As an American citizen, he will be able to wear the insignia of the award, but will not be called Sir Kevin. In a press statement, he has commented, "I am honoured and humbled by such recognition from the Queen. I must thank the British public for being so supportive of my efforts on behalf of the Old Vic. I feel like an adopted son."

Also newly knighted is Lenny Henry, the stage and TV comedian who has recently forged a busy career on the theatrical acting stage, with appearances in the West End in Fences and at the National Theatre in The Comedy of Errors. He is about to open in a revival of Will Russell's Educating Rita at Chichester's Minerva Theatre.



Actors Chiwetel Ejiofor (currently appearing at the National Theatre in Everyman) and Benedict Cumberbatch (soon to appear in the title role of Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre) are both awarded CBEs (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

CBEs are also awarded to Chichester Festival Theatre's Jonathan Church and Alan Finch, respectively artistic director and executive director, who are stepping down from their posts after the 2016 season. Church is setting up his own independent theatre company, and Finch is joining Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.

Jonathan Kent, former co-artistic director of the Almeida Theatre who is currently represented in the West End by his Chichester production of Gypsy, has also been awarded a CBE. His Broadway directorial credits include the transfers of the Almeida productions of Medea and Hamlet, as well as productions of Man of La Mancha, Faith Healer and Long Day's Journey into Night. 

There are OBE's for Oscar- and Tony-winner Eddie Redmayne ("The Theory of Everything"), who began his career on the London stage and has appeared on Broadway in Red), Michael Ball (soon to be appear in Mack and Mabel at Chichester Festival Theatre), Lesley Manville (who recently reprised her Olivier award winning performance in Ghosts at BAM) and Martin Clunes.