The Stage has today announced the hosts of The Stage Awards 2025, in association with Tysers Live. Rob Madge and Ellie-May Sheridan will host the ceremony at the Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre on Monday, January 20.
Rob Madge was honoured with Best West End Creative Debut at The Stage Debut Awards 2023 for the writing and performance of their one-person show My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?), which was a sweet yet triumphant celebration of queer joy and the power and importance of creativity. Ellie-May Sheridan was awarded Best Performer in a Play at The Stage Debut Awards 2024 for her scene-stealing performance as the sparky, sharp-minded Londoner Jenny Wren in London Tide at the National Theatre.
In addition to a special performance from co-host Rob Madge, they will be joined by the award-winning actor Jeevan Braich who will also perform. Jeevan Braich won Best Performer in a Musical at The Stage Debut Awards 2024 for a stunning and technically impressive performance in the lead role of Rusty in Starlight Express.
On hosting The Stage Awards, Rob Madge said: “I am honoured to be co hosting The Stage Awards with Ellie-May Sheridan. The Stage have been hugely supportive of my work and are continually championing new talent, so to be a part of an evening that continues to recognise and uplift all those brilliant individuals that make theatre, in all its aspects, the immensely special industry that it is, will be very exciting indeed.”
Ellie-May added: “I feel really honoured to be hosting The Stage Awards with Rob Madge, who I’ve admired for years. It’s going to be a great night celebrating some of the brilliant people and organisations that make our theatre so great!”
Since the Debut Awards launched in 2017, winners including Atri Banerjee, Lauren O’Leary, Katy Rudd, Miriam-Teak Lee, Shan Ako, Sam Tutty and the entire cast of For Black Boys…, Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh and Kaine Lawrence have also gone on to host The Stage Awards. The 2024 ceremony was hosted by previous winners Elan Davies and Isobel Thom.
The Stage Awards are the highest-profile awards celebrating theatre across the whole of the UK.
Now entering its 15th year, The Stage Awards has honoured over 100 exceptional winners, spanning prestigious national theatres and major organisations to intimate, hidden gems and the unsung heroes who keep them running.
The award categories include: Theatre of the Year sponsored by Harlequin Floors, Theatre Building of the Year sponsored by TAIT, Producer of the Year sponsored by 3 Mills Studios, Innovation Award sponsored by Charcoalblue, Community Award sponsored by Moore Kingston Smith, International Award sponsored by Concord Theatricals, Unsung Hero sponsored by Encore and Campaign of the Year sponsored by Cabbells.
Former winners have included Battersea Arts Centre, National Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions, Lyric Theatre, Belfast, Leeds Playhouse, ATG Productions, Theatr Clwyd, Bush Theatre and Nica Burns, as well as casting directors and front of house staff.
Submissions for The Stage Awards in association with Tysers Live, opened on October 21 and closed on November 21. The shortlist was announced on December 19.
The 2025 shortlist spans the four UK nations including A Play, a Pie and a Pint, Ballet Nights, The Javaad Alipoor Company, Lyric Theatre, Befast, Nottingham Playhouse, Orange Tree Theatre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Synergy Theatre Project and many more.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on January 20, 2025 at the Royal Opera House, London. Tickets for the ceremony can be purchased here.
For more information about The Stage Awards visit thestage.co.uk/awards/the-stage-awards
