(c) Alex Brenner – no use without credit.
This year 49 nominees across eight categories were in the spotlight, representing performers, composers, designers, writers, lyricists and directors whose work premiered on stages across the UK in the previous year.
Scooping the Best West End Debut Performer award for his enormously compelling and vocally accomplished performance as Gabe in Next To Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre was Olivier Award nominee Jack Wolfe. As the only category decided by public vote – previous winners included Rose Ayling-Ellis (2023) and Jodie Comer (2022) – Wolfe emerged as the people’s West End favourite from a strong shortlist that included Will Close for Dear England; Billy Crudup in Harry Clarke; Toheeb Jimoh in Player Kings; Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in Romeo and Juliet; Ed Larkin in The Little Big Things; Grace Hodgett Young in Sunset Boulevard and Louis McCartney in Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
Such was the level of talent that Best Performer in a Play was awarded to both Ellie-May Sheridan for a scene-stealing turn in London Tide at the National Theatre and Louis McCartney, who was recognised for his menacingly mercurial performance in Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre. Also, the Best Performer in a Musical award was shared between Jeevan Braich for his vocal prowess and impressive roller skating skills in Starlight Express at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre and Grace Hodgett Young who won the award for her impressive performance in Jamie Lloyd’s hit revival Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre.
SM Entertainment’s girl group aespa is expanding the scale of their second world tour, driven by their remarkable global popularity.
Brummie playwright Selina Thompson brings her bold new play Twine to The Yard Theatre in East London, shedding light on the racism embedded within the British adoption system while delving into the inner psyche of both the system and the adoptee. This complex play follows the journey of three characters—Bark, Sapling, and Seed—who are played by Muki Zubis, Nandi Bhebhe, and Angelina Chudhi. These characters represent personas of the unseen writer, Sycamore, as they navigate the emotional and psychological toll of adoption.