Winners announced for 25th Annual WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS
The winners of the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, in association with AudienceView, were revealed at a ceremony last night (9 Feb) at The London Palladium, hosted by Gina and Mazz Murray.
The most awarded of the evening was Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express, taking home seven out of its nine nominations and winning Best Musical Revival, Best Professional Debut for Jeevan Braich, Best Set Design (Tim Hatley), Best Lighting Design (Howard Hudson), Best Video Design (Andrzej Goulding), Best Costume Design (Gabriella Slade), and Jackie Saundercock and Campbell Young Associates in the new category for Best Wigs, Hair and Make-up Design.
In the week it debuts in cinemas, Macbeth led the straight play categories with three wins – for David Tennant (Best Performer in a Play - making him the actor to win the most WhatsOnStage Awards with five wins), Best Play Revival, and Best Sound Design (Gareth Fry).
In the performance categories, Imelda Staunton won Best Performer in a Musical for Hello, Dolly!; with Melanie La Barrie winning Best Supporting Performer in a Musical category for her performance in Hadestown, which also wins Best Musical Direction/Supervision for Liam Robinson and Tarek Merchant. Winning Best Supporting Performer in a Play was Freema Agyeman for Romeo & Juliet; and Layton Williams won Best Takeover for his role of the Emcee in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.
The always fiercely fought Best New Musical Award went to Tina Fey’s Mean Girls, currently turning the Savoy Theatre pink; with Spirited Away winning Best New Play for its run at the London Coliseum. The much-loved SIX wins Best West End Show; with Best Director going to Emma Rice for The Buddha of Suburbia – the critically acclaimed Wise Children and RSC co-production; and Best Choreography to Christopher Wheeldon for MJ the Musical.
This year’s awards saw the inclusion of the Best Studio Production for the first time, which was won by Diary of a Gay Disaster at Underbelly Cowgate and Arcola Theatre; with Something Rotten! – in Concert winning Best Concert Event. Best Regional Production was Chichester Festival Theatre’s revival of Oliver! The Musical, which is currently running at the Gielgud Theatre. Best Casting Direction was won by Harry Blumenau and Sarah-Jane Price for Why Am I So Single?.
Completing the evening, legendary lighting designer Paule Constable was awarded the Services to UK Theatre Award for her much-heralded career.
In addition to seeing winners crowned across a range of categories, theatregoers also enjoyed a host of exclusive live performances from top stage talent, accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra in this one-night-only showcase, co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys. Performances included from 42 Balloons, Becoming Nancy, Mean Girls, MJ the Musical and The Artist.
Congrats to all of the winners and nominees 🤩🎭
