The Stephen Sondheim Society has announced the 12 finalists in the running for the 18th annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY).
Selected by critic and broadcaster Edward Seckerson (chair of the judges), musical director Nigel Lilley (Follies, National Theatre, Fun Home, Young Vic) and guest judge Laura Pitt-Pulford (Follies in Concert, Royal Albert Hall, A Little Night Music, Palace Theatre) from over 350 video submissions followed by 81 in-person auditions, the 2026 finalists are:
Ruby Decent (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School)
Charlotte English (Bird College)
Cait du Feu (Mountview)
Marcus Harman (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama)
Rebecca Hennessey (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama)
Róisín Holland (Emil Dale Academy)
Taziva-Faye Katsande (Bird College)
Samuel Louis Bennett (Trinity Laban)
Erica Schoebinger (Drama Studio London)
Josephine Shaw (Royal College of Music)
Rosie Sutton (University of Oxford)
Freddy Thompson (Trinity Laban)
The reserves are Phoebe Graham (LAMDA), Nicholas McKeown (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama) and Teddy Thompson (ArtsEd).
The finalists will take to the stage of the Sondheim Theatre during a gala final hosted by Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Oliver!, Sondheim Theatre, Only Fools and Horses, Theatre Royal Haymarket) on 7 June.
The winning student will be announced after all the finalists have performed before the panel of industry experts including West End stars Jenna Russell, Melanie La Barrie, Andy Nyman and Rachel Tucker with the chair of judges Edward Seckerson and renowned theatre critic Matt Wolf.
Hannah Chissick will direct the final which will also include performances from cast members from the National Youth Music Theatre’s upcoming production of West Side Story, Gracie McGonigal (Little Red Riding Hood in the London revival of Into the Woods) and returning SSSSPOTY winner Stuart Thompson performing a new piece of writing from Flyby.
Each finalist will sing one song by Stephen Sondheim, plus a new song chosen by them from the selection at New UK Musicals – the organisation founded by Benjamin Button composer Darren Clark to showcase the UK’s best new musical theatre writing for the stage.
The students will compete for a top prize of £1,000 and the chance to headline their own Sondheim-themed cabaret show in London. The runner-up will receive £500. A third prize of £250 has been donated in memory of Musical Theatre Review critic and Stephen Sondheim Society member, Jeremy Chapman.
Previous winners include Taron Egerton, Stuart Thompson and Alex Young while previous finalists include Cynthia Erivo, Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Lily Kerhoas, Cameron Burt and Oisin Nolan-Power.
Angela Thomas
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