The Stage Debut Awards are theatre awards recognising individuals making their professional debuts in the performing arts in the UK. The annual ceremony was launched in 2017 by

The Stage ''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. It was founded in 1880. It contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at those wh ...

and include accolades for Best Performer in a Play, Best Writer, Best Designer and the Best West End Debut Performer. Recipients of these awards have gone on to star in West End shows, television series and films. The awards ceremony is held annually at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London. In 2019, the awards relocated to a new venue, The Brewery, London. In 2020, the Best Actor in a Play and Best Actress in a Play awards were updated to Best Performer in a Play and the Best Actor in a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical awards were updated to Best Performer in a Musical.

Judging process

Eligible nominees must be aged 16 or over, and making their professional debut in a named role in a production reviewed by The Stage. For acting roles this should be a first named role. The Stage's nationwide network of theatre critics put forward nominees from productions they have reviewed. Performers, writers, directors, designers and composers making their stage debut (and their agents) are also able to nominate themselves online for consideration. The public can also nominate individuals for each category. Industry professionals from across the UK are then invited to give their input into the longlist. These advisors have included producer Danielle Tarento, casting director

David Grindrod David Grindrod is a British theatre and television casting director who primarily works with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Theatre projects he has participated in include '' Mamma Mia!'', ''The Phantom of the Opera'', ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', ''Joseph ...

, David Jubb,

Battersea Arts Centre The Battersea Arts Centre ("BAC") is a performance space specialising in theatre productions. Located near Clapham Junction railway station in Battersea, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, it was formerly Battersea Town Hall. It is a Grade ...

, designer

Es Devlin Esmeralda "Es" Devlin (; born 24 September 1971) is an English artist and stage designer who works in a range of media, often mapping light and projected film onto kinetic sculptural forms. Early life Devlin was born in Kingston upon Thames, ...

, Hannah Miller,

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

; James Grieve,

Paines Plough Paines Plough is a touring theatre company founded in 1974 by writer David Pownall and director John Adams. The company specialises exclusively in commissioning and producing new plays and helping playwrights develop their craft. Over the past f ...

; Jenny Sealey,

Graeae In Greek mythology the Graeae ( grc, Γραῖαι; ; English translation: "old women", "grey ones", or "grey witches"; alternatively spelled Graiai and Graiae) were three sisters who had gray hair from their birth and shared one eye and one t ...

; Jimmy Fay, Lyric Theatre; Laura Donnelly,

National Theatre of Scotland The National Theatre of Scotland, established in 2006, is the national theatre company of Scotland. The company has no theatre building of its own; instead it tours work to theatres, village halls, schools and site-specific locations, both at h ...

; Madani Younis,

Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre is located in the Passmore Edwards Public Library, Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 as a showcase for the work of new writers. The Bush Theatre strives to create a spa ...

; director Michael Grandage; actor

Noma Dumezweni Noma Dumezweni (born 28 July 1969) is a British actress. In 2006, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her performance as Ruth Younger in ''A Raisin in the Sun'' at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. In 20 ...

, designer

Paule Constable Paule Constable is a British lighting designer. She won the 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2020 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Lighting Design. She was also a nominee for four further productions and for a 2007 Tony Award on Broadway. In 2011 she won t ...

; Pravesh Kumar, Rifco; actor

Preeya Kalidas Preeya Kalidas (born 21 June 1980) is a British singer and actress. She played Amira Masood in the soap opera ''EastEnders'', from 2009 to 2012. She released the single "Shimmy" in July 2010, taken from her proposed debut album ''(I'm Over It) ...

; Sam Hodges, Nuffield Southampton Theatres; producer Sonia Friedman; Tom Morris, Bristol Old Vic; and Wendy Spon, National Theatre. The judging panel decide on the shortlist and winners in all categories, except the Best West End Debut where the shortlist is voted on by the public. The Best West End Debut award recognises those who are making their professional debut in London's West End. This includes individuals who have previously made their debut outside of the West End.

Ceremony

In 2017, the inaugural The Stage Debut Awards Ceremony took place at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, on September 17. The ceremony was hosted by West End leading man, Ben Forster. Categories Presenters included director Michael Grandage, actor

Sharon D. Clarke Sharon Delores Clarke (born 12 August 1966) is an English actress and singer. She is a three-time Olivier award winner, and is best known to television audiences for her role as Lola Griffin in the medical drama ''Holby City'', and as Grace O'Br ...

, actor Rachel Tucker, Theatre owner

Nica Burns Lounica Maureen Patricia "Nica" Burns OBE (born August 1954) is a London theatre producer and co-owner with her business partner Max Weitzenhoffer of the Nimax Theatres group, comprising six West End theatres: the Palace, Lyric, Apollo, Ga ...

, National Theatre director Rufus Norris and actor Kenneth Cranham. Exclusive performances at the ceremony were from Dreamgirls and the National Theatre's Follies. In 2018, the ceremony took place on September 23 at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London. The ceremony was hosted by

Cush Jumbo Cush Jumbo (born 23 September 1985) is a British actress and writer. She is best known for her leading role as attorney Lucca Quinn in the CBS drama series ''The Good Wife'' (2015–16) and the CBS All Access spin-off series ''The Good Fight'' ...

and the Category Presenters included director Michael Grandage, actor Ruthie Henshall, singer

, actor

Jodie Prenger Jodie Prenger (born 12 June 1979) is an English actress and singer, best known as the winner of BBC television series '' I'd Do Anything'' on 31 May 2008 and the second series of ''The Biggest Loser'' in 2006. In 2022, she began portraying the ...

, and lighting designer

. Exclusive performances at the ceremony were from Anaïs Mitchell and

Miriam-Teak Lee Miriam-Teak Lee (born 1 November 1994) is an English actress. She is known for her role as Juliet Capulet in ''& Juliet'', for which she won a 2020 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Early life and educat ...

. In 2019, the ceremony took place at The Brewery, London, on September 15. The ceremony was hosted by

, and the exclusive performances were by Rachel Tucker and Amara Okereke. Category Presenters included actor

Giles Terera Giles Terera (born 14 December 1976) is a British actor, musician, and filmmaker. He is best known for his work in the theatre, particularly in the original cast of the London production of the musical ''Hamilton'', as Aaron Burr, for which ...

, actor Michael Xavier, singer

Brenda Edwards Brenda Claudina Susan Edwards (' Artman; born 2 March 1969) is an English singer, actress, television personality and presenter. In 2005, she finished in fourth place in the second series of ''The X Factor''. As of 2019, she is a weekly paneli ...

, actor Janie Dee, actor

Mark Gatiss Mark Gatiss (; born 17 October 1966) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer and novelist. His work includes writing for and acting in the television series ''Doctor Who'', '' Sherlock'', and '' Dracula''. Together with ...

, and playwright

Inua Ellams Inua M. M. Ellams (born 23 October 1984) is a UK-based poet, playwright and performer. Work Ellams has written for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal National Theatre and the BBC. In June 2018, Ellams was elected as a Fellow of the Ro ...

. The first digital ceremony was hosted as a free online event in 2020 by

(winner of Best Actress in a Musical in 2017) on 27 September and featured an exclusive performance was from SpitLip (winner of the 2019 Best Composer/Lyricist awards). In 2021, no ceremony took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, the ceremony took place at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London on Sunday, September 18. The ceremony was hosted by

Susan Wokoma Susan Indiaba Wokoma (born 31 December 1987 in Peckham, London, England) is a British actress, writer and director. She is best known for her roles as Edith in '' Enola Holmes'' and Raquel in the E4/Netflix show ''Crazyhead''. Wokoma was liste ...

, and exclusive performances were by Shan Ako, Samuel Thomas,

Frances Mayli McCann Frances Mayli McCann (born 14 September 1989) is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her work in theatre. She is the recipient of Laurence Olivier and WhatsOnStage Award nominations. Early life McCann was born and raised in Bishopbriggs, a ...

and Natalie Paris. Category Presenters included actor

Amanda Abbington Amanda Abbington (born Amanda Jane Smith; 28 February 1974) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Miss Mardle in ''Mr Selfridge'' and Mary Watson in '' Sherlock'', the BBC adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stor ...

, director

Jamie Lloyd Jamie Lloyd is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists of the ''Halloween'' franchise. Introduced in '' Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers'' as the series' new protagonist after Jamie Lee Curtis declined to return as Laurie ...

, singer-songwriter and performer Louise Rednapp, singer Jay McGuiness, actor Matt Henry and theatre designer Anna Fleischle. In 2023, the ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 1.

Previous winners

References

{{reflist British theatre awards Awards established in 2017 2017 establishments in the United Kingdom