On Sunday 27th February, the who's who of British theatre gathered together to celebrate everything we've all been through over the last two years... and for some reason I was there too!
I wanted to write a little bit about what it was like to be there and why the night was so special so read on and prepare for me to ramble... but what's new there?
The 2021 Whatsonstage awards took place virtually so this event was the first time they have done one with an audience in 2 years. Ahead of Aprils Oliviers, this was the first major theatre awards ceremony in London since before the pandemic and, for many, the first chance to be in a room with all of their fellow performers and creatives.
When the last awards took place in March 2020, 'All That Dazzles' was nothing more than a sparkle in my eye. Being invited to mingle with so many people I admire and adore was a surreal experience - turning around to find yourself sandwiched between Lily Allen and Carrie Hope Fletcher isn't something I would have ever expected to be in - though there are worse ways to spend a Sunday night!
Now back for its 22nd awards, What made the event really special was the love of theatre that shone through from every single person in attendance. Opportunities to celebrate our shared love of the Arts have been rare of late. While theatres have now been re-open for 9 months, restrictions and changing guidelines have meant an event like this wasn't possible before. We all needed to celebrate each other, what everybody has achieved over the last two years and theatre as a whole - and that we did!
Egos were well and truly put to one side for the evening - this was a night where everybody wanted to celebrate eachother. It almost felt like the winners didn't matter as everybody was a winner to be there having contributed to the art form in some way over the past two years. Watching people from different shows cheer for their supposed competition in other shows was incredibly heartwarming and ensured the evening was always joyous. Then let's talk about the outfits - I thought I was sparkly in my ridiculous attire (I literally peeled sequins off my legs when I got home) but I was well and truly outdazzled. Truly fabulous everywhere you looked!
The awards boasted some special performances from the stars of the West End with Samantha Barks demonstrating why she is a fabulous leading lady with a flawless 'Let It Go', the cast of Curve Leicester's West Side Story bringing 'Dear Official Krupke' from the show to a West End stage and Julian Ovenden and Gina Beck whetting the audiences appetites for the upcoming London run of 'South Pacific'. The final performance of the night was a beautiful tribute to Stephen Sondheim, culminating in 'Being Alive' - a poignant reminder to the beauty of theatre and what we have lost since the last awards ceremony.
Compered by the fantastic Jodie Prenger and Tom Read-Wilson, they kept the audience entertained as did the presenters of the awards with Kitty Scott-Claus and Ella VaDay from Drag Race providing laughs as they ventured off-script. Oscar Conlon-Morrey was as wonderful as ever as he battled with sound issues in his own hilarious way
On to the actual awards. Frozen were the big winners with seven awards out of 13 nominations though they were beaten to the title of Best New Musical by Back To The Future. Some incredible performers were deservedly recognised for their talents in the awards with Hugh Coles and Carly Mercedes Dyer picking up Best Supporting Role In A Musical awards - something I suspect they may repeat at the Oliviers. Eddie Redmayne of course won Best Performer In A Male Identifying Role In A Musical for his jawdropping turn in Cabaret while the amazing Carrie Hope Fletcher took home Best Performer In A Female Identifying Role In A Musical for Cinderella.
Two awards I was personally pleased to see were Rob Madge deservedly winning Best Off-West End Production for their amazing My Son's A Queer... but What Can You Do? with a beautiful speech about the importance of telling non binary and trans stories; and the Hope Mill Theatre deservedly won Best Regional Production for their beautiful production of RENT. Seeing Joseph and Will, the two founders of the Hope Mill, on a West End stage representing their incredible theatre in Manchester was an inspiring moment - and they said it may not be the last we see of their production of RENT so who knows? Maybe the Hope Mill could be back in the West End soon?
No awards ceremony is complete without speeches. Lily Allen's self-deprecating speech about only taking the role in 2:22 for the bad reviews was hilarious, but the speech of the night came from Eddie Redmayne who took the time to recount the events of the previous day at Cabaret where the second cover Sally Bowles had to make her debut in the matinee and how vital swings are to the continuation of theatre. A sentiment that was repeated throughout the night.
