Hiba Elchikhe and Tim Mahendran today announced the nominations for the 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, the only major theatre prize-giving decided by the theatregoers themselves.
The announcement of the nominations marks the opening of the final voting stage (until 11 January), with winners announced at the annual Awards ceremony held on 11 February 2024 at The London Palladium for the first time in the awards’ history.
WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said today, “Watching our readers nominating in their record-setting droves was such a fantastic way to spend November and we’re thrilled to see them generate such a stellar and vibrant shortlist – filled with rising stars shoulder-to-shoulder with long-time favourites. It’s been an incredible year for the National Theatre, under out-going Artistic Director Rufus Norris, seeing the flagship venue receive an incredible 24 nominations across 5 productions – two of which, Dear England and The Motive and The Cue also transferred to the West End.
“Alongside our co-producers Alex Parker and Damian Sandys we’ve been assembling an exciting concert line-up laden with new musicals and fan favourites – ready to rock the iconic London Palladium in February. Now, it’s up to you to decide who take home the top prizes on the night!”
The Bridge Theatre’s critically acclaimed smash-hit production of Guys & Dolls leads the pack this year, with 12 nominations including Best Performer in a Musical for Marisha Wallace, Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for Cedric Neal, Best Professional Debut Performance for Andrew Richardson, Best Direction for Nicholas Hytner, Best Musical Revival, as well as nominations for Best Musical Supervision (Tom Brady), Best Choreography (Arlene Phillips with James Cousins), Best Costume Design (Bunny Christie), Best Lighting Design (Paule Constable), Best Set Design (Bunny Christie), Best Sound Design (Paul Arditti – double nominated for his work on Stranger Things: The First Shadow), and Best Graphic Design (Bridge Theatre). Also performing strongly in the musical categories are Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Boulevard with Nicole Scherzinger with 9 nominations, and Michael Longhurst’s production of Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse with 6 nominations.
This year was a brilliant one for the National Theatre, who receive 24 nominations in total – they lead the straight play categories with their phenomenally successful production of James Graham’s Dear England with 10 nominations, including Best Performer in a Play for Joseph Fiennes’ portrayal of Gareth Southgate, Best Supporting Performer in a Play for Will Close, Best Direction for Rupert Goold, Best New Play, Best Casting Direction for Bryony Jarvis-Taylor – also nominated for her work on The Witches, Best Choreography (Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf), Best Lighting Design for Jon Clark – one of 3 nominations for Clark, Best Sound Design (Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons), Best Video Design for Ash J Woodward – also nominated for The Witches, and Best Graphic Design (Rick Guest, Rob Rae and the NT Graphics Studio). Also featuring strongly in the straight play categories are Stranger Things: The First Shadow, currently in previews at the Phoenix Theatre, with 8 nominations, and The Effect – also directed by Lloyd, with 5 nominations at the National Theatre.
In addition to nominations for Dear England, The Effect and The Witches, the National Theatre takes nominations for The Motive and The Cue – about to open in the West End, and Phaedra.
Completing the gender-free performance categories, in the Best Performer in a Play category, facing Joseph Fiennes are Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell both for The Effect, Andrew Scott for VANYA, Sheridan Smith for Shirley Valentine, and James Norton for A Little Life. The latter production, also saw a double nomination in the Best Supporting Performer in a Play for Luke Thompson and Zubin Varla, who go up against Michele Austin (also for The Effect), Will Close (Dear England), Bryony Corrigan (I, Daniel Blake), and Anjana Vasan (A Streetcar Named Desire).
In the Best Performer in a Musical category Scherzinger and Wallace face stiff competition from Next to Normal’s Caissie Levy, Michael Ahomka-Lindsay for Disney’s Newsies, Natasha Hodgson for Operation Mincemeat, and Ed Larkin for The Little Bigs Things; and in the Best Supporting Performer in a Musical category, Cedric Neal’s fellow nominees are Aynrand Ferrer for Miss Saigon, Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat, Jason Manford for The Wizard of Oz, Amy Trigg for The Little Big Things and Jack Wolfe for Next to Normal.
