Nominees announced for The Stage Debut Awards

Nominees have been revealed for this year’s round of The Stage Debut Awards.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 1 October in central London.

Best Performer in a Play (Sponsored by Cabbells):

• Bukky Bakray for Sleepova at Bush Theatre, London
• Rita Bernard-Shaw for Trouble in Butetown at Donmar Warehouse, London
• Natalie Blair for Spring and Port Wine at Octagon Theatre, Bolton
• Rhian Blundell for Let the Right One In at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
• Elan Davies for Imrie at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
• Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran for The Importance of Being Earnest at Leeds Playhouse and touring
• Daniel Rock for Richard the Second at Omnibus Theatre, London and touring
• Isobel Thom for I, Joan at Shakespeare’s Globe, London

Best Performer in a Musical (Sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line):

• Liv Andrusier for Ride at Charing Cross Theatre, London
• Josh Barnett for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London
• Arcangelo Ciulla for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London
• Carla Dixon-Hernandez for Mrs Doubtfire at Shaftesbury Theatre, London
• Drew Hylton for Unexpected Twist: An Oliver Twisted Tale at Royal and Derngate, Northampton and touring
• Jessica Lee for Miss Saigon at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
• Maisie Smith for Strictly Ballroom the Musical, Churchill Theatre, Bromley and touring

Best Director: (Sponsored by Arts Council England)

• Daniel Blake for Bones at Park Theatre, London
• Indiana Lown-Collins for The Solid Life of Sugar Water at Orange Tree Theatre, London
• Denzel Westley-Sanderson for The Importance of Being Earnest at Leeds Playhouse and touring
• Emily Ling Williams for A Playlist for the Revolution at Bush Theatre, London

Best Designer (Sponsored by Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL):

• Carly Brownbridge (set and costume) for Agatha at Theatre503, London
• Peter Butler (set and costume) for The Shape of Things at Park Theatre, London
• Andrea Scott (video) for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre, London

Best Writer  (Sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions):

• Sasha Hails for Possession at Arcola Theatre, London
• Lenny Henry for August in England at Bush Theatre, London
• Anoushka Lucas for Elephant at Bush Theatre, London
• Jennifer Lunn for Es & Flo at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
• Richard Mylan for Sorter at Swansea Grand Theatre
• Zak Zarafshan for The Boys Are Kissing at Theatre503, London

Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (Sponsored by Crossroads Live):

• Gerel Falconer for Alice in Wonderland at Brixton House, London
• Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre, London
• Jenny Moore for Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London
• Lilly Pollard for Sugar Coat at Southwark Playhouse, London

Best West End Debut Performer:

• Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace
• Emily Fairn for Brokeback Mountain at @sohoplace
• Mike Faist for Brokeback Mountain at @sohoplace
• Kyle Ramar Freeman for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre
• Gabriel Howell for The Unfriend at Criterion Theatre
• Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Phoenix Theatre
• Zachary Quinto for Best of Enemies at Noël Coward Theatre
• Samira Wiley for Blues for an Alabama Sky at National Theatre

Best Creative West End Debut: (Sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment)

• Joe Bunker (Musical Director) for Operation Mincemeat at Fortune Theatre
• David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts (SpitLip) for Operation Mincemeat at Fortune Theatre
• Tingying Dong for The Crucible at National Theatre and Gielgud Theatre
• Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre
• Scott Le Crass for Rose at Ambassadors Theatre
• Rob Madge for My Son’s a Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre