Weekly performance industry newspaper The Stage has announced the nominees for its Stage Debut Awards, "celebrating the best emerging talent in the UK," featuring 45 nominations across eight categories.
Comedy veteran Lenny Henry, who picked up a Best Newcomer awards in 2009 at the age of 51 for appearing in the title role of the Northern Broadsides production of Othello, is now nominated for a first time writer award for August in England at the Bush Theatre.
Paul Mescal, already an Olivier Award-winner, is now nominated for Best West End Debut Performer for A Streetcar Named Desire at the Phoenix Theatre, alongside Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black’s Samira Wiley for Blues for an Alabama Sky and Star Trek’s Zachary Quinto for Best of Enemies.
Beyond the West End, Wales is well represented with three nominations including Jennifer Lunn for Best Writer for Es & Flo at Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff, Richard Mylan for Sorter at the Swansea Grand Theatre and Elan Davies for Best Performer in a Play for Imrie at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff.
The Stage editor Alistair Smith said, “we have another superb shortlist this year, full of extraordinarily talented newcomers. It's particularly thrilling to see the huge geographical spread of the work recognised—with three nominees from Wales, including our first ever nomination for a Welsh language performance— as well as high profile commercial shows from the West End and beyond."
The winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by drag artist, performer and singer Divina De Campo on 1 October 2023 at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London.
Full list of nominees
Best Performer in a Play (Sponsored by Cabbells)
- Bukky Bakray for Sleepova at Bush Theatre, London
- Rita Bernard-Shaw for Trouble in Butetown at Donmar Warehouse, London
- Natalie Blair for Spring and Port Wine at Octagon Theatre, Bolton
- Rhian Blundell for Let the Right One In at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
- Elan Davies for Imrie at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
- Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran for The Importance of Being Earnest at Leeds Playhouse and touring
- Daniel Rock for Richard the Second at Omnibus Theatre, London and touring
- Isobel Thom for I, Joan at Shakespeare's Globe, London
Best Performer in a Musical (Sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line)
- Liv Andrusier for Ride at Charing Cross Theatre, London
- Josh Barnett for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London
- Arcangelo Ciulla for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London
- Carla Dixon-Hernandez for Mrs Doubtfire at Shaftesbury Theatre, London
- Drew Hylton for Unexpected Twist: An Oliver Twisted Tale at Royal and Derngate, Northampton and touring
- Jessica Lee for Miss Saigon at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
- Maisie Smith for Strictly Ballroom the Musical, Churchill Theatre, Bromley and touring
Best Director (Sponsored by Arts Council England)
- Daniel Blake for Bones at Park Theatre, London
- Indiana Lown-Collins for The Solid Life of Sugar Water at Orange Tree Theatre, London
- Denzel Westley-Sanderson for The Importance of Being Earnest at Leeds Playhouse and touring
- Emily Ling Williams for A Playlist for the Revolution at Bush Theatre, London
Best Designer (Sponsored by Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL)
- Carly Brownbridge (set & costume) for Agatha at Theatre503, London
- Peter Butler (set & costume) for The Shape of Things at Park Theatre, London
- Andrea Scott (video) for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre, London
Best Writer (Sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions)
- Sasha Hails for Possession at Arcola Theatre, London
- Lenny Henry for August in England at Bush Theatre, London
- Anoushka Lucas for Elephant at Bush Theatre, London
- Jennifer Lunn for Es & Flo at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
- Richard Mylan for Sorter at Swansea Grand Theatre
- Zak Zarafshan for The Boys Are Kissing at Theatre503, London
Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (Sponsored by Crossroads Live)
- Gerel Falconer for Alice in Wonderland at Brixton House, London
- Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre, London
- Jenny Moore for Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London
- Lilly Pollard for Sugar Coat at Southwark Playhouse, London
Best West End Debut Performer
- Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace
- Emily Fairn for Brokeback Mountain at @sohoplace
- Mike Faist for Brokeback Mountain at @sohoplace
- Kyle Ramar Freeman for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre
- Gabriel Howell for The Unfriend at Criterion Theatre
- Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Phoenix Theatre
- Zachary Quinto for Best of Enemies at Noël Coward Theatre
- Samira Wiley for Blues for an Alabama Sky at National Theatre
Best Creative West End Debut (Sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment)
- Joe Bunker (Musical Director) for Operation Mincemeat at Fortune Theatre
- SpitLip (David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts) for Operation Mincemeat at Fortune Theatre
- Tingying Dong for The Crucible at National Theatre and Gielgud Theatre
- Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre
- Scott Le Crass for Rose at Ambassadors Theatre
- Rob Madge for My Son's a Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre