The Stage today (8 August 2019) announces the shortlist for The Stage Debut Awards 2019. The awards, now in their third year and presented in association with Access Entertainment, celebrate the best breakthrough talent in theatre, from actors and directors to designers, writers, composers and lyricists, all of whom have made their professional debuts in the past year.
In the categories with West End musical talent, two of Queens from Six compete for Best Actress in a Musical and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat's title star Jac Yarrow is up for Best Actor in a Musical, Broadway's Christie Prades from On Your Feet is in the running for Best End Debut, and award-winning performer Tyrone Huntley is nominated for his directorial debut with Ain't Misbehavin'. Also recognised from London musicals are Only Fools and Horses Ryan Hutton and Come From Away's Nathanael Campbell.
Alistair Smith, Editor of The Stage said:
“We’re delighted to announce another terrific set of nominees for The Stage Debut Awards 2019 in association with Access Entertainment, celebrating the country’s finest breakthrough talent. This year’s line-up features some extremely exciting young (and not-so-young) performers and creatives making superb work across the UK. It reflects not only the ongoing excellence but also the increasing diversity – in every sense – of the emerging theatre-makers who are positively shaping the future of British theatre.”
The Joe Allen Best West End Debut Award is the only category where the public decides the winner. Votes can be cast online here. This award celebrates a performer’s first time in London’s West End and voting closes at midnight on 8 September 2019. All winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at The Brewery, London on 15 September 2019.
Debut Awards 2019 shortlists
This includes musical categories and fields where musical talent is included.
Best Actress in a Musical – sponsored by Really Useful Group
- Georgina Ambrey for My Mother Said I Never Should and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
- Danielle Fiamanya for The Color Purple at the Curve, Leicester
- Maiya Quansah-Breed for Six at the Arts Theatre, London
- Jarneia Richard-Noel for Six at the Arts Theatre, London
Best Actor in a Musical – sponsored by Encore Radio
- Adam Hugill for Standing at the Sky's Edge at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
- Ryan Hutton for Only Fools and Horses The Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
- Jac Yarrow for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium, London
Best Director – sponsored by Smith & Williamson
- Atri Banerjee for Hobson's Choice at the Royal Exchange, Manchester
- Tyrone Huntley for Ain't Misbehavin' at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester
- Jade Lewis for Superhoe at the Royal Court, London
- Tom Scutt for Berberian Sound Studio at the Donmar Warehouse, London
Best Composer or Lyricist – sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment Group
- Oran Eldor and Marcus Stevens for Mythic the Musical at the Charing Cross Theatre, London
- Anaïs Mitchell for Hadestown at the National Theatre, London
- David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts for Operation Mincemeat at the New Diorama Theatre, London
- Femi Temowo for Death of a Salesman at the Young Vic, London
The Joe Allen Best West End Debut
- Matthew Broderick for The Starry Messenger at the Wyndham's Theatre
- Andrew Burnap for The Inheritance at the Noël Coward Theatre
- Nathanael Campbell for Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre
- Saffron Coomber for Emilia at the Vaudeville Theatre
- Sarah Gordy for Jellyfish at the National Theatre
- Ryan Hutton for Only Fools and Horses The Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Samuel H Levine for The Inheritance at the Noël Coward Theatre
- Pericles community cast for Pericles at the National Theatre
- Christie Prades for On Your Feet! at the London Coliseum
- Jac Yarrow for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium
Child Performer of the Year – sponsored by Stagecoach
- Caelan Edie for The Bodyguard Musical at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow and Tour
- Jack Meredith for Caroline or Change at the Playhouse Theatre, London
- Clara Read for The Wild Duck at the Almeida Theatre, London
- Taya Tower for The Hunt at the Almeida Theatre, London
