Who will be the breakthrough stars of 2024? Submissions now open for The Stage Debut Awards

The Stage Debut Awards, the only awards devoted solely to recognising breakthrough theatre talent both on and off stage, today announces that submissions for 2024 are now officially open. The live ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 29, and promises to be an unforgettable night celebrating the outstanding achievements of upcoming performers and creatives who have made their professional debuts on stages across the UK over the past 12 months.

This much-anticipated annual fixture in the awards calendar will be hosted again at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London. On the night, a mix of the industry’s freshest talent and a starry who’s who of established names will be entertained by Theatreland’s most exciting artists, performing musical numbers up close in this intimate space. Tickets will go on sale soon.

Newly rebranded ATG Entertainment returns as the headline sponsor. Trafalgar Entertainment reaffirms its sponsorship for the Best West End Creative category, Crossroads Live for Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer and Sonia Friedman Productions for Best Writer. This year, we welcome the Noël Coward Foundation and Michael Harrison Entertainment to The Stage Debut Awards’ esteemed stable of sponsors with their support for the Best West End Debut Performer and Best Performer in a Musical respectively.

The eight eligible categories championing performers, directors, designers, writers, composers and lyricists are Best Performer in a Play; Best Performer in a Musical; Best Director; Best Writer; Best Designer; Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer and Best West End Creative Debut. The winner of the Best West End Debut Performer is the only category to be determined by a public vote. Last year, theatre audiences picked former Strictly Come Dancing’s breakout star Rose Ayling-Ellis as the winner for her standout debut performance in As You Like It at @sohoplace. The star has recently announced landing a major upcoming BBC television role.

Anyone who has made their professional debut between July 18, 2023 and July 17, 2024 will be eligible.Submissions can be made HERE and entries will close on the June 30. The shortlist of nominees will be announced in August.

Ted Stimpson, Group CEO of ATG Entertainment said: “We are delighted to be supporting British theatre’s emerging talent through The Stage Debut Awards for the third year. At ATG Entertainment, we profoundly appreciate that we must nurture the next generation of talent that will bring exciting and groundbreaking ideas and voices to our audiences. We look forward to being part of an exceptional night celebrating the awesome talent at these awards in September.”

The Stage Debut Awards launched in 2017 and has proven to be a career defining launchpad with recipients of these prestigious awards enjoying continued success across stage and screen. Last year’s winners included Rob Madge for My Son’s a Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre, Isobel Thom for their leading role in I, Joan at Shakespeare’s Globe, Michael R Jackson for composing A Strange Loop at the Barbican Theatre and Tingying Dong for her sound design on The Crucible, Gielgud and National Theatre. A further roll call of notable award winners from previous years include Shan Ako (Hamilton), Spitlip (Operation Mincemeat), Tyrell Williams (Red Pitch), Sam Tutty (Dear Evan Hansen), Miriam-Teak Lee (& Juliet), Bush Theatre artistic director Lynette Linton (Sweat) and composers Femi Temowo (Death of a Salesman) and Dan Gillespie Sells (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie).

For details on eligibility and the judging process see The Stage Debut Awards website: HERE

ABOUT THE STAGE DEBUT AWARDS

• The Stage Debut Awards highlight breakthrough actors, writers, directors, designers, composers or lyricists to help cement their position in the industry
• The Stage’s nationwide network of theatre critics puts forward nominees for productions they have reviewed. Performers, writers, directors, designers, composers or lyricists making their stage debut (and their agents) are encouraged to nominate themselves for consideration.
• A selection of 20 expert advisers including casting directors, producers, designers and other creatives from across the UK help curate the shortlist.
• The judging panel will meet in July to decide the shortlist and winners in all categories, except the Best West End Debut Performer, which will be shortlisted by the judging panel but the winner will be decided by a public vote.
• Winners will be revealed during an awards ceremony held on Sunday, September 29, 2024.
• For full details on eligibility and the judging process see The Stage Debut Awards website.
• The inaugural The Stage Debut Awards took place on September 17, 2017. The event streamed to thousands of viewers on Facebook and #DebutAwards was trending on Twitter for more than 14 hours on the day of the ceremony.

ABOUT THE STAGE

Established in 1880, The Stage is a must-read for those with an involvement or interest in the performing arts industry in the UK and beyond. The Stage offers nationwide theatre news, jobs, castings, reviews, and advice. The Stage is also responsible for the annual list of the 100 most influential people in theatre and the performing arts – The Stage 100, The Stage Awards, and The Future of Theatre Conference.

ABOUT ATG ENTERTAINMENT 

Founded in 1992, ATG Entertainment has grown to be a world leader in live entertainment. It covers every discipline in the theatre industry, operating venues, running major ticketing platforms and producing award-winning shows.