Highlights from inside the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards

The curtain has fallen on another WhatsOnStage Awards, and for our 26th year, we returned to The London Palladium to celebrate the very best of theatre from across the UK.

Inside the auditorium, audiences were treated to exclusive performances from new musicals like The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and 13 Going On 30 The Musical, the winning revival of Young Frankenstein and firm West End favourites, including the big winner of the night, Paddington The Musical. 

You can find out more about our glitzy concert here!

We share our immense gratitude to everyone working backstage and behind-the-scenes, our sponsors, our wonderful hosts, Gina and Mazz Murray, all of the nominees, winners, and, of course, you, the readers and voters. It’s thanks to everyone that we have so many highlights to pick from!

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Paddington picked up nine awards – and joined Tom Fletcher on stage

No hard stares from the Paddington The Musical company, as with marmalade-covered hands, they grabbed nine trophies. It matches the previous record set for most wins. To mark the occasion, songwriter Tom Fletcher performed “Explorer and the Bear” on stage with Paddington himself and saw out the first act.

Zoe Birkett celebrated International Women’s Day

WhatsOnStage fave Zoe Birkett was reporting live from the red carpet pre-show, having a great natter with guests arriving at The London Palladium! There, she asked all the important questions (expect the content soon!) and highlighted that 8 March marks International Women’s Day – something that she emphasised while presenting the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Direction.

@whatsonstage

Celebrating the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards AND International Women’s Day with these stars yesterday! 🎉 #InternationalWomensDay #Musical #Theatre #WOSAwards @Zoe Birkett

♬ original sound – WhatsOnStage

Amber Davies made a public plea for a ring from her boyfriend

Winning her first WhatsOnStage Award, Amber Davies likened herself to her The Great Gatsby character, Jordan Baker, and shouted out her co-stars, her best friend, Natalie Paris (who was presenting as part of SVN) and the love of her life, boyfriend and fellow performer, Ben Joyce. While a WhatsOnStage Award surely means all of her dreams have come true, Davies made a not-so-subtle hint to Joyce, using a chart-topping song…

Mazz and Gina Murray remixed Raye

It wasn’t the first time that the Palladium had asked “Where Is My Husband?” as our glamorous hosts kick-started the show with a stagey take on Raye’s song. They, alongside a troupe of dancers, presented the earworm as a tongue-in-cheek shoutout to casting directors and the intricacies of the acting profession!

Mary Todd Lincoln presented an award

“I should have been nominated in every category; my chances of winning would be much higher,” Mason Alexander Park, as Mary Todd Lincoln, told reporters on the red carpet! The two-time WhatsOnStage Award nominee, who is currently leading the hoot of a cabaret-play (a cabar-play, if you will), arrived in character, with swishing skirts and curls. Park presented the Award for Best Takeover Performance to the West End’s Elphaba, Emma Kingston.

@whatsonstage

Mary Todd Lincoln (Mason Alexander Park) has arrived at the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards! #WOSAwards #MasonAlexanderPark #OhMary

♬ original sound – WhatsOnStage

The cast for High School Musical was revealed on stage

We were “Breaking Free” of embargoes and had the honour of announcing the lead cast for the upcoming revival of High School Musical live on stage, before the Wildcats treated us to a duet. Get the info here!

Oh, that wasn’t our only exclusive! Best New Play winner The Comedy About Spies will be returning to the West End this year.

Jonathan Bailey offered everyone a beer on WhatsOnStage – and we delivered

In his winner’s speech, Jonathan Bailey insisted that everybody crack open a cold one on WhatsOnStage. And what can we say, dear reader? We were most obliged. Guests who joined us at our official afterparty at HERE at Outernet were offered beverages a-plenty, including those from our partnership with Birra Moretti.

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The SNL UK cast danced the night away

They might be set to appear on Saturday Night Live, but the cast spent their Sunday night with us at the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards! Dancing wasn’t only reserved for the after-party! Hammed Animashaun, Annabel Marlow and George Fouracres presented the Award for Best Concert Event and the music from our 24-piece orchestra (directed by Alex Parker) stirred a synchronised dance.

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Rachel Zegler won her first – and her second – WhatsOnStage Award

It was a big night for Rachel Zegler, who picked up the Award for Best Performance in a Musical AND for Best Concert Event – with both shows taking place at The London Palladium. She led Evita summer at the Argyll Street theatre, a much-missed memory as the revival picked up five awards.

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Three Christines celebrated Phantom of the Opera’s anniversary

Why have one Christine Daaé when you can have three? Lily Kerhoas, Beatrice Penny-Touré, and Colleen Rose Curran sang a beautiful rendition of “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” as the much-loved West End show kicks off its 40th anniversary. Speaking of 40th birthdays, Les Misérables continued its joyeux anniversaire with a win for Best West End Show.

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