Nominees for THE STAGE DEBUT AWARDS 2025 announced plus new host
Photo credit: David Monteith-Hodge
The Stage Debut Awards, in association with Netflix, have announced the nominees for the industry’s most prestigious annual awards ceremony celebrating breakthrough talent in UK theatre. The winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, on 28 September.
The 46 nominations originate from UK shows staged in all four nations, marking this year’s awards as the most geographically representative to date. The eight categories shine a spotlight on individuals making their professional or West End debuts, and salute excellence in acting, directing, design, writing and musical composition. The varied shortlist demonstrates a thriving transference of cross-genre skills with novelists, screenwriters, film-makers, film stars and podcasters among this year’s talent.
THE FULL LIST OF 2025 NOMINEES ARE…
Best Performer in a Play (sponsored by Encore):
Hilson Agbangbe for Wonder Boy at Bristol Old Vic
Paula Clarke for The Tragedy of Richard III at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Joseph Edwards for The Red Shoes at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Lucy Karczewski for Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London
Eva Morgan for The Glass Menagerie at the Yard Theatre, London
Christopher Neenan for Blood Wedding at Omnibus Theatre, London
Daisy Sequerra for Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre, London
Jasper Talbot for Redlands at Chichester Festival Theatre
Best Performer in a Musical (sponsored by Michael Harrison Entertainment):
Megan Ellis for Muriel’s Wedding the Musical at Curve, Leicester
Dora Gee for The Mad Ones at the Other Palace, London
Eve Shanu-Wilson for The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre, London
Leesa Tulley for Why Am I So Single? at the Garrick Theatre, London
Best Writer (sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions):
Sarah Bond for Seagulls and Sad, Sad Stories at Laurels, Whitley Bay
Nathan Englander for What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank at Marylebone Theatre, London
Danny James King for Miss Myrtle’s Garden at Bush Theatre, London
Nancy Netherwood for Radiant Boy: A Haunting at Southwark Playhouse, London
Ava Pickett for 1536 at the Almeida Theatre, London
Milly Sweeney for Water Colour at Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Byre Theatre, St Andrews
Saana Sze for Belly of the Beast at Finborough Theatre, London
Best Director (sponsored by Arts Council England):
Aditya Chopra for Come Fall In Love at Opera House, Manchester
Nathan Crossan-Smith for The Walrus Has a Right to Adventure at Liverpool Everyman
Adam Karim for Guards at the Taj at Orange Tree Theatre, London
Emily Susanne Lloyd for The Mad Ones at the Other Palace, London
Richard Mylan for Mumfighter at Swansea Grand Theatre
Best Designer (sponsored by Preevue):
Juliette Demoulin (set), various at Finborough Theatre, London
Adam Jefferys (lighting) for Communion at Bush Theatre, London
Hannah Schmidt (set and costume) for The Passenger/Personal Values at Finborough Theatre/Hampstead Theatre, London
Chloe Wyn (set and costume) for The Walrus Has a Right to Adventure at Liverpool Everyman
Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (sponsored by Theatricals Rights Worldwide):
Martin Batchelar, James Cooper, Bryn Christopher for Lovestuck at Theatre Royal Stratford East, London
Yve Blake for Fangirls at Lyric Hammersmith, London
Nicola Dempsey and Rosie Dempsey for One Man Musical by Flo & Joan at Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh
Best West End Debut Performer (Sponsored by Noël Coward Foundation):
Heather Agyepong for Shifters at the Duke of York’s Theatre
Samuel Brewer for Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre
Georgie Buckland for The Devil Wears Prada at Dominion Theatre
Tosin Cole for Shifters at the Duke of York’s Theatre
Emma Flynn for Clueless the Musical at Trafalgar Theatre
Diego Andres Rodriguez for Evita at London Palladium
Kat Ronney for Titanique at Criterion Theatre
Rachel Zegler for Evita at London Palladium
Best Creative West End Debut (sponsored by Learn My Lines Productions):
Eline Arbo (adapter/director) for The Years at Harold Pinter Theatre
Tye Blue (writer/director), Marla Mindelle (writer) and Constantine Rousouli (writer) for Titanique at Criterion Theatre
Darren Clark (music and lyrics) and Jethro Compton (book and lyrics) for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Ambassadors Theatre
Justin Craig (musical director and orchestrator) for Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s Theatre
Benedict Lombe (playwright) for Shifters at the Duke of York's Theatre
Mark Rosenblatt (playwright) for Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Amit Sharma (director) for Retrograde at Apollo Theatre
The Stage Debut Awards have also revealed comedy royalty, actor and pantomime dame Julian Clary as the new host of ceremonies at this year’s awards. With over 40 years in showbusiness under his belt, Clary will be putting his unique comedy stamp on The Stage Debut Awards. He said: "It is a true pleasure to host this annual celebration of emerging talent in the theatre industry where we will honour the artistry, creativity and dedication of the newest voices shaping the future of the stage. I look forward to celebrating the extraordinary promise of these rising stars."
The Stage editor Alistair Smith said: “Judging The Stage Debut Awards was as thrilling as it was challenging. The sheer breadth and brilliance of emerging talent across the UK made narrowing down our longlist of more than 200 eligible theatremakers no easy task.
“For the first time, our shortlists include nominees from productions staged in all four nations of the UK — a real testament to the geographical spread and vibrancy of theatremaking today. We’re also proud to recognise artists working at every scale: from performers and creatives in blockbuster West End musicals to those making their mark in some of the UK’s most intimate fringe spaces. This year’s nominees truly embody the future of British theatre, and I can’t wait to celebrate their achievements.”
Votes for Best West End Debut Performer opens today and can be cast online at HERE. Voting closes on 14 September. This award honours a performer’s first appearance in London’s West End.
The line-up of guest presenters and performers will be revealed in September.
For more info on The Stage Debut Awards 2025, please click here.
