23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards – nominations explained

The annual event, which celebrates of all things theatre and the audiences that keep the lights on, sees our readers vote for their favourite performers, shows and creatives across a range of categories.

You can find out more about the event here, while the rules for eligibility are detailed below.

Categories

Readers will be able to nominate in the following categories:

Individual Categories
· Best Performer in a Musical
· Best Supporting Performer in a Musical
· Best Performer in a Play
· Best Supporting Performer in a Play
· Best Takeover Performance
· Best Professional Debut Performance

Production Categories
· Best New Musical
· Best Musical Revival
· Best New Play
· Best Play Revival
· Best West End Show
· Best Regional Theatre Production
· Best Off-West End Production

The shortlist for the technical categories (Casting Direction, Choreography, Costume Design, Direction, Graphic Design, Lighting Design, Music Team, Set Design, Sound Design and Video Design) will be once again decided by an independent panel of industry experts appointed by WhatsOnStage. Their shortlist will then be voted on by our lovely readers.

Eligibility

All live, original UK professional productions – and performers within these productions – whose performances began between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 are eligible in almost all of the categories.

Productions that have been eligible in previous years, plus any performers that have appeared in these productions between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 are not eligible in almost all categories.

The exceptions are:
· Best West End Show (more details below)
· Best Takeover Performance
· Best Professional Debut Performance

There are further rules for three categories:
Best Off-West End Production
Any professional production whose performances began in an Off-West End venue (in London) between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 is eligible.

Best Regional Production
Any professional production whose performances began in a venue outside of Greater London between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 is eligible.

Best West End Show
The award recognises the most popular show currently running in a West End theatre that will have played for at least 12 months up to 10 January 2023. This includes shows that began performances before 26 November 2021.