At a ceremony tonight at The London Palladium hosted by Gina and Mazz Murray, the winners of the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards in association with AudienceView were announced – the only major UK theatre awards decided by the theatregoers themselves.
WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said today, “The voters really did look after that Bear! Paddington’s record-setting awards haul has firmly cemented it as a fan-favourite new addition to the West End. From bears to balconies – it’s no surprise to see Rachel Zegler amongst the starry line-up of winners following her al fresco performance at this very venue last summer.
“We have to give thanks to our sponsors – your continued support has allowed us to grow these awards to become such a wonderful celebration of the theatre community. Most importantly, of course, is a big thank you to everyone that nominated, voted and campaigned for their favourite shows and performers – the wealth of excitement around these awards highlights the unwavering passion and love for theatre that brings punters to venues night after night. Here’s to next year and see you for the nominations in November!”
The critically acclaimed smash-hit Paddington The Musical triumphed, winning nine awards and equalling the record for the most wins in WhatsOnStage Award history with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Miss Saigon – and the most for any new msucial. The production won Best New Musical; Best Professional Debut Performance for Timi Akinyosade; Best Direction for Luke Sheppard; Best Set Design for Tom Pye; Best Costume Design for Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar – the latter, who designed the bear; Best Sound Design for Gareth Owen; Best Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Design for Campbell Young Associates; Best Musical Supervision/Direction for Matt Brind; and Best Casting Direction for Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, Nick Hockaday and Annabelle Davis.
Evita was the recipient of five Awards – Best Musical Revival, Best Choreography for Fabian Aloise, Best Lighting for Jon Clark, Best Video Design for Jamie Lloyd, Nick Ward and David Anderson, and Rachel Zegler winning Best Performer in a Musical. Zegler also won the Best Concert Event for Rachel Zegler: Live at The London Palladium.
With the year very much dominated by the big musicals, Richard II at Bridge Theatre leads the straight play categories with two wins – Jonathan Bailey win Best Performer in a Play and the production, Best Play Revival. Taking the Best New Play Award are WhatsOnStage Award favourites Mischief for The Comedy About Spies by Henry Lewis and Henry Shields.
Completing the performance categories, Amber Davies wins Best Supporting Performer in a Musical taking the only win for The Great Gatsby; Stephen Fry winning Best Supporting Performer in a Play for The Importance of Being Earnest, again the only win for the multi-nominated production; and Emma Kingston takes Best Takeover for Elphaba in Wicked.
Crowning its 40th year, Les Misérables, the West End’s longest running musical, wins the coveted Best West End Show Award. Best Regional Production goes to 13 Going on 30 The Musical at the Opera House in Manchester; with the Hope Mill’s production of Young Frankenstein taking Best Studio Production.
For the first time this year, in association with Go Live Theatre – a charity that uses the power of theatre to create inspiring experiences and unlock possibilities for children and young people and the official charity partner of this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards – the inaugural Best Child Performance category was won by The Land of the Living at National Theatre – Young Thomas: Platon Filatov, Darcy Tosun, Anton Vehring, and Artie Wilkinson-Hunt.
Completing the evening, James Graham was awarded the AudienceView Services to UK Theatre Award – last year alone his much-heralded new play Punch played to acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, Boys From the Blackstuff was staged at Liverpool Royal Court and National Theatre, Make It Happen debuted at Dundee Rep and Edinburgh International Festival, and a TV adaptation of his acclaimed play Dear England was in production at the BBC.
Now in their 26th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards remain the only major UK theatre awards decided by the theatregoers themselves. In addition to seeing winners crowned across a range of categories, theatregoers also enjoyed a host of exclusive live performances from top stage talent, accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra in this one-night-only showcase co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys. Performances at this year’s sell-out event included 13 Going On 30 the Musical, Disney’s Hercules, Paddington The Musical, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, and Young Frankenstein. Heart Musicals are the Exclusive Broadcast Partner for this year Awards.
The 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards are supported by a wide range of partners from across the industry and beyond, including AKA Promotions Ltd, AudienceView, Boulevard Events, Brent Carpets, Concord Theatricals, Dewynters, Disney Theatrical, Go Live Theatre, John Good, LaDcua Shoes, London Theatre Direct, Newman Displays, Outernet Venues, Preevue, Re:Water, RSVP-ify, SINE Digital, Studio Twenty, Tandem Marketing Worldwide, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, The Londoner, Ticketmaster, Travelzoo and White Light.
@whatsonstage
THE NOMINATIONS IN FULL – WINNERS IN BOLD:
THE SINE DIGITAL BEST PERFORMER IN A PLAY
Jonathan Bailey, Richard II, Bridge Theatre
Ncuti Gatwa, Born With Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre
Tom Hiddleston, Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Joe Locke, Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre
Maxine Peake, The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse, Nottingham Playhouse
Rosamund Pike, Inter Alia, National Theatre
BEST PERFORMER IN A MUSICAL – SPONSORED BY TICKETMASTER
Lauren Drew, Titanique, Criterion Theatre
James Hameed and Arti Shah, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Lucie Jones, 13 Going On 30 The Musical, Manchester Opera House
Jamie Muscato, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Diego Andres Rodriguez, Evita, The London Palladium
Rachel Zegler, Evita, The London Palladium
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A PLAY
Joe Alwyn, The Lady from the Sea, Bridge Theatre
Emma Corrin, The Seagull, Barbican Theatre
Stephen Fry, The Importance of Being Earnest, Noël Coward Theatre
Yerin Ha, The Maids, Donmar Warehouse
Sophie Melville, Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre
Mason Alexander Park, Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A MUSICAL – SPONSORED BY NEWMAN DISPLAYS
Bella Brown, Evita, The London Palladium
Amber Davies, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Candace Furbert, Sharlene Hector, Brianna Ogunbawo, Malinda Parris, Robyn Rose-Li, Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Grace Mouat, 13 Going On 30 The Musical, Manchester Opera House
Layton Williams, Titanique, Criterion Theatre
BEST PROFESSIONAL DEBUT – SPONSORED BY AKA
Timi Akinyosade, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Mia Carragher, The Hunger Games on Stage, Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre
Hannah Dodd, Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Jess Folley, Burlesque The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Ruaridh Mollica, Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre
Asha Parker, Burlesque The Musical, Savoy Theatre
BEST TAKEOVER
Karis Anderson, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre
Stevie Doc, The Devil Wears Prada, Dominion Theatre
Emma Kingston, Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
Rob Madge, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Eva Noblezada, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Alex Young, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
BEST CHILD PERFORMANCE
Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre – Jonathan Brown: Joseph Bramley, Leo Collon, Stevie Hare, Jasper Rowse
Evita – The London Palladium – The Child: Auora Breslin, Lois Haidar, Ffion Rosalie Williams
Wild Rose – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh – Wynonna: Lily Ferguson, Jessie-Lou Harvie, Ayla Sherriff
The Land of the Living – National Theatre – Young Thomas: Platon Filatov, Darcy Tosun, Artie Wilkinson-Hunt, Anton Vehring
13 Going on 30 the Musical – Manchester Opera House – Young Jenna Rink: Amelia Minto and Fearne Lily King I’anson and Young Matt Flamhaff: Max Bispham and George Hamblin
BEST NEW PLAY – SPONSORED BY DISNEY ON STAGE
Born With Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre
Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre
The Comedy About Spies, Noël Coward Theatre
Inter Alia, National Theatre
Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre
Through It All Together, Leeds Playhouse
THE TRAVELZOO BEST NEW MUSICAL AWARD
The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Here and Now, UK Tour
Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Shucked, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Titanique, Criterion Theatre
THE LONDONER BEST PLAY REVIVAL AWARD
The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre / Noël Coward Theatre
The Lady from the Sea, Bridge Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Richard II, Bridge Theatre
The Seagull, Barbican Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire, Sheffield Theatres
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL – SPONSORED BY CONCORD THEATRICALS
Brigadoon, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Evita, The London Palladium
Jesus Christ Superstar, The Watermill Theatre
Little Shop of Horrors, Sheffield Theatres
My Fair Lady, Curve, Leicester
The Producers, Menier Chocolate Factory / Garrick Theatre
BEST WEST END SHOW – SPONSORED BY DEWYNTERS
Cabaret , Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Hadestown, Lyric Theatre
Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre
Oliver!, Gielgud Theatre
Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
AUDIENCE REPUBLIC BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION
13 Going on 30 The Musical, Manchester Opera House
Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, Manchester Opera House
Jesus Christ Superstar, The Watermill Theatre
Krapp’s Last Tape, York Theatre Royal
Pride and Prejudice, UK Tour
Through It All Together, Leeds Playhouse
BEST CONCERT EVENT
The Book Thief in Concert, Prince of Wales Theatre
Gravity, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
The Hunchback of Notre Dame in Concert, Prince Edward Theatre
Jeremy Jordan: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Albert Hall
Songs For a New World, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
Rachel Zegler: Live at The London Palladium, The London Palladium
BEST STUDIO PRODUCTION – SPONSORED BY THEATRICAL RIGHTS WORLDWIDE
Be More Chill, Old Joint Stock Theatre
Brixton Calling, South Playhouse Borough
Cul de Sac, Omnibus Theatre
The Frogs, South Playhouse Borough
The Last Five Years, Barn Theatre Cirencester and Reading Rep
Young Frankenstein, Hope Mill Theatre
BEST DIRECTION – SPONSORED BY LONDON THEATRE DIRECT
Tamara Harvey, The Constant Wife, RSC
Lynette Linton, Intimate Apparel, Donmar Warehouse
Jamie Lloyd, Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Thomas Ostermeier, The Seagull, Barbican Theatre
Tim Sheader, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse
