The Stage Debut Awards have announced the nominees for its annual awards ceremony, celebrating the finest emerging talent in UK theatre. This year’s 44 nominations across eight categories celebrate a diverse array of individuals from across the industry making their professional or West End debuts.
Best Performer in a Play (sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide):
● Deborah Ayorinde for Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White at the Lyric Hammersmith, London
● Imogen Elliott for The Voice of the Turtle at Jermyn Street Theatre, London
● Kasper Hilton-Hille for That Face at the Orange Tree Theatre, London
● Gareth John for Housemates at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
● Louis McCartney for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at Phoenix Theatre, London
● Nadia Parkes for The House Party at Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester
● Taylor Russell for The Effect at the National Theatre, London
● Ellie-May Sheridan for London Tide at the National Theatre, London
Best Performer in a Musical (sponsored by Michael Harrison Entertainment):
● Scarlett Ayers for The Verge of Forever at the Other Palace, London
● Jeevan Braich for Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London
● Laura Dawkes for Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
● Myles Frost for MJ the Musical at Prince Edward Theatre, London
● Joshua Ginsberg for Cable Street at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London
● Grace Hodgett Young for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, London
Best Director (sponsored by Arts Council England):
● Ellie Coote for 42 Balloons at the Lowry, Manchester
● Sophie Drake for The Bleeding Tree at the Southwark Playhouse Borough, London
● Emily Foran for Little Women at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Best Designer (sponsored by Preevue):
● Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom (video) for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, London
● Ellie Koslowsky (set) for Vegetables at A secret location, London
● Nadya Sayapina (set), Anastasiya Ryabova (costume), Lidiia Dresch-Pyshna (costume) and Dmytro Guk (video/projection) for King Stakh’s Wild Hunt at Barbican Theatre, London
● Skylar Turnbull Hurd (lighting) for These Demons at Theatre503, London
Best Writer (sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions):
● Sam Grabiner for Boys on the Verge of Tears at Soho Theatre, London
● Martha Loader for Bindweed at Mercury Theatre, Colchester
● Harry McDonald for Foam at the Finborough Theatre, London
● Hannah Morley for We Could All Be Perfect at Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield
● Azuka Oforka for The Women of Llanrumney at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
● Anastasia Osei-Kuffour for Love Steps at the Omnibus Theatre, London
Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (sponsored by Crossroads Live):
● Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab for The Enormous Crocodile at Leeds Playhouse, Leeds
● Nick Butcher and Tom Ling for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace, London
● Elvis Costello for Cold War at the Almeida Theatre, London
● Jack Godfrey for 42 Balloons at the Lowry, Manchester
Best West End Debut Performer (Sponsored by Noël Coward Foundation):
● Francesca Amewudah-Rivers for Romeo and Juliet at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London
● Will Close for Dear England at the National Theatre, London
● Billy Crudup for Harry Clarke at Ambassadors Theatre, London
● Grace Hodgett Young for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, London
● Toheeb Jimoh for Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre, London
● Ed Larkin for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace, London
● Louis McCartney for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre, London
● Jack Wolfe for Next to Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre, London
Best Creative West End Debut (sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment):
● Daniel Bailey (director) for Red Pitch at @sohoplace, London
● Jim Barne and Kit Buchan (composer, lyricist) for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) at the Criterion Theatre, London
● Marcelo Dos Santos (writer) for Backstairs Billy at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London
● Kip Williams (director) for The Picture of Dorian Gray at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
● Brian Yorkey (lyricist) and Tom Kitt (composer) for Next to Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre, London