Here are the nominees and winners in full:
BEST PERFORMER IN A MALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A MUSICAL - SPONSORED BY INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF MUSICAL THEATRE
Roger Bart - Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Olly Dobson - Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Arinzé Kene - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Julian Ovenden - South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre
Eddie Redmayne – Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre - Kit Kat Club
Ivano Turco – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
BEST PERFORMER IN A FEMALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A MUSICAL - SPONSORED BY LONDON THEATRE DIRECT
Aimie Atkinson - Pretty Woman, Piccadilly Theatre & Savoy Theatre
Samantha Barks - Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Jessie Buckley – Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre - Kit Kat Club
Carrie Hope Fletcher – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Beverley Knight - The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre
Stephanie McKeon, Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A MALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A MUSICAL - SPONSORED BY TANDEM MARKETING
Blake Patrick Anderson - Be More Chill, The Other Palace & Shaftesbury Theatre
Hugh Coles - Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Robert Lindsay - Anything Goes, Barbican Centre
Cedric Neal - Back to the Future the Musical - Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Oliver Ormson – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Obioma Ugoala – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A FEMALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A MUSICAL - SPONSORED BY NEWMAN DISPLAYS
Joanna Ampil - South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre
Gabrielle Brooks - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Carly Mercedes Dyer - Anything Goes, Barbican Centre
Millie O'Connell - Rent, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Rebecca Trehearn – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
BEST PERFORMER IN A MALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A PLAY
Richard Armitage - Uncle Vanya, Harold Pinter Theatre
Ben Daniels - The Normal Heart, National Theatre
Omari Douglas – Constellations, Vaudeville Theatre
Hadley Fraser - 2:22 A Ghost Story, Noël Coward Theatre
Henry Lewis - Magic Goes Wrong, Vaudeville Theatre & Apollo Theatre
James McAvoy - Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre
BEST PERFORMER IN A FEMALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A PLAY – SPONSORED BY EDWARDIAN HOTELS LONDON
Lily Allen - 2:22 A Ghost Story, Noël Coward Theatre
Gemma Arterton – Walden, Harold Pinter Theatre
Sheila Atim – Constellations, Vaudeville Theatre
Emma Corrin - Anna X, Harold Pinter Theatre, The Lowry, Salford
Patsy Ferran - Camp Siegfried, The Old Vic
Saoirse Ronan - The Tragedy of Macbeth, Almeida Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A MALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A PLAY
Stephen K Amos - My Night with Reg, The Turbine Theatre
Dino Fetscher - The Normal Heart, National Theatre
Nathaniel Parker - The Mirror and the Light, Gielgud Theatre
Richard Rankin - The Tragedy of Macbeth, Almeida Theatre
Jonathan Sayer - Magic Goes Wrong, Vaudeville Theatre & Apollo Theatre
Jake Wood - 2:22 A Ghost Story, Noël Coward Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A FEMALE IDENTIFYING ROLE IN A PLAY
Michelle Fox - Shining City, Theatre Royal Stratford East
Akiya Henry - The Tragedy of Macbeth, Almeida Theatre
Penny Layden - The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre & Duke of York's Theatre
Isobel McArthur - Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), Criterion Theatre
Aimee Lou Wood - Uncle Vanya, Harold Pinter Theatre
Nancy Zamit - Magic Goes Wrong, Vaudeville Theatre & Apollo Theatre
BEST NEW MUSICAL - SPONSORED BY TRAVELZOO
Back to the Future the Musical - Adelphi Theatre
Cinderella - Gillian Lynne Theatre
Frozen - Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical - Lyric Theatre
Pretty Woman the Musical - Piccadilly Theatre & Savoy Theatre
Moulin Rouge! - Piccadilly Theatre
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL- SPONSORED BY CONCORD THEATRICALS
Anything Goes - Barbican Centre
Cabaret - Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Carousel - Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Rent - Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
South Pacific - Chichester Festival Theatre
West Side Story - Curve, Leicester
BEST NEW PLAY- SPONSORED BY TICKETMASTER
2:22 A Ghost Story - Noël Coward Theatre
J' Ouvert - Harold Pinter Theatre, Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Leopoldstadt – Wyndham’s Theatre
Magic Goes Wrong - Vaudeville Theatre & Apollo Theatre
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) - Criterion Theatre
The Ocean at the End of the Lane - National Theatre & Duke of York's Theatre
BEST PLAY REVIVAL – SPONSORED BY AKA
Constellations - Vaudeville Theatre
Cyrano de Bergerac - Playhouse Theatre
My Night with Reg - The Turbine Theatre
The Normal Heart - National Theatre
The Tragedy of Macbeth - Almeida Theatre
Uncle Vanya - Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST OFF-WEST END PRODUCTION- SPONSORED BY LES MISÉRABLES
Anything is Possible if You Think About it Hard Enough - Southwark Playhouse
My Son's A Queer but What Can You Do? - The Turbine Theatre
Old Bridge - Bush Theatre
