Ian Charleson Awards 2026 nominees revealed

The nominees have been revealed for this year’s Ian Charleson Awards.

The annual prize, named in memory of the acclaimed actor who died in 1990, recognises outstanding performances by actors under the age of 30 in classical stage roles (written before 1918).

The winners will be revealed later in the year in a ceremony at the National Theatre, with the nominees revealed by the Sunday Times as:

• • Daniel Adeosun, 26, Much Ado About Nothing, Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Rawaed Asde, 24, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s Globe
  • Ned Costello, 28, Titus Andronicus, Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Imogen Elliott, 26, As You Like It, Theatre Royal Bath
  • Isis Hainsworth, 27, Measure for Measure, Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Kitty Hawthorne, 29, The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre
  • Kasper Hilton-Hille, 25, Troilus and Cressida, Shakespeare’s Globe
  • Francesca Mills, 29, Hamlet, National Theatre
  • Kyle Ndukuba, 22, Romeo and Juliet, Bristol Old Vic/ Hackney Empire/Coventry Belgrade
  • Mason Alexander Park, 29, The Tempest/ Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
  • Harmony Rose-Bremner, 26, The Seagull, Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh/Chichester
  • Stuart Thompson, 26, Three Sisters, Shakespeare’s Globe
  • Nia Towle, 28, Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company