The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) is the UK’s first award show to celebrate the excellence and influence of Black performers and creatives within the UK theatre industry.
Solange Urdang and Omar F Okai, Co-Directors of the BBTAs: ‘2022 brings an unprecedented year for the BBTAs in support from industry recognition and creative growth. The public votes have quadrupled since 2021, heralding a clear and positive bright future for the ongoing work of the Black British Theatre Awards. This year we are exceptionally excited to be holding the awards The National Theatre’
Launched in 2019, and now in its fourth year, the BBTAs are more relevant and impactful than ever before. This year the awards are supported by National Theatre and the ceremony will take place in the The Lyttelton Theatre on Sunday 16th October.
Brenda Emmanus OBE, Broadcaster and Journalist: ‘The Black British Theatre Awards are a celebratory showcase of Black theatrical talent that is worthy of its own praise. Their long-held commitment to inclusion and excellence constantly attracts the great and the good and it has proved that a wealth of brilliant diverse artists and creatives exist. It is also quite frankly a great night out!’
The BBTAs highlight excellence and leadership within the UK theatre sector through the acknowledgement and celebration of established and emerging diverse talent. An important part of the awards is to champion the legacy of Black theatre pioneers and their visionary contributions. The BBTAs support and inspire young Black talent through award recognition and a year round youth development and mentoring programme, creating an impact by facilitating pathways from the educational system into the arts and empowering diverse talent to create and tell their stories. The purpose of the movement is for Black talent to be recognised and represented throughout the UK theatre sector.
With theatres reopening, the return of live theatre and the continued success of streamed and online productions, the public were given a two month period to submit their nominations for this year’s awards and saw a record amount of nominations received for all 28 awards. This year also sees the addition of three new awards: Best Understudy/Swing in a Theatre Production, Outstanding Performance in a Play and Outstanding Performance in a Musical. This year’s nominees demonstrate the abundance of talent and showcase excellence across UK theatre, as well as the broader arts and cultural landscape.
2022 BBTAS NOMINEES REVEALED
Creatives Group
BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
Matthew Xia, The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre
For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Royal Court
Dermot Daly, My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored, Red Ladder Theatre Company UK Tour
BEST PRODUCER AWARD
Jasmyn Fisher-Ryner, For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide
When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Royal Court
Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward, West End Musical Christmas, Lyric Theatre
Ameena Hamid, The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR AWARD
Femi Temowo, Rockets and Blue Lights, National Theatre
Sean Green, Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
John Pfumojena, For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide
When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Royal Court
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER OR MOVEMENT DIRECTOR AWARD
Leah Hill, The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre
Theophilus O. Bailey-Godson, For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide
When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Royal Court
Kane Husbands and Mateus Daniel, Passionfruit, New Diorama Theatre
BEST OPERA PRODUCTION OR PERFORMANCE AWARD
April Koyejo-Audiger, Jenufa, Royal Opera House
Pumeza Matshikiza, The Cunning Little Vixen, London Coliseum
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION AWARD
Run it Back, Talawa, Fairfield Halls
Saturn Returns, Gateway Arts Productions, Brixton House
BEST SOLOIST IN A DANCE PRODUCTION AWARD
Mthuthuzeli November, Ballet Black Double Bill, Barbican
Cira Robinson, Ballet Black Double Bill, Barbican
Isabela Coracy, Ballet Black Double Bill, Barbican
BEST USE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD
Mawa Theatre Company, What’s Past is Prologue, YouTube
Natalie Edwards Yesufu, Enter.Stage.Write, YouTube
Ballet Black, Eightfold, Channel 4
Recognition Group (body of work)
LIGHT AND/OR SOUND RECOGNITION AWARD
Simisola Majekodunmi
Joshua Harriette
Kayodeine
COSTUME DESIGN RECOGNITION AWARD
Maybelle Laye
Natalie Pryce
Jessica Cabasa
BOOK AND LYRICS RECOGNITION AWARD
Lux Knightley
Ryan Calais Cameron
Safaa Benson-Effiom
CASTING DIRECTOR RECOGNITION AWARD