Luke Sheppard, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – SPONSORED BY LaDUCA SHOES
Fabian Aloise, Evita, The London Palladium
Ellen Kane, Ballet Shoes, National Theatre
Ellen Kane, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Lorin Latarro, The Producers, Menier Chocolate Factory / Garrick Theatre
Drew McOnie, Brigadoon, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Jennifer Weber, 13 Going on 30 The Musical, Manchester Opera House
THE PREEVUE BEST SET DESIGN AWARD
Frankie Bradshaw, Ballet Shoes, National Theatre
Lizzie Clachan, The Lady From the Sea, Bridge Theatre
Tom Pye, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Paul Tate dePoo III, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Michael Taylor, My Fair Lady, Curve Leicester
David Zinn, Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Alex Berry, Intimate Apparel, Donmar Warehouse
Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Colin Richmond, The Red Shoes, RSC
Gabrielle Slade and Tahra Zafar, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Rae Smith, The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre / Noël Coward Theatre
Michael Taylor, My Fair Lady, Curve Leicester
THE WHITE LIGHT BEST LIGHTING DESIGN AWARD
Neil Austin, Born with Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre
Neil Austin, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Jon Clark, Evita, The London Palladium
Paule Constable, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Chichester Festival Theatre
Howard Hudson, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse
Jessica Hung Han Yun, Hamlet Hail to the Thief, RSC
BEST SOUND DESIGN – SPONSORED BY HERE AT OUTERNET
Adam Fisher, Evita, The London Palladium
Tony Gayle, Wild Rose, The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Tom Gibbons, The Seagull, Barbican Theatre
Gareth Owen, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre
Gareth Tucker, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse
BEST VIDEO DESIGN – SPONSORED BY STUDIO 20
Will Duke, Hamlet Hail to the Thief, RSC
Andrzej Goulding, Born with Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre
Luke Halls, Sing Street, Lyric Hammersmith
Zakk Hein, The Maids, Donmar Warehouse
Jamie Lloyd, Nick Ward, David Anderson, Evita, The London Palladium
Ash J Woodward, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
WIGS, HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGN
Valerie Atkinson, Little Shop of Horrors, Sheffield Theatres
Campbell Young Associates, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Rae Smith, with Kate Elizabeth, Campbell Young Associates and Adele Brandman,
The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre / Noël Coward Theatre
Charles G LaPointe, Rachel Grier and Ashley Ryan, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Mia M Neal, Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche, Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Grace Smart, Cyrano de Bergerac, RSC
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION / SUPERVISION
Tom Brady, Hamlet Hail to the Thief, RSC
Matt Brind, Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Justin Craig, Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre
Stuart Morley, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Watermill Theatre
Sarah Travis, Davey Anderson, Ali Roocroft, Wild Rose, The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Alan Williams, Evita, The London Palladium
BEST CASTING DIRECTION
Pippa Ailion CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse
Stuart Burt, Make It Happen, Dundee Rep Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival
Alastair Coomer, The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre / Noël Coward Theatre
Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, Nick Hockaday, Annabelle Davis,Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, Here We Are, National Theatre
Pearson Casting, Titanique, Criterion Theatre
NOTES TO EDITORS:
WHATSONSTAGE.COM is the UK’s leading consumer theatre website and has been an essential and trusted voice in theatre news and content for almost 30 years. The website encompasses a listings database of performances nationwide, unrivalled theatre news and exclusives, insightful reviews, compelling interviews, blogs and features plus eye-catching videos. We are also a central source for great tickets at fantastic prices, the home of the WhatsOnStage Awards (now in their 26th year). In 2017, WhatsOnStage became a part of the AudienceView family of live entertainment solutions, an integral partner for live event professionals around the world looking to elevate their businesses.
AUDIENCEVIEW (Platinum sponsor): AudienceView is the end-to-end event ticketing commerce partner for 2,400+ venues across 12 countries, facilitating over $2B in live-event revenue per year. We enable our clients to grow their audiences through a comprehensive suite of white-label platforms and services that includes ticketing, marketing, fundraising, payments, and fraud protection—all in one place. At AudienceView, we believe you need more than just ticketing software; you deserve a purpose-built commerce platform that simplifies your business so you can focus on what matters most.
THE LONDON PALLADIUM is owned and operated byLW Theatres, which is wholly owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The LW Theatres’ portfolio also includes Theatre Royal Drury Lane, recently reopened following a £60million refurbishment, one of the largest projects ever undertaken by a private theatre owner. In addition, the company owns and runs His Majesty’s Theatre (home of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera for nearly 40 years), the Cambridge Theatre, the Gillian Lynne Theatre and the Adelphi Theatre (owned in association with Nederlander International Limited).
LW Theatres is a family business. Every penny of profit made is proudly ploughed back into the conservation and improvement of their venues, with more than £100m reinvested since 2006.
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Kate Morley PR
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