WINNERS ANNOUNCED
FOR THE INAUGURAL
STALLS TO STAGE AWARDS
The organisers of the Stalls to Stage Awards are proud to announce its inaugural cohort of winners, following an industry ceremony at the Bush Theatre, London on Sunday, 26 January 2025.
Established to celebrate the best of Theatre, the Awards saw 105 nominees across 25 categories. Shows opened between 1st October 2023 and 30th September 2024 were eligible for consideration by a team of creators, art makers and theatre fans, the shortlist of which were then voted upon by the general public, with 3500 votes and counting.
In the Plays and Musicals categories, ROMEO & JULIET led the Play awards with Tomiwa Edun and Freema Agyeman awarded Best Supporting Actor/Actress in a Play respectively. Andrew Scott was recognised as Best Actor in a Play for his performance in VANYA, with Denise Gough and Heather Agyepong jointly named Best Actress in a Play for PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS and SHIFTERS. HADESTOWN led the Musicals category with Melanie La Barrie and Dónal Finn awarded Best Supporting Actress and Best Actor in a Musical. NEXT TO NORMAL also took home two awards with Jack Wolfe and Caissie Levy winning Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress in a Musical (the former alongside Mitchell Zhangazha for MJ THE MUSICAL).
The Production awards were given to STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW, HADESTOWN and HAMILTON (UK & Ireland Tour) for Best Play (with Miriam Buether also winning Best Set Design for the show), Best Musical and Best Touring Production respectively. Jamie Muscato’s solo concert at Cadogan Hall, presented by FOURTH WALL LIVE and WESTWAY MUSIC,alongside the staged concert production of Spring Awakening at Victoria Palace Theatre, produced by JACK MAPLE and EVELYN HOSKINS, also received a special mention.
The Performance category celebrated lesser-known roles, underrepresented artists and emerging talent. Having just led an audience acclaimed world premiere run in WHY AM I SO SINGLE?, Jo Foster was awarded Best Non- Binary Performer, with Grace Hodgett Young (SUNSET BOULEVARD and HADESTOWN) and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (ROMEO & JULIET) recognised for Best Graduate and Best Professional or West End Debut. The work of swings and takeover performances were also highlighted in Madeline Charlemagne and Lauren Azania’s individual performances in HADESTOWN, earning them Best Takeover and Best Performance by a Cover/Alternate respectively.
The final batch of winners paid tribute to the unsung heroes driving change in the constantly evolving theatrical landscape. Clint Dyer & Roy Williams, Lynette Linton and Jacob Sparrow were recognised for their playwriting, directorial and casting achievements earning Best Writer for DEATH OF ENGLAND, Best Director for SHIFTERS and Best Casting for HADESTOWN, THE HOT WING KING and THE BIG LIFE. Rob Madge and Amy Trigg’s advocacy efforts did not go unnoticed, as they each received the Award for LGBTQ+ Champion and Disability Champion.
Finally, in loving memory of the community spirit exemplified by individuals and organisations within the industry, the late Gavin Creel was honoured with the Special Recognition Award, renamed after the actor himself for future years moving forward.
Speaking of the memorable event, Bri O’Reilly, Founder and Director of Stalls to Stage said, ‘When I decided in September to do the Stalls to Stage Awards, I didn’t for a moment imagine it would get the response that it did when I posted nominees. The joy that it created was not something I had anticipated at all, never mind the sheer number of votes that flooded in. When I decided in October that if I’m doing it then I should really do it and put on a whole night of celebration, all I had was unmedicated ADHD and a healthy dose of delusion. I could not have fathomed the response from our guests last night. The warmth, the joy, the love, it was beyond palpable, I still feel it now. Thank you isn’t enough but it’s all I have right now. A huge congratulations to all the winners, and all the nominees, and here’s to Year 2!’
The rejoiceful ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, nominees and performers from across the performing arts industry, hosted by Marcus Collick with a roundup of presenters including Christina Bennington, Natalie Kassanga, Rolan Bell, Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, Sharon Rose, Dylan Wood, Ryan Reid, Reda Elazouar, Jamael Westman and Jyuddah Jaymes.