Musical Theatre Review’s Marina Holmes catches up with award winners Ivano Turco and Karis Anderson
MJ The Musical and West End Musical Productions’ Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward were among the winners at the 2024 Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs).
Celebrating the artistry of Michael Jackson, the quadruple Tony Award-winning MJ at the Prince Edward Theatre was named Best Musical Production, while the driving forces behind the West End Musical show series and the world’s biggest musical theatre fan convention, Musical Con, Holmes and Steward received the Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick Award. MJ’s Kwamé Kandekore also collected the Best Graduate Award.
Other genre winners included Ivano Turco (Best Male Lead Actor in a Musical for the touring production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Karis Anderson (Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical for TINA – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre), Marley Fenton (Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical for the UK tour of The Wizard of Oz) and Elèna Gyasi (Best Supporting Female Actor for Mean Girls at the Savoy Theatre.
Now in their sixth year, the awards which recognise some of the finest work by Black performers and creatives in UK Theatre, were handed out during a star-packed ceremony at the Lyceum Theatre in London.
Winners Elèna Gyasi and Kwamé Kandekore
Commenting on the awards, co-founders Solange Urdang and Omar F Okai said: “We are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional achievements of Black artists in the UK theatre industry.
“The BBTAs are committed to amplifying diverse voices and recognising the invaluable contributions of Black professionals to the theatre landscape.”
Reflecting on the findings from this year’s Act for Action report, which highlights issues including racial bias and representation, barriers to entry, employment instability and lack of financial support, the pair added: “Findings from the report revealed that 71% of respondents reported experiencing racial bias, while over 70% expressed concerns about authentic representation.
“Employment instability remains a significant challenge faced by many Black theatre professionals, with many individuals entering the industry feeling the effect of tokenism and its impact on mental health.”
The full list of 2024 BBTA winners:
- Best Producer – Landé Belo, Ain’t I A Woman?, The Tower Theatre
- Best Director – Nancy Medina, Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic
- Best Musical Director – Sean Green, MJ The Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
- Best Choreographer or Movement Director – Mthuthuzeli November, The Waiting Game, Ballet Black
- Best Dance Production or Performer – Ebony Thomas, The Waiting Game, Ballet Black
- Best Lighting Design – Ryan Day
- Best Sound Design – Xana
- Theatre Design – Jessica Cabassa
- Book and Lyrics – Lady Lykez
- Best Playwright – Siana Bangura
- Best Casting Director – Selma Nicholls
- Best Male Lead Actor in a Play – Terique Jarrett, Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic
LGBTQIA+ Champion Layton Williams with MTR’s Marina Holmes
- Best Female Lead Actor in a Play – Tiwa Lade, My Father’s Fable, The Bush Theatre
- Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play – Joshua-Alexander Williams, Romeo & Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre
- Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play – Freema Agyeman, Romeo & Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre
- Best Production – Play – Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic
- Best Male Lead Actor in a Musical – Ivano Turco, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, tour
- Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical – Karis Anderson, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
- Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical – Marley Fenton, The Wizard of Oz, UK tour
- Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical – Elèna Gyasi, Mean Girls, Savoy Theatre
- Best Musical Production – MJ The Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
- Best Child Performer (Under 16) – Janai Bartlett, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
- Best Non-Binary Performer – Claudia Kariuki
- LGBTQIA+ Champion – Layton Williams
- Disability Champion – Linseigh Green
- Best Teacher – Dannika Dudfield, Soar Performance Academy
- Best Graduate – Kwamé Kandekore, MJ The Musical, Emil Dale Academy
- Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick Award – Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward, West End Musical Productions
- Founders Choice Award – Danny Sapani, King Lear, Almeida Theatre
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Namron Obe
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