Black British Theatre Awards 2023 nominations announced

Nominees have been announced for this year’s Black Theatre Awards 2023.

Hit West End musical TINA – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldywch Theatre comes out a big winner of the nominations with five nods, and Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre in London has bagged three nominations.

The awards will take place on Sunday 29 October 2023 in the Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre in London.

The Black British Theatre Awards are the UK’s first awards to celebrate the excellence and influence of Black performers and creatives within the UK theatre industry.

Their three founding patrons who support and champion activities across the sector are: Television presenter, radio broadcaster and journalist Brenda Emmanus OBE; former Chief Executive of The Place, Director of The Africa Centre, and choreographer and dancer with London Contemporary Dance Theatre Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE; and composer, visionary artist, cultural activist and music educator Dr Shirley Thompson OBE.

Clint Dyer, Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre, said in a statement: “After a wonderful first outing at the National Theatre, it feels the perfect thing to host this ground breaking and vital event again at the NT.”

Check out last year’s winners of the Black Theatre Awards 2022.

Black Theatre Awards 2023 – Nominations

Creatives group

Best director award

Denzel Westley-Sanderson, The Importance of Being Earnest – UK Tour
Matthew Xia, Tambo and Bones – Actors Touring Company and Theatre Royal Stratford East
Mya Onwugbonu, Hear Me Now – Southwark Playhouse Theatre

Best producer award

Ben Quashie, Alice in Wonderland – Brixton House Theatre
Jazz Lintott and Frank Skully, Going for Gold – UK Tour
Shereener Browne, PlayFight – Pleasance Theatre and Seven Dials Playhouse

Best musical director award

Ian Oakley, The Color Purple – UK Tour
Sean Green, Sylvia – the Old Vic Theatre
Sean Mayes, Mandela – the Young Vic

Best choreographer or movement director award

Kloe Dean, Tambo and Bones – Actors Touring Company and Theatre Royal Stratford East
Mthuthuzeli November, Nina: By Whatever Means – UK Tour
Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, The Importance of Being Earnest – UK Tour

Best opera production or performer award

April Koyejo-Audiger, The Magic Flute – UK Tour
English National Opera, Blue – English National Opera
Nadine Benjamin, Blue – English National Opera

Best dance production or performer award

Ballet Black, Nina: By Whatever Means – UK Tour
Isabela Coracy, Nina: By Whatever Means – UK Tour
Tonyé Scott-Obené, I Am Here – UK Tour

Recognition group (body of work)

Best lighting design award

Joshie Harriette
Simeon Miller
Simisola Majekodunmi

Best sound design awards

Rasaq Kukoyi
Tony Gayle
Xana

Theatre design award

Debbie Duru
Fay Fullerton
Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey

Best playwright award

Adenike Ojo
David Alade
Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini

Book and lyrics award

Gerel Falconer

Plays

Best supporting female actor in a play award

Bola Akeju, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play – Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Sasha Frost, Noises Off – UK Tour
Toyin Ayedun-Alase, Alice in Wonderland – Brixton House Theatre

Best supporting male actor in a play award

Christian Alifoe, Sucker Punch – UK Tour
Khai Shaw, Alice in Wonderland -– Brixton House Theatre
Fode Simbo, Under the Kundè Tree – Southwark Playhouse Theatre

Best female lead actor in a play award

Aminita Francis, Family Tree – UK Tour
Kibong Tanji, Recognition – Talawa Theatre Company
Toyin Ayedun-Alase, The Clinic – Almeida Theatre

Best male lead actor in a play award

David Alade, Sunny Side Up – Theatre Peckham
Gamba Cole, Housemates Returns: Chicken Burger N Chips – Brixton House Theatre
Jazz Lintott, Going for Gold – UK Tour

Best non binary performer in a play award

Phoebe Campbell, The Importance of Being Earnest – UK Tour
Sam Crerar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s Globe
Travis Alabanza, Burgerz – Southbank Centre

Best production – play award

Going For Gold – UK Tour
Tambo and Bones – Actors Touring Company and Theatre Royal Stratford East
The Importance of Being Earnest – UK Tour

Musicals

Best supporting female actor in a musical award

Billie-Kay Payne, Annie the Musical – UK Tour
Charis Alexandra, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Aldwych Theatre
Irene Myrtle Forrester, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Aldwych Theatre

Best supporting male actor in a musical award

Jay Perry, Sylvia – The Old Vic
Kylan Denis, Matilda the Musical – Cambridge Theatre
Kyrelle Lammy, Nativity: The Musical

Best female lead actor in a musical award

Elesha Paul Moses, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Aldwych Theatre
Heidi Williams, Matilda the Musical – Cambridge Theatre
Nicole-Lily Baisden, 42nd Street – Sadler’s Wells Theatre

Best male lead actor in a musical award

Caleb Roberts, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Aldwych Theatre
Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Newsies – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Owen Chaponda, The Lion King – The Lyceum Theatre

Best non binary performer in a musical award

Alex Thomas-Smith, & Juliet – Shaftesbury Theatre
Claudia Kariuki, Six the Musical – Vaudeville Theatre

Best musical production award

Sylvia –The Old Vic
The Color Purple – UK Tour
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Aldwych Theatre