Nominees announced for THE STAGE DEBUT AWARDS 2023
Photo credit: David Monteith Hodge (The Stage Debut Awards 2022)
The Stage Debut Awards have revealed the much-anticipated nominees for its annual awards ceremony celebrating the best emerging theatre talent in the UK.
This year’s 45 nominations across 8 categories celebrate an array of talented individuals from performers to composers and designers through to writers, lyricists and directors.
For Best Performer in a Play (Sponsored by Cabbells), the nominees are: Bukky Bakray for Sleepova at Bush Theatre, London; Rita Bernard-Shaw for Trouble in Butetown at Donmar Warehouse, London; Natalie Blair for Spring and Port Wine at Octagon Theatre, Bolton; Rhian Blundell for Let the Right One In at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; Elan Davies for Imrie at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff; Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran for The Importance of Being Earnest at Leeds Playhouse and touring; Daniel Rock for Richard the Second at Omnibus Theatre, London and touring; and Isobel Thom for I, Joan at Shakespeare's Globe, London.
For Best Performer in a Musical (Sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line), the nominees are: Liv Andrusier for Ride at Charing Cross Theatre, London; Josh Barnett for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London; Arcangelo Ciulla for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London; Carla Dixon-Hernandez for Mrs Doubtfire at Shaftesbury Theatre, London; Drew Hylton for Unexpected Twist: An Oliver Twisted Tale at Royal and Derngate, Northampton and touring; Jessica Lee for Miss Saigon at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield; and Maisie Smith for Strictly Ballroom the Musical, Churchill Theatre, Bromley and touring.
For Best Director: (Sponsored by Arts Council England), the nominees are: Daniel Blake for Bones at Park Theatre, London; Indiana Lown-Collins for The Solid Life of Sugar Water at Orange Tree Theatre, London; Denzel Westley-Sanderson for The Importance of Being Earnest at Leeds Playhouse and touring; and Emily Ling Williams for A Playlist for the Revolution at Bush Theatre, London.
For Best Designer (Sponsored by Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL), the nominees are: Carly Brownbridge (set & costume) for Agatha at Theatre503, London; Peter Butler (set & costume) for The Shape of Things at Park Theatre, London; and Andrea Scott (video) for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre, London.
For Best Writer (Sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions), the nominees are: Sasha Hails for Possession at Arcola Theatre, London; Lenny Henry for August in England at Bush Theatre, London; Anoushka Lucas for Elephant at Bush Theatre, London; Jennifer Lunn for Es & Flo at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff; Richard Mylan for Sorter at Swansea Grand Theatre; and Zak Zarafshan for The Boys Are Kissing at Theatre503, London.
For Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (Sponsored by Crossroads Live), the nominees are: Gerel Falconer for Alice in Wonderland at Brixton House, London; Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre, London; Jenny Moore for Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London; and Lilly Pollard for Sugar Coat at Southwark Playhouse, London
For Best West End Debut Performer, the nominees are: Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace; Emily Fairn for Brokeback Mountain at @sohoplace; Mike Faist for Brokeback Mountain at @sohoplace; Kyle Ramar Freeman for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre; Gabriel Howell for The Unfriend at Criterion Theatre; Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Phoenix Theatre; Zachary Quinto for Best of Enemies at Noël Coward Theatre; and Samira Wiley for Blues for an Alabama Sky at National Theatre.
For Best Creative West End Debut (Sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment), the nominees are: Joe Bunker (Musical Director) for Operation Mincemeat at Fortune Theatre; SpitLip (David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts) for Operation Mincemeat at Fortune Theatre; Tingying Dong for The Crucible at National Theatre and Gielgud Theatre; Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre; Scott Le Crass for Rose at Ambassadors Theatre; and Rob Madge for My Son's a Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre.
Commenting on his ambitions for this year’s Debut Awards, The Stage editor Alistair Smith, said: “We have another superb shortlist this year, full of extraordinarily talented newcomers. It's particularly thrilling to see the huge geographical spread of the work recognised - with three nominees from Wales, including our first ever nomination for a Welsh language performance - as well as high profile commercial shows from the West End and beyond.
"I look forward to celebrating with our nominees and our fabulous host Divina De Campo on the night."
Votes for The Best West End Debut Performer can be cast online here. This award celebrates a performer’s first time in London’s West End and voting closes at midday on 17 September.
The winners will be announced at The Stage Debut Awards 7th awards ceremony, hosted by legendary drag artist, performer and singer Divina De Campo, on 1 October at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London in association with headline sponsor Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG).
The line-up of guest presenters and performers will be revealed in September.