Completing the performance categories, in Professional Debut alongside Andrew Richardson are Rita Bernard-Shaw for Trouble in Butetown, Laura Dawkes for Frozen, Lou Henry for SIX, Grace Hodgett-Young for Sunset Boulevard, and Louis McCartney for Stranger Things: The First Shadow; and in Best Takeover, Karis Anderson (TINA – The Tina Turner Musical), Cory English (Back to the Future: The Musical), Lucy St.Louis (Wicked) and three nominations for Cabaret for Mason Alexander Park, Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem, and Aimee Lou Wood.
Best New Musical is a closely contested category with Disney’s Newsies, The Little Big Things, Mrs Doubtfire, Next to Normal, Operation Mincemeat, and The Time Traveller’s Wife in contention; with Best Musical Revival featuring La Cage aux Folles, The Lord of the Rings, The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz up against the heavily nominated Guys & Dolls and Sunset Boulevard.
Dear England goes up against A Little Life, Cowbois, Hamnet, The Motive and The Cue and Stranger Things: The First Shadow for Best New Play; with Best Revival of a Play seeing nominations for A Streetcar Named Desire, The Effect, The Merchant of Venice 1936, The Pillowman, Shirley Valentine and VANYA.
Hytner and Goold, are joined by Polly Findlay for Assassins, Rebecca Frecknall for A Streetcar Named Desire, Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard and Sam Mendes for The Motive and The Cue in a heavily garlanded Best Direction category.
The long runners battle it out for Best West End Show, with Back to the Future: The Musical, Cabaret, Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera and SIX all aiming to be the fan favourite; with Best Off-West End Production featuring Flowers for Mrs Harris, George Takei’s Allegiance, Othello, Rebecca, Scouts! The Musical and The Shape of Things; and Best Regional Production between Boys from the Blackstuff, Choir Boy, In Dreams, The Lord of the Rings, Miss Saigon and To Wong Foo The Musical; and again a strong year for the Best Concert, a form that continues with strength post pandemic, with Ariana DeBose and Darren Criss up against Evita, Love Never Dies, Once and Schwartz at 75.
Taking place on Sunday 11 February 2024, the evening will see winners crowned across a range of categories. Theatregoers will also enjoy a host of exclusive live performances, which will be announced soon, from top stage talent, accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra. The event, co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys, is currently on sale.
Now in their 24th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major theatre awards decided by the theatregoers themselves. Voting is now open at https://awards.whatsonstage.com/
The 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards Nominations in Full:
BEST PERFORMER IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY TICKX
Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Natasha Hodgson, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Ed Larkin, The Little Big Things, @ sohoplace
Caissie Levy, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Marisha Wallace, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A MUSICAL SPONSORED BY NEWMAN DISPLAYS
Aynrand Ferrer, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Jason Manford, The Wizard of Oz, The London Palladium
Cedric Neal, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Amy Trigg, The Little Big Things, @ sohoplace
Jack Wolfe, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
BEST PERFORMER IN A PLAY SPONSORED BY SINE DIGITAL
Paapa Essiedu, The Effect, National Theatre
Joseph Fiennes, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
James Norton, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre
Taylor Russell, The Effect, National Theatre
Andrew Scott, VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre
Sheridan Smith, Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A PLAY
Michele Austin, The Effect, National Theatre
Will Close, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Bryony Corrigan, I, Daniel Blake, UK tour
Luke Thompson, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre
Zubin Varla, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre
Anjana Vasan, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre / Phoenix Theatre
BEST TAKEOVER PERFORMANCE SPONSORED BY AKT LONDON
Karis Anderson, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Cory English, Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
Mason Alexander Park, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Lucy St. Louis, Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Aimee Lou Wood, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
BEST PROFESSIONAL DEBUT PERFORMANCE SPONSORED BY AKA
Rita Bernard-Shaw, Trouble in Butetown, Donmar Warehouse
Laura Dawkes, Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Lou Henry, SIX, UK tour
Grace Hodgett-Young, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Andrew Richardson, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
BEST NEW MUSICAL SPONSORED BY TRAVELZOO
Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
The Little Big Things, @sohoplace
Mrs. Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre
Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL SPONSORED BY CONCORD THEATRICALS
Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
The Sound of Music, Chichester Festival Theatre
Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
The Wizard of Oz, Curve, Leicester and The London Palladium
BEST NEW PLAY SPONSORED BY TICKETMASTER