Pippin - Charing Cross Theatre
Saving Britney - Old Red Lion Theatre
The Last Five Years - Southwark Playhouse
BEST REGIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Bedknobs and Broomsticks the Musical - UK tour
Bloody Elle - A Gig Musical - Manchester Royal Exchange
Rent - Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
South Pacific - Chichester Festival Theatre
West Side Story - Curve, Leicester
What's New Pussycat? – Birmingham Repertory Theatre
BEST WEST END SHOW- SPONSORED BY DEWYNTERS
Come From Away - Phoenix Theatre
Hamilton - Victoria Palace Theatre
Les Misérables - Sondheim Theatre
Six the Musical - Vaudeville Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong - Duchess Theatre
Wicked - Apollo Victoria Theatre
BEST DIRECTION- SPONSORED BY LOVETHEATRE
Clint Dyer - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Yaël Farber - The Tragedy of Macbeth, Almeida Theatre
Rebecca Frecknall – Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Michael Grandage – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Jamie Lloyd - Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre
Katy Rudd - The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre & Duke of York's Theatre
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Rob Ashford - Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Drew McOnie – Carousel, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Kathleen Marshall - Anything Goes, Barbican Centre
Shelley Maxwell - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Sonya Tayeh - Moulin Rouge!, Piccadilly Theatre
Ann Yee - South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre
BEST SET DESIGN – SPONSORED BY PREEVUE
Fly Davis - The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre & Duke of York's Theatre
Jamie Harrison - Bedknobs and Broomsticks the Musical, UK tour
Tim Hatley - Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Derek McLane - Moulin Rouge!, Piccadilly Theatre
Christopher Oram – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Tom Scutt – Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Lisa Duncan - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Christopher Oram – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Tom Scutt – Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Gabriella Slade - Bedknobs and Broomsticks the Musical, UK tour
Gabriela Tylesova – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Catherine Zuber - Moulin Rouge!, Piccadilly Theatre
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN- SPONSORED BY WHITE LIGHT
Neil Austin – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Charles Balfour - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Isabella Byrd – Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre, Kit Kat Club
Tim Lutkin - Back to the Future the Musical, Adelphi Theatre
Bruno Poet – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Justin Townsend - Moulin Rouge!, Piccadilly Theatre
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION OR SUPERVISION
Leo Munby - The Last Five Years, Vaudeville Theatre
Tom Deering - Carousel, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Sean Green - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
Justin Levine - Moulin Rouge!, Piccadilly Theatre
Stephen Oremus – Frozen - Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Katy Richardson - Rent, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
BEST SOUND DESIGN- SPONSORED BY STAGE SOUND SERVICES
Adam Cork – Leopoldstadt, Wyndham's Theatre
Adam Fisher - The Last Five Years, Southwark Playhouse & Vaudeville Theatre
Paul Groothuis - South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre
Peter Hylenski - Moulin Rouge!, Piccadilly Theatre
Gareth Owen - Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Ben and Max Ringham - Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre
BEST VIDEO DESIGN
Nina Dunn - The Shark is Broken, Ambassadors Theatre
Akhila Krishnan - What’s New Pussycat?, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Mikaela Liakata and Tal Yarden - Anna X, Harold Pinter Theatre & The Lowry, Salford
Finn Ross - Back to the Future the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Adelphi Theatre
Finn Ross – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Tal Yarden - Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN- SPONSORED BY HEXAGON PRINT
Christopher D Clegg - The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Feast Creative - Romeo and Juliet, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Feast Creative – Rent, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Bob King Creative – Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Muse Creative Communications - RE:EMERGE Season, Harold Pinter Theatre
Michael Nash Associates- Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
You may think that awards ceremonies are a bunch of unnecessary backslapping and inflating eachothers egos. I'm here to tell you they're not - at least this one wasn't. This was an event to celebrate eachother and theatre as a whole and coming out of the other side of an incredibly trying time. The atmosphere in the Prince of Wales theatre on Sunday night was like nothing I've ever experienced before and a night I will never forget.
Congratulations to all the winners - and that includes everybody who was nominated and everyone who's contributed to theatre in some way since the last Whatsonstage awards. You're all winners in my eyes, and to quote the opening number - we're all glad you're back in the game.
Winners photos by Dan Wooller
All other photos by Danny Kaan