26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards nominations led by Paddington The Musical, Evita, The Importance of Being Earnest and more

The nominations for the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards have been revealed at the Bridge Theatre, with Into the Woods’ Gracie McGonigal, Hana Ichijo and Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson doing the honours.

A certain marmalade-loving bear leads the way this year, with 14 nominations, breaking a record previously held by & Juliet.

Paddington The Musical, written by Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale, is up for the coveted Best New Musical Award and has received recognition for its director Luke Sheppard and choreographer Ellen Kane, as well as for… *deep breath*… set design (Tom Pye), lighting design (Neil Austin), sound design (Gareth Owen), video design (Ash J Woodward), costume design (Gabriella Slade), wigs, hair and make-up design (Campbell Young Associates), casting (Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, Nick Hockaday and Annabelle Davis) and musical supervision/direction (Matt Brind).

That’s not all, though. Arti Shah and James Hameed are jointly nominated for Best Performer in a Musical for their portrayal of the bear himself, while Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is nominated for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for her turn as the villainous taxidermist, Millicent Clyde.

Newcomer Timi Akinyosade, who plays Tony in the show, is also up for Best Professional Debut Performance, alongside the likes of other performers starring in film to stage adaptations: The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen, Mia Carragher, and Burlesque the Musical’s Jess Folley and Asha Parker-Wallace.

In the play categories, the National Theatre’s The Importance of Being Earnest, currently playing in the West End, leads with five nominations. It’s up for The Londoner Best Play Revival – against tough competition from The Lady from the Sea at the Bridge Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Richard II at the Bridge Theatre, The Seagull at the Barbican Theatre, and A Streetcar Named Desire at Sheffield Crucible. Supporting performer Stephen Fry‘s portrayal of Lady Bracknell has received a nod, as well as recognition in the creative categories for costumes (Rae Smith), wigs, hair and make-up design (Smith, with Kate Elizabeth, Campbell Young Associates and Adele Brandman), and casting (Alastair Coomer).

Closely behind is a much-adored Much Ado with four nods. Performers Tom Hiddleston and Mason Alexander Park are up for lead and supporting, respectively, alongside Jamie Lloyd‘s nomination for his direction.

Lloyd’s second big hitter is from summer smash Evita, which received nine nominations, including Best Musical Revival. In the category, it’s up against Regent’s Park’s Brigadoon, the Watermill’s actor-musician Jesus Christ Superstar, Sheffield Theatres’ festive Little Shop of Horrors, Curve’s My Fair Lady, and the Menier and West End transfer of The Producers.

For its lead performers, Evita’s Rachel Zegler and Diego Andres Rodriguez, who played Eva Perón and Che, respectively, will battle it out against Shah and Hameed, Lauren Drew (Céline Dion in Titanique), Lucie Jones (Jenna in 13 Going On 30) and Jamie Muscato (Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby).

Bella Brown is in the supporting category alongside the likes of Amber Davies (Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby), Hamilton-Barritt, the jointly nominated Muses from Hercules (Candace Furbert, Sharlene Hector, Brianna Ogunbawo, Malinda Parris and Robyn Rose-Li), Grace Mouat (Lucy in 13 Going On 30), and Layton Williams (The Iceberg in Titanique).

Liz Duffy Adams’ Born With Teeth, the West End transfer of David Adjmi’s Stereophonic, and Samuel D Hunter’s Clarkston are jointly the most nominated new plays, each receiving four nominations, including Best New Play. Born With Teeth has nods for its video and lighting design, as well as for performer Ncuti Gatwa, while Stereophonic has been recognised for its sound design, music supervision, and set. Meanwhile, all three of Clarkston’s performers were recognised: Joe Locke for the SINE Digital Best Performer in a Play Award, Sophie Melville for Best Supporting Performer in a Play, and Ruaridh Mollica for Best Professional Debut.

Looking at new writing, the Travelzoo Best New Musical Award features The Great Gatsby, Hercules, Here and Now, Paddington The Musical, Shucked and Titanique. Henry Lewis and Henry Shields‘ The Comedy About Spies, Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia and Chris O’Connor’s Through It All Together are up against the aforementioned Clarkston, Born With Teeth and Stereophonic.

13 Going On 30 the Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar and My Fair Lady lead the way for productions outside of London, and in addition, regional studio spaces like Old Joint Stock Theatre, Hope Mill Theatre and Barn Theatre and Reading Rep Theatre all received nominations.

In the Best Takeover category, Rob Madge follows in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Williams, for their performance as the Emcee in Cabaret, alongside Eva Noblezada, currently playing Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Madge’s co-star, Hannah Dodd, is up for Best Professional Debut Performance.

There has also been a spike in love for Wicked – perhaps due to utter domination at the cinema box office – with Emma Kingston‘s takeover as Elphaba nominated and the show, which celebrates 20 years in London in 2026, re-entering the competition for Best West End Show. It’s up against Cabaret, Hadestown, Les Misérables, Oliver! and Operation Mincemeat.

Other notable names recognised for the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards include the likes of Jonathan Bailey (Richard II), Rosamund Pike (Inter Alia), Emma Corrin (The Seagull) and Yerin Ha (The Maids).

WhatsOnStage’s Alex Wood and Darius Thompson said:

You can read the full list of nominees here.