Full List of The Stage Debut Award Winners 2024
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The debut dozen have been revealed! The 12 winners of The Stage Debut Awards collected their well-earned trophies at a glittering ceremony in London's West End today (29 September).
This year 49 nominees across eight categories were in the spotlight, representing performers, composers, designers, writers, lyricists and directors whose work premiered on stages across the UK in the previous year.
Olivier Award nominee **Jack Wolfe**, scooped the Best West End Debut Performer award for his enormously compelling and vocally accomplished performance as Gabe in *Next To Normal* at [Wyndham’s Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/wyndhams-theatre-london). Wolfe emerged as the people’s West End favourite (it’s the only category decided by public vote) from a strong shortlist that included **Will Close** for *Dear England*; **Billy Crudup** in *Harry Clarke*; **Toheeb Jimoh** in *Player Kings*; **Francesca Amewudah-Rivers** in *Romeo and Juliet*; **Ed Larkin** in *The Little Big Things*; **Grace Hodgett Young** in *Sunset Boulevard* and **Louis McCartney** in *Stranger Things: The First Shadow*.
Such was the level of talent at this year's ceremony that Best Performer in a Play AND Best Performer in a Musical were both shared by two performers! Ellie-May Sheridan’s scene-stealing turn in *London Tide* at the [National Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/national-theatre-london) and **Louis McCartney’s** menacingly mercurial performance in *[Stranger Things: The First Shadow](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/stranger-things-the-first-shadow-tickets)* at the [Phoenix Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/phoenix-theatre-london) both took home the prize in the play category. Best Performer in a Musical award was shared between **Jeevan Braich** for his vocal prowess and impressive roller skating skills in *[Starlight Express](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/starlight-express-tickets)* at the [Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/troubadour-wembley-park-theatre-london), and **Grace Hodgett Young** who won the award for her impressive performance in **Jamie Lloyd’s** hit revival *Sunset Boulevard* at the [Savoy Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/savoy-theatre-london).
The current wealth of new-writing talent in the industry was resoundingly acknowledged this year with the Best Writer award going to two upcoming industry stars. **Sam Grabiner** for *Boys on the Verge of Tears* at [Soho Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/soho-theatre-london) shared the accolade with **Azuka Oforka** for *The Women of Llanrumney* at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. More awards on the night recognising talent behind the scenes included Best Creative West End Debut, which was given to [Bush Theatre’s](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/bush-theatre-london) associate artistic director **Daniel Bailey** for his dynamic and sensitively directed production of **Tyrell Williams’** *Red Pitch*. The production enjoyed a hugely successful West End transfer to [@sohoplace](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/sohoplace-london).
This year’s directing accolade went to **Sophie Drake** who was honoured with the Best Director award for *The Bleeding Tree* at [Southwark Playhouse Borough](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/southwark-playhouse-london). The judges said Drake “infused finesse into all aspects of this dark, grisly anti-fairytale”. For the first time, all nominees in this category were women, and the award was presented by the acclaimed BAFTA nominated director and Bush Theatre’s artistic director **Lynette Linton**.
The unforgettable and now iconic video design for Jamie Lloyd’s *Sunset Boulevard* at the Savoy Theatre was recognised in the Best Designer award, which **Nathan Amzi** and **Joe Ransom** took home. **Jack Godfrey** won the Best Composer, Lyricist, or Book Writer award for his all-round talents bringing *42 Balloons* at The Lowry, Salford, a charming new musical success story, to life. The Stage editor **Alistair Smith **commented** **on the celebrations: “The judges were in complete awe of the talent on display from all our winners. In many cases, it felt almost inconceivable these could be their professional debuts such was the level of skill on show. "At a time when there has been much talk about how difficult it is for new playwrights to break through, the judges were particularly pleased to be able to recognise two superb winners in the Best Writer category for the first time, such was the quality of the shortlist."
