplay for Pride.

The winners of the Writers' Guild Awards will be announced at a ceremony on 19 January.