Theatre News

Ian Charleson Awards winners revealed

The three winners were revealed at the National Theatre

Alex Wood

Alex Wood

| London |

26 May 2026

The three winners for this year's awards, photos by Johan Persson, Helen Murray and Marc Brenner
The three winners for this year’s awards, photos by Johan Persson, Helen Murray and Marc Brenner

The winners 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 were revealed in a ceremony at the National Theatre, with the prizes announced by The Sunday Times as:

Winner:

Second prize:

Third prize:

Commendations went to:

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

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