Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winner Cynthia Erivo and Black Panther, Star Wars and Killing Eve actor Danny Sapani will co-host the 2021 Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) on 21 November 2021.
Commenting on the awards, stage and screen star Erivo said: “I am so proud as a Black British actress to return from Los Angeles to the UK and see these important and ground-breaking awards being celebrated. There is no doubt that they are of great significance and I feel privileged to host this year’s event. It is important to represent, reflect and celebrate the abundance of Black talent Britain has to offer, now more than ever.”
Sapani added: “I am overjoyed to be a co-host this year! The BBTA awards make visible and celebrate the incredible Black artists and practitioners working in our industry. Often overlooked or ignored by the mainstream media and award ceremonies.
“It is a vital chance to come together, share the love and support we all so richly deserve for the dedication and passion with which we execute our crafts and disciplines and inspire the next generation. An opportunity, I for one would be lost without.”
Following on from last year’s special socially distanced event at London’s Young Vic Theatre which was broadcast on Sky Arts, the winners of the third BBTAs will be announced at the glittering ceremony at the Old Finsbury Town Hall, the site of the inaugural BBTAs in 2019.
Star presenters for this year’s event will include: Jason Pennycooke (Moulin Rouge!, Hamilton), Miriam-Teak Lee (Hamilton, & Juliet), Dawn Hope (Follies, The Scottsboro Boys), Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp (former CEO, The Place, director, Africa Centre, soloist and choreographer London Contemporary Dance Theatre), Mzz Kimberley aka Kim Tatum (Mzz Kim Creations), Matthew Xia (artistic director, Actors Touring Company, director Amsterdam, Eden, Blood Knot and The Wiz), Brenda Emmanus (BBC arts, culture and entertainment correspondent), Verdi soprano Nadine Benjamin, Layton Williams (Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Bad Education), Ahmet Ahmet (outreach director, Get Into Theatre on behalf of Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation).
Recognising some of the finest work by black performers and creatives in UK Theatre, the musical theatre categories include four performance awards and an award for Best Musical Production.
The Color Purple – At Home, The Last Five Years and West End Musical Celebration are in the running for the 2021 Best Musical Production Award while Cinderella’s Ivano Turco will go up against Liam Tamne (The Prince of Egypt) and Tyrone Huntley (Jesus Christ Superstar) in the Best Male Actor In A Musical category.
The Phantom of the Opera’s Lucy St. Louis, Marisha Wallace (Hairspray) and Shanay Holmes (Disenchanted) are all in the running for the Best Female Actor In A Musical Award.
Ashley Samuels (Hairspray), Caleb Roberts (Cinderella) and John Pfumojena (Carousel) are the nominees for Best Supporting Male Actor In A Musical while the Best Supporting Female Actor Award will go to either Gloria Onitiri (Cinderella), Natasha May-Thomas (Carousel) or Tanisha Spring (The Prince of Egypt).
Previewing the event, BBTA co-directors Solange Urdang and Omar F Okai said: “These historic and worthy awards have been gathering momentum over the last three years and we are thrilled to get so much support from such important figures within Black UK Theatre and beyond. We are also delighted to present Derek Griffiths MBE his BBTA Lifetime Achievement Award this year, Derek has had so much influence and inspired so many, including the both of us.”
Angela Thomas
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