Nominees for the Black British Theatre Awards announced

The nominees for this year’s Black British Theatre Awards have been revealed.

Celebrating Black excellence on stages across the UK, the awards winners will be unveiled in a ceremony at the Lyceum Theatre (traditionally the home of The Lion King) on 4 November.

The shortlist comes as the organisation unveils its first “Act for Action” report, highlighting the systemic challenges and inequalities in the UK theatre community.

Seventy-one per cent of Black theatre creatives say they have experienced racial bias in their work, while 60 per cent of on-stage performers say they felt unsupported entering the industry – rising to 79 per cent for those in off-stage roles.

CREATIVES GROUP

BEST PRODUCER
Chuchu Nwagu, Red Pitch, @sohoplace
Jade Samuels, The Architect, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival
Landé Belo, Ain’t I A Woman?, The Tower Theatre

BEST DIRECTOR
Dermot Daly, Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz, Royal Court Theatre
Landé Belo, Ain’t I A Woman?, The Tower Theatre
Nancy Medina, Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR
CeCelia Wickham-Anderson, Jamaica Love, Trafalgar Theatre and tour
Hannah Ledwidge, No More Mr Nice Guy, Birmingham Rep
Sean Green, MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre

BEST CHOREOGRAPHER OR MOVEMENT DIRECTOR
Christopher Tendai, Closer To Heaven, The Turbine Theatre
Lanre Malaolu, Now, I See, Stratford East Theatre
Mthuthuzeli November, The Waiting Game, Ballet Black

BEST DANCE PRODUCTION OR PERFORMER
Boy Blue, Cycles, The Barbican Theatre
Ebony Thomas, The Waiting Game, Ballet Black
Monique Jonas, Romeo and Juliet, Sadler’s Wells Theatre

RECOGNITION GROUP (BODY OF WORK) AWARDS

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Joshie Harriette
Ryan Day
Simisola Majekodunmi

BEST SOUND DESIGN
Khalil Madovi
Tony Gayle
Xana

THEATRE DESIGN
Debbie Duru
Georgia Wilmot
Jessica Cabassa

BOOK AND LYRICS
Anoushka Lucas
DK Fashola
Lady Lykez

BEST PLAYWRIGHT
Lucie Lutte
Siana Bangura
Tobi King Bakare

BEST CASTING DIRECTOR
Selma Nicholls
Heather Basten
Isabella Odoffin

PLAY AWARDS

BEST MALE LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Christopher Mbaki, Before I Go, Brixton House
Neil Reidman, Without, the Omnibus Theatre, Courtyard Theatre
Terique Jarrett, Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic

BEST FEMALE LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Ellena Vincent, The Book of Grace, Arcola Theatre
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre
Tiwa Lade, My Father’s Fable, The Bush Theatre

BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
Branden Cook, Skeleton Crew, Donmar Warehouse
Frank Skully, Kiss, Marry, Kill, Dante or Die, tour
Joshua-Alexander Williams, Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
Adele James, Underdog: The Other Other Brontë, The National Theatre
Freema Agyeman, Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre
Mia Jerome, Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre

BEST PRODUCTION – PLAY
Ain’t I A Woman?, The Tower Theatre
Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic
Swim, Aunty, Swim!, Belgrade Theatre

MUSICAL AWARDS

BEST MALE LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Ivano Turco, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Tour
Layton Williams, Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Owen Chaponda, The Lion King, The Lyceum Theatre

BEST FEMALE LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Jenny Fitzpatrick, Oliver!, Leeds Playhouse
Karis Anderson, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, Cruel Intentions – The ‘90s Musical, The Other Palace

BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Ashley Campbell, Just For One Day, The Old Vic
Marley Fenton, The Wizard of Oz, Norwich Theatre Royal
Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Elèna Gyasi, Mean Girls, Savoy Theatre
Phebe Edwards, MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
Raphaella Philbert, The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre

BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION
Jamaica Love, UK Tour
MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, The Aldwych Theatre

CHAMPION AWARDS
BEST CHILD PERFORMER (UNDER 16)
Dylan Trigger, MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
Janai Bartlett, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Mia-Nicole Alexander, The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre

BEST NON BINARY PERFORMER
Claudia Kariuki
Phoebe Campbell
Sam Crerar

LGBTQIA+ CHAMPION
Ivano Turco
Layton Williams

DISABILITY CHAMPION
Chris Fonseca
Linseigh Green
Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
BEST TEACHER
Dannika Dudfield, Soar Performance Academy
Kamara Gray, Artistry Youth Dance
Nadine Kennedy Wood, NDC College

BEST GRADUATE
Joshua Alexander-Williams, Romeo and Juliet, ArtsEd
Kwamé Kandekore, MJ the Musical, Emil Dale Academy
Sedona Sky, Heathers the Musical, ArtsEd

LORD Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick AWARD
Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward, West End Musical Productions

FOUNDERS CHOICE AWARD
Danny Sapani, King Lear, Almeida Theatre

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Namron OBE