Winners have been announced for the annual The Stage Debut Awards 2023, held tonight, 1 October 2023, at 8 Northumberland Avenue in London.

The awards recognise breakthrough theatre talent from the previous 12 months, celebrating outstanding professional debuts.

In terms of this year’s winners, the Best West End Debut award went to Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace, voted for by the public; the Best Performer in a Play award went to both Isobel Thom for I, Joan at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Elan Davies for Imrie at the Sherman Theatre Cardiff; the Best Creative West End Debut award went to Rob Madge for writing My Son’s a Queer, (But What Can You Do?), and Tingying Dong for sound design on the National Theatre’s The Crucible; Best Performer in a Musical was won by Jessica Lee for Miss Saigon at Crucible Theatre in Sheffield; and Anoushka Lucas picked up Best Writer for Elephant, and Emily Ling Williams won Best Director award for A Playlist for The Revolution – both at the Bush Theatre.

The awards were hosted by Drag artist and performer Divina De Campo, with performances from Rachael Wooding singing After the Rain from Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Emily Benjamin (Bronco Billy The Musical) performing Maybe this Time from Cabaret, and Jack Wolfe singing a number of his current show, Next to Normal.

For the first time, this year’s winners also took home a share of a £10,000 prize fund.

The Stage Debut Awards 2023 - Winner Rose Ayling Ellis. Photo by Alex Brenner
The Stage Debut Awards 2023 – Winner Rose Ayling Ellis. Photo by Alex Brenner

Presenters at this year’s awards included Callum Scott Howells (Cabaret, It’s a Sin), Omari Douglas (Cabaret, It’s a Sin), Faye Tozer (42nd Street), Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret, Romeo & Juliet, A Streetcar Named Desire), Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (Emilia), Prema Mehta (Hamnet), John Partridge (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), and Bertie Carvel.

Nominees were revealed last month, featuring 45 people across the 8 categories, with submissions based on debuts made before 17 July 2023. A judging panel selected by The Stage chose the winners, apart from the Best West End Debut Performer which is decided by public vote. This year’s judging panel consisted of Theatre critics Dave Fargnoli (Freelance), Dominic Cavendish (Telegraph), and Sam Marlowe (The Stage); The Stage editor Alistair Smith; Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye; and journalist and writer Holly Williams.

The Stage Debut Awards 2023 – Full List of Winners

Best Performer in a Play (Sponsored by Cabbells):

  • Elan Davies for Imrie at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
  • Isobel Thom for I, Joan at Shakespeare’s Globe, London

Best Performer in a Musical (Sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line):

  • Jessica Lee for Miss Saigon at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Best Director: (Sponsored by Arts Council England)

  • Emily Ling Williams for A Playlist for the Revolution at Bush Theatre, London

Best Designer (Sponsored by Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL):

Best Writer (Sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions):

  • Anoushka Lucas for Elephant at Bush Theatre, London

Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (Sponsored by Crossroads Live):

  • Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre, London

Best West End Debut Performer (Sponsored by TodayTix)

  • Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace

Best Creative West End Debut: (Sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment)

  • Tingying Dong (sound designer) for The Crucible at National Theatre and Gielgud Theatre
  • Rob Madge (writer) for My Son’s a Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre
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Main photo: The Stage Debut Awards 2023 - Winners. Photo by Alex Brenner

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