The nominees for this year’s Black British Theatre Awards have been announced.
First presented last year, the awards are produced by Kwame Kwei-Armah, and directed by Charlie Di Placido and Kojey Radical. A socially distanced ceremony will take place at London’s Young Vic Theatre.
Directors Solange Urdang and Omar F. Okai say “this is an important year with UK Theatre coming to a standstill and the Black Lives Matter movement protests. We feel it is important now more than ever to highlight the wonderful Black British talent we have in abundance and hope to bring positivity to such a difficult time”
The event will also be shown exclusively on Sky Arts in late October. Director of Sky Arts Philip Edgar-Jones, said “we are pleased to be able to provide a platform at Sky Arts to showcase the very best of Black British Theatre Talent – particularly at a time of such crisis for the theatre industry. Art and Culture is even more vital at this point and we know the incredible talent on display here will point the way to a brighter future when the recovery begins.”
Full List of Nominees:
Best Director Award for a Play or Musical:
Clint Dyer, Death of England, National Theatre
Nadia Latif, Fairview, Young Vic Theatre
Ola Ince, Appropriate, Donmar Warehouse
Roy Alexander Weise, ‘Master Harold’… and the boys, National Theatre
Best Producer:
Adrian Grant, Thriller Live, Lyric Theatre
Nicole Raquel Dennis and Ryan Carter, Turn Up, Cadogan Hall
Tobi Kyeremateng, My White Best Friend (and Other Letters Left Unsaid), Royal Court Theatre
Best Choreographer:
Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, REDD, Barbican Theatre
Lanre Malaolu, Pass Over, Kiln Theatre
Shelley Maxwell, ‘Master Harold’… and the boys, National Theatre
Best Dance Performance in a Dance Production:
Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, REDD, Barbican Theatre
Marcelino Sambé, The Cellist, Royal Opera House
Best Dance Production:
Ingoma, Ballet Black, Barbican Theatre
Boy Blue, REDD, Barbican Theatre
ZooNation, Some Like It Hip Hop , Peacock Theatre
Best Use of Innovation and Technology:
Nicole Raquel Dennis and Ryan Carter, Turn Up, Cadogan Hall
Light and Sound Recognition:
Carmen Wright
Simeon Miller
Tony Gayle
Costume Design Recognition:
Jodie Simone Howe
Maybelle Laye
Natalie Pryce
Book and Lyrics Recognition:
Arinzé Kene
Roy Williams
Shirley Thompson OBE
Musical Director Recognition:
Ian Oakley
Sean Green
Shiloh Coke
Casting Director Recognition:
Isabella Odoffin
Best Male Actor in a Play:
Lucian Msamati, Master Harold’… and the boys, National Theatre
Paapa Essiedu, Pass Over, Kiln Theatre
Valentine Olukoga, The Fishermen, Trafalgar Studios
Best Female Actor in a Play:
Rakie Ayola, On Bear Ridge, Royal Court Theatre
Ronke Adekoluejo, Three Sisters, National Theatre
Sharon D. Clarke MBE, Death of a Salesman, Piccadilly Theatre
Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play:
Arinzé Kene, Death of a Salesman, Young Vic Theatre
Nari Blair-Mangat, Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre
Reice Weathers. The Upstart Crow, Gielgud Theatre
Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play:
Cherrelle Skeete, The High Table, Bush Theatre
Michele Austin, Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre
Rosalind Eleazar, Uncle Vanya, Harold Pinter Theatre
Best Production Play:
Death of a Salesman, Piccadilly Theatre
Fairview, Young Vic Theatre
Three Sisters, National Theatre
Best Male Actor in a Musical:
Jason Brock, Thriller Live, Lyric Theatre
Jonathan Andrew Hume, Come from Away, Phoenix Theatre
Noah Thomas, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Apollo Theatre
Best Female Actor in a Musical:
Aisha Jawando, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Maiya Quansah-Breed, Six the Musical, Arts Theatre
Miriam-Teak Lee, & Juliet, The Shaftesbury Theatre
Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical:
Arun Blair-Mangat, & Juliet, The Shaftesbury Theatre
Nicholas McLean, Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
Tarinn Callender, Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre
Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical:
Melanie La Barrie, & Juliet, The Shaftesbury Theatre
Nicole Raquel Dennis, Dear Evan Hansen, Noël Coward Theatre
Shanay Holmes, The Bridges of Madison County, Menier Chocolate Factory
Best Musical Production:
Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre
Thriller Live, Lyric Theatre
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
LGBTQ+ Champion:
Arun Blair-Mangat
Layton Williams
Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE
Disability Champion Award:
Chris Fonseca
Rachel Nwokoro
Best Teacher of Performing Arts as a Subject:
David Blake, WAC Arts
Dollie Henry, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Kamara Gray, Urdang Academy/Artistry Youth Dance
Best Recent Graduate:
Danielle Fiamanya, Guildford School of Acting
Stacy Abalogun, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Tonye Scott-Obene, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Shirley Thompson OBE
Words by Orla McAndrew.
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