Hollywood star Rachel Zegler has been named Best West End Debut Performer at The Stage Debut Awards 2025, in association with Netflix.
Zegler won for her critically acclaimed performance as Eva Perón in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Evita at the London Palladium. The award, the only category decided by public vote, places her alongside past winners including Jodie Comer, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Jack Wolfe.
Hosted by Julian Clary at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, the ceremony celebrated emerging talent across UK theatre. Clary said, “It’s so wonderful to be able to mix with emerging talent. The enthusiasm in the room was palpable.”
The awards recognised debut work across eight categories, with 46 nominees from all four nations of the UK.
Richard Mylan won Best Director for Mumfighter at Swansea Grand Theatre, praised for its visceral staging of a one-woman play.
Best Writer was awarded jointly to Milly Sweeney for Water Colour, produced by Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Byre Theatre, and Ava Pickett for 1536 at the Almeida Theatre.
Best Performer in a Play was shared between Hilson Agbangbe for Wonder Boy at Bristol Old Vic and Lucy Karczewski for Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s Theatre.
Leesa Tulley won Best Musical Performer for Why Am I So Single? at the Garrick Theatre, with judges praising her “exquisite voice and astonishing vocal range.”
Australian writer Yve Blake took home Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer for Fangirls at Lyric Hammersmith.
Best Designer went to Hannah Schmidt for her work on The Passenger (Finborough Theatre) and Personal Values (Hampstead Theatre).
Mark Rosenblatt won Best Creative West End Debut for Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre, a play about Roald Dahl heading to Broadway in 2026.
Alistair Smith, editor of The Stage, said: “This year’s winners range from Hollywood star Rachel Zegler making her West End debut to our most regionally and internationally diverse line-up yet. It’s a vivid reminder of the extraordinary breadth of artists making their debuts on UK stages – and a clear sign that the future of the sector is in safe hands.”
The evening also featured performances from Just For One Day’s Craige Els, Jesus Christ Superstar’s Parisa Shamir, Tobias Turley from Hot Mess, and a surprise finale from the cast of Magic Mike Live.
Full List of Winners – The Stage Debut Awards 2025
- Best Performer in a Play: Hilson Agbangbe (Wonder Boy, Bristol Old Vic) and Lucy Karczewski (Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre)
- Best Performer in a Musical: Leesa Tulley (Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre)
- Best Director: Richard Mylan (Mumfighter, Swansea Grand Theatre)
- Best Designer: Hannah Schmidt (The Passenger, Finborough Theatre / Personal Values, Hampstead Theatre)
- Best Writer: Ava Pickett (1536, Almeida Theatre) and Milly Sweeney (Water Colour, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Byre Theatre)
- Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer: Yve Blake (Fangirls, Lyric Hammersmith)
- Best West End Debut Performer: Rachel Zegler (Evita, London Palladium)
- Best Creative West End Debut: Mark Rosenblatt (Giant, Harold Pinter Theatre)
More information can be found here.