Heather Basten
Isabella Odoffin
Tonia Daley Campbell
Plays
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Terique Jarrett, Daddy, Almeida Theatre
Dior Clarke, Passionfruit, New Diorama Theatre
Michael Fatogun, Foxes, Theatre 503
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Shareesa Valentine, Forgotten Voices, Hope Mill Theatre
Selina Jones, An unfinished man, The Yard Theatre
Shakira Newton, Things I Can Laugh About Now, Brixton House
BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Gabriel Paul, Macbeth, Leeds Playhouse
Hayden Mampasi, Passionfruit, New Diorama Theatre
Habib Nasib Nader, Life of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Ashh Blackwood, The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre
Sasha Frost, Folk, Hampstead Theatre
Charlotte Gosling, Passionfruit, New Diorama Theatre
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY AWARD
Rochelle Rose, Rockets and Blue Lights, National Theatre
Emmanuel Akwafo, For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide
When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Royal Court
Misha Duncan-Barry, My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored, Red Ladder Theatre Company UK Tour
BEST PRODUCTION PLAY AWARD
My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored, Red Ladder Theatre Company UK Tour
For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Royal Court
Things I Can Laugh About Now, Brixton House
Musicals
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Legally Blonde, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Michael Duke, Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Tarik Frimpong, The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Nicole Raquel Dennis, Dreamgirls, UK & Ireland Tour
Courtney Bowman, Legally Blonde, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Courtney Stapleton, Beauty and the Beast the Musical, UK & Ireland Tour
BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Jordan Shaw, Les Miserables, Sondheim Theatre
Shem Omari James, Dreamgirls, UK & Ireland Tour
Cameron Bernard Jones, The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Nadine Higgin, Legally Blonde, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Nicolle Smartt, Domitius, Conway Hall
Jocasta Almgill, Grease, Dominion Theatre
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Billy Nevers, Legally Blonde, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Amara Okereke, My Fair Lady, London Coliseum
Nicole Raquel Dennis, Dreamgirls, UK & Ireland Tour
BEST PRODUCTION MUSICAL AWARD
Domitius, Conway Hall
Dreamgirls, UK & Ireland Tour
The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre
Achievement Awards
LGBTQIA+ CHAMPION AWARD
Alex Thomas-Smith
Nicole Raquel Dennis
Courtney Stapleton
BEST TEACHER AWARD
Angeline Bell, Urdang Academy
Hakeem Onibudo, Impact Dance
Carolyn Elaine Bolton, Shockout Arts
BEST RECENT GRADUATE AWARD
Grace Melville, D&B Academy
Shonah Buwu, Bird College
Dianté Lodge, Laine Theatre Arts
BEST UNDERSTUDY/SWING IN A THEATRE PRODUCTION AWARD
Mitchell Zhangazha, Dear Evan Hansen, Noël Coward Theatre
Jemal Felix, Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Zara MacIntosh, &Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre
About The Black British Theatre Awards
The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) was established to raise the profile of black british creatives and performers who have not only influenced the UK’s artistic legacy, but impacted on an international level. October 2019 saw the inaugural ceremony of the BBTAS, launched to coincide with Black History Month. This new addition to the British theatre calendar was held at the captivating The Old Finsbury Town Hall.
Why Black British Theatre Awards?
Black artists and creatives have been contributing significantly to theatre since before the first major influx of Africans and Caribbeans into Britain during the 1950’s. This arrival generated a rich cultural influence and a whole new way of approaching theatre. Over these 70 years, there has been a notable lack of recognition but an abundance of black talent. Although it is slowly being addressed, BBTA’s plan is to amplify the positivity of talent and creativity in British theatre. These awards are a vehicle to do so and place a visible face and recognition on all creative fields in the theatre.
The next generation and the BBTAs
In order to inspire the next generation, BBTA have issued scholarships for young black talent in the UK, to access training in performing arts and mentored by those involved with the awards. Sponsors of the BBTAs will become a part of a grassroots project. Across the year, The BBTA Youth Development Programme team run a mentoring platform for young people, as well as short face to face courses and theatre visits.
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