A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre
Cowbois, Swan Theatre
Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Hamnet , Swan Theatre / Garrick Theatre
The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
BEST PLAY REVIVAL SPONSORED BY EDWARDIAN HOTELS, OFFICAL HOTEL PARTNER
A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre / Phoenix Theatre
The Effect, National Theatre
The Merchant of Venice 1936, UK tour
The Pillowman, Duke of York’s Theatre
Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre
VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre
BEST WEST END SHOW SPONSORED BY DEWYNTERS
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre
Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre
The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty’s Theatre
SIX, Vaudeville Theatre
BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL
Boys from the Black Stuff, Royal Court, Liverpool
Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic
In Dreams, Leeds Playhouse
The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
BEST OFF-WEST END PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY THEATRICAL RIGHTS WORLDWIDE
Flowers for Mrs Harris, Riverside Studios
George Takei’s Allegiance, Charing Cross Theatre
Othello, Riverside Studios
Rebecca, Charing Cross Theatre
Scouts! The Musical, The Other Palace Studio
The Shape of Things, Park Theatre
BEST CONCERT EVENT
Ariana DeBose in Concert, The London Palladium
Darren Criss, The London Palladium
Evita in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Love Never Dies in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Once – In Concert, The London Palladium
Schwartz at 75, Lyric Theatre
BEST DIRECTION SPONSORED BY LOVETHEATRE
Polly Findlay, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre
Rebecca Frecknall, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre / Phoenix Theatre
Rupert Goold, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Nicholas Hytner, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Sam Mendes, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION/SUPERVISION
Mark Aspinall and Sioned Saunders, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
Nick Barstow and Nigel Lilley, Next To Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Cat Beveridge and Nigel Lilley, The Witches, National Theatre
Tom Brady, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Stephen Brooker, Alfonso Casado Trigo and Stephen Metcalfe,
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Gielgud Theatre
Alan Williams, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
BEST CASTING DIRECTION
Alastair Coomer and Naomi Downham, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
Anna Cooper, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Jill Green, The Little Big Things, @ sohoplace
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, The Witches, National Theatre
Jessica Ronane, Charlotte Sutton and Jim Carnahan, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY SPONSORED BY TANDEM MARKETING
Fabian Aloise, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Matt Cole, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Stephen Mear, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Arlene Phillips with James Cousins, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Free Your Mind, Factory International
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Bunny Christie, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre
Ryan Dawson Laight, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Gregory Gale, To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Gareth Pugh, Free Your Mind, Factory International
Grace Smart, Cowbois, Swan Theatre
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN SPONSORED BY WHITE LIGHT
Rory Beaton and Lucy Carter, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre
Jon Clark, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Jon Clark, The Effect, National Theatre
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Paule Constable, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Jack Knowles, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
BEST SET DESIGN SPONSORED BY PREEVUE
Miriam Buether, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Bunny Christie, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Lizzie Clachan, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre
Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre
Chloe Lamford, Phaedra, National Theatre
Morgan Large, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Paul Arditti, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Adam Fisher, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Tony Gayle, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
BEST VIDEO DESIGN SPONSORED BY GDL
59 Productions, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Andrzej Goulding, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
Andrzej Goulding, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre
Ash J Woodward, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
Ash J Woodward, The Witches, National Theatre
BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN SPONSORED BY HEXAGON PRINT
Bob King Creative, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Bridge Theatre, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Jeremy Coysten and North Design, Free Your Mind, Factory International
The Creative Partnership, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Feast Creative, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Rick Guest, Rob Rae and the NT Graphics Studio, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
