The Stage Debut Awards 2025

The Stage Debut Awards in association with Netflix have announced the nominees for the industry’s most prestigious annual awards ceremony celebrating breakthrough talent in UK theatre. The winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, on September 28, 2025.

The 46 nominations originate from UK shows staged in all four nations, marking this year’s awards as the most geographically representative to date. The eight categories shine a spotlight on individuals making their professional or West End debuts, and salute excellence in acting, directing, design, writing and musical composition. The varied shortlist demonstrates a thriving transference of cross-genre skills with novelists, screenwriters, film-makers, film stars and podcasters among this year’s talent.

Nominees include Heather Agyepong for Shifters at the Duke of York’s Theatre, Danny James King for writing Miss Myrtle’s Garden, Lucy Karczewski for Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s Theatre, Amit Sharma for directing Retrograde at the Apollo Theatre, Rachel Zegler for Evita at the London Palladium, and Jasper Talbot for Redlands at Chichester Festival Theatre.

The Stage Debut Awards Categories are:-

• Best Performer in a Play 
• Best Performer in a Musical 
• Best Writer
• Best Director
• Best Designer 
• Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer
• Best West End Debut Performer 
• Best Creative West End Debut

The Stage Debut Awards are also delighted to reveal the fantastic comedy royalty, actor and pantomime dame, Julian Clary as the new host of ceremonies at this year’s awards. With over 40 years in showbusiness under his belt, Clary will definitely be putting his unique comedy stamp on the awards. 

Votes for Best West End Debut Performer opens on August 21 and can be cast online at HERE voting closes on September 14.

The line-up of guest presenters and performers will be revealed in September.