The Black British Theatre Awards returned to London’s Piccadilly Theatre last night for its seventh annual ceremony, celebrating Black excellence and creativity across UK theatre.
Sponsored by ATG Entertainment and presented in partnership with Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Global Creatures, and Playful Productions, the 2025 BBTAs honoured a year of groundbreaking storytelling and artistic achievement.
The star-studded evening was hosted by a lineup of celebrated presenters including Vanessa Williams, Matt Henry MBE, Cush Jumbo OBE, Baroness Lola Young, David Blake, Miriam-Teak Lee, Cherrelle Skeete, Miranda Cromwell and Jason Pennycooke.
Audiences were treated to unforgettable performances from Alexandra Burke, Beverley Knight, the Kingdom Choir, and the casts of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and The Harder They Come.
Among the night’s biggest winners was Lynette Linton, who took home three awards for her work on Shifters, Intimate Apparel, and Alterations.
Beverley Knight was awarded Best Female Lead Actor in a Play for her performance in Marie & Rosetta at The Rose Theatre.
Lynette Linton also won Best Director for Intimate Apparel at Donmar Warehouse, while Arinzé Kene was named Best Male Lead Actor in a Play for Alterations at the National Theatre.
Jay Perry triumphed as Best Male Lead Actor in a Musical for Hamilton, and Shanay Holmes won Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical for Oliver! The Musical at the Gielgud Theatre.
The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre was awarded Best Musical Production, while Shifters at the Duke of York’s Theatre won Best Production – Play.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Creatives Group
- Best Producer — Chuchu Nwagu
- Best Director — Lynette Linton, Intimate Apparel, Donmar Warehouse
- Best Musical Director — Takisha Sargent, The Women of Llanrumney, Theatre Royal Stratford East
- Best Choreographer or Movement Director — Ingrid Mackinnon, Princess Essex, Shakespeare’s Globe
- Best Dance Production or Performer — Our Mighty Groove, Sadler’s Wells East & Uchenna Dance
Recognition Group (Body of Work)
- Best Sound and/or Lighting Design — Eamonn O’Dwyer
- Theatre Design — Georgie Lynch
- Book and Lyrics — Trish Cooke
- Best Playwright — Anne Odeke
- Best Casting Director — Heather Basten
Play Awards
- Best Male Lead Actor in a Play — Arinzé Kene, Alterations, National Theatre
- Best Female Lead Actor in a Play — Beverley Knight, Marie & Rosetta, The Rose Theatre
- Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play — Emmanuel Akwafo, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bridge Theatre
- Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play — Cash Holland, A Raisin in the Sun, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
- Best Production – Play — Shifters, Duke of York’s Theatre
Musical Awards
- Best Male Lead Actor in a Musical — Jay Perry, Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre
- Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical — Shanay Holmes, Oliver! The Musical, Gielgud Theatre
- Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical — Cedric Neal, Hadestown, Lyric Theatre
- Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical — Jade Marvin, Starlight Express, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
- Best Musical Production — The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
Champion & Achievement Awards
- Best Child Performer (Under 16) — Keilah Kofi, The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
- LGBTQIA+ Champion — Newtion Matthews
- Best Teacher — Stewart Avon-Arnold, Studio 59
- Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick Award — Liam Godwin
- Lifetime Achievement Award — Nicola Blackman
More information can be found here.
