Fourth annual West End Wilma Awards revealed

Rachel Tucker won for Best Cabaret/Solo Show. Pictures: Ollie Boito Photography

Best Performer in a West End Show, Emma Williams, for Half a Sixpence

Half a Sixpence was a double award winner at the West End Wilma Awards (presented in association with Free@Last TV ) ceremony in London on Friday (3 November).

Leading man Charlie Stemp collected the Rising Star award while his leading lady Emma Williams was named the Best Performer in a West End Show at the event at London’s Delfont Room in the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Other winners revealed at the ceremony included Rachel Tucker who took home the award for Best Cabaret/Solo Performance for the second time.

Hosted by Tim McArthur who opened the show with a performance of ‘Dangerous Cabaret’ from his debut album Don’t Be Anything Less, the event also featured performances by Best Comedy nominee Tina Turner Tea Lady and Kieran Brown who returned for the fourth year with a comedic re-written version of ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’.

Guests at the fourth annual West End Wilma Awards included: Chris Jenkins, David Hunter, Jordan Fox, Emma Williams, Gareth Snook, Jodie Jacobs, Bleu Woodward, Joel Montague, Kelly Mathieson, Tim Woodward, Martina Cole, Natasha Barnes, Nicole Faraday, Oliver Savile, Rachel Tucker, Scott Garnham, Nikki Gerrard, Samuel Blenkin, Shona White, Summer Strallen, Suzie Mathers, Theo Ancient and Tracie Bennett.

The full list of winners:

Best Touring Production
The Addams Family

Best Cabaret/Solo Show
Rachel Tucker (Live At Zédel)

Rising Star
Charlie Stemp (Half a Sixpence)

Best Comedy
Roller Diner (Soho Theatre)

Best Understudy
Alice Fearn (Wicked)

Best Performer In An Off-West End Show
Zoe Doano (Death Takes a Holiday, Charing Cross Theatre)

Best Performer In A West End Show
Emma Williams (Half a Sixpence, Noel Coward Theatre)

Best Off-West End Show
Sideshow (Southwark Playhouse)

Best West End Show
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre)

The Park Theatre was named the winner of the first Achievement In Creating Accessible Theatre Award, launched to honour venues who not only ensure they are fully wheelchair accessible, but also provide a good programme of adapted performances for those with disabilities that may mean they are unable to attend regular performances.

Park Theatre was recognised for a 2017 programme that offered a full range of accessible performances, including captioned, audio-described, parent and baby, dementia-friendly and relaxed.

Angela Thomas