### **The Stage Debut 2024 Award Winners in Full **
### **Best Performer in a Play (sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide)**
* **Deborah Ayorinde** for *Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White* at the [Lyric Hammersmith](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/lyric-hammersmith-london), London
* **Imogen Elliott** for *The Voice of the Turtle* at Jermyn Street Theatre, London
* **Kasper Hilton-Hille** for *That Face* at the Orange Tree Theatre, London
* **Gareth John** for *Housemates* at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
* ****WINNER: Louis McCartney for *[Stranger Things: The First Shadow](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/stranger-things-the-first-shadow-tickets)****** *at [Phoenix Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/phoenix-theatre-london), London****
* **Nadia Parkes** for *The House Party* at Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester
* **Taylor Russell** for *The Effect* at the [National Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/national-theatre-london), London
* ****WINNER: Ellie-May Sheridan for** ***London Tide*** **at the [National Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/national-theatre-london), London****
### **Best Performer in a Musical (sponsored by Michael Harrison Entertainment)**
* **Scarlett Ayers** for *The Verge of Forever* at the [Other Palace](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/other-palace-london), London
* ****WINNER: Jeevan Braich for** ***Starlight Express*** **at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London****
* **Laura Dawkes** for *Frozen* at [Theatre Royal Drury Lane](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/theatre-royal-drury-lane-london), London
* **Myles Frost** for *[MJ the Musical](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/mj-the-musical-tickets)* at [Prince Edward Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/prince-edward-theatre-london), London
* **Joshua Ginsberg** for *Cable Street* at [Southwark Playhouse Borough](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/southwark-playhouse-london), London
* ****WINNER: Grace Hodgett Young for** ***Sunset Boulevard*** **at the [Savoy Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/savoy-theatre-london), London****
### **Best Director (sponsored by Arts Council England)**
* **Ellie Coote** for *42 Balloons* at the Lowry, Manchester
* ****WINNER: Sophie Drake for** ***The Bleeding Tree*** **at the [Southwark Playhouse Borough](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/southwark-playhouse-london), London****
* **Emily Foran** for *Little Women* at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast
### **Best Designer (sponsored by Preevue)**
* ****WINNER: Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom (video) for** ***Sunset Boulevard*** **at the [Savoy Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/savoy-theatre-london), London****
* **Ellie Koslowsky** (set) for *Vegetables* at A secret location, London
* **Nadya Sayapina** (set), **Anastasiya Ryabova** (costume), **Lidiia Dresch-Pyshna** (costume) and **Dmytro Guk** (video/projection) for *King Stakh’s Wild Hunt* at [Barbican Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/barbican-london), London
* **Skylar Turnbull Hurd** (lighting) for *These Demons* at Theatre503, London
### **Best Writer (sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions)**
* ****WINNER: Sam Grabiner for** ***Boys on the Verge of Tears*** **at [Soho Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/soho-theatre-london), London****
* **Martha Loader** for *Bindweed* at Mercury Theatre, Colchester
* **Harry McDonald** for *Foam* at the Finborough Theatre, London
* **Hannah Morley** for *We Could All Be Perfect* at Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield
* ****WINNER: Azuka Oforka for** ***The Women of Llanrumney*** **at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff****
* **Anastasia Osei-Kuffour** for *Love Steps* at the Omnibus Theatre, London
### **Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (sponsored by Crossroads Live)**
* **Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab** for *The Enormous Crocodile* at Leeds Playhouse, Leeds
* **Nick Butcher** and **Tom Ling** for *The Little Big Things* at [@sohoplace](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/sohoplace-london), London
* **Elvis Costello** for *Cold War* at the Almeida Theatre, London
* ****WINNER: Jack Godfrey for** ***42 Balloons*** **at the Lowry, Manchester****
### **Best West End Debut Performer (Sponsored by Noël Coward Foundation)**
* **Francesca Amewudah-Rivers** for *Romeo and Juliet* at the [Duke of York’s Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/duke-of-yorks-theatre-london), London
* **Will Close** for *Dear England* at the [National Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/national-theatre-london), London
* **Billy Crudup** for *Harry Clarke* at [Ambassadors Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/ambassadors-theatre-london), London
* **Grace Hodgett Young** for *Sunset Boulevard* at the [Savoy Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/savoy-theatre-london), London
* **Toheeb Jimoh** for *Player Kings* at the [Noël Coward Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/noel-coward-theatre-london), London
* **Ed Larkin** for *The Little Big Things* at [@sohoplace](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/sohoplace-london), London
* **Louis McCartney** for *[Stranger Things: The First Shadow](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/stranger-things-the-first-shadow-tickets)* at the [Phoenix Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/phoenix-theatre-london), London
* ****WINNER: Jack Wolfe for** ***Next to Normal*** **at Wyndham’s Theatre, London****
### **Best Creative West End Debut (sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment)**
* ****WINNER: Daniel Bailey (director) for** ***Red Pitch*** **at @sohoplace, London****
* **Jim Barne** and **Kit Buchan** (composer, lyricist) for *Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)* at the [Criterion Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/criterion-theatre-london), London
* **Marcelo Dos Santos** (writer) for *Backstairs Billy* at the [Duke of York’s Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/duke-of-yorks-theatre-london), London
* **Kip Williams** (director) for *The Picture of Dorian Gray* at [Theatre Royal Haymarket](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/theatre-royal-haymarket-london), London
* **Brian Yorkey** (lyricist) and **Tom Kitt** (composer) for *Next to Normal* at [Wyndham’s Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/wyndhams-theatre-london), London
The Stage Debut Awards first took place in 2017 and recipients of these awards have gone on to star in West End shows, television series and films. Last year’s winners included **Rob Madge** for *My Son's a Queer, (But What Can You Do?)* at the [Garrick Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/garrick-theatre-london) and the [Ambassadors Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/ambassadors-theatre-london), **Isobel Thom** for their leading role in *I, Joan* at [Shakespeare’s Globe](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/shakespeares-globe-london), **Michael R Jackson** for composing *A Strange Loop* at the [Barbican Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/barbican-london) and **Tingying Dong** for her sound design on *The Crucible*, [Gielgud](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/gielgud-theatre-london) and [National Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/national-theatre-london). A further roll call of notable award winners from previous years include **Jodie Comer** (*Prima Facie*), **Shan Ako** (*[Les Misérables](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/les-miserables-tickets)*), **SpitLip** (*Operation Mincemeat*), **Tyrell Williams** (*Red Pitch*), **Sam Tutty** (*Dear Evan Hansen*), **Miriam-Teak Lee** (*& Juliet*), [Bush Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/bush-theatre-london) artistic director **Lynette Linton** (*Sweat*) and composers **Femi Temowo** (*Death of a Salesman*) and **Dan Gillespie Sells** (*Everybody’s Talking About Jamie*).