Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer Jordan Luke Gage arrives at The Stage Debut Awards 2026. Picture: Danny Kaan
Winners of The Stage Debut Awards 2026, in association with Netflix, were revealed at a star-studded ceremony at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, celebrating the performers and creatives making standout professional and West End debuts across UK theatre.
Among the musical theatre winners were actor and writer Jordan Luke Gage who won the award for Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer for Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough. Making his debut as a book writer, lyricist and composer, Gage created an unabashedly sweeping and emotionally wrenching romance through the new musical.
Julianne Pundan and James Spence shared the award for Best Performer in a Musical. Pundan was recognised for her performance in Miss Saigon at Manchester’s Palace Theatre and on tour, while Spence won for his performance in Thespians at the Mercury Theatre Colchester and on tour.
Sadie Sink scooped the prize for Best West End Debut Performer, one of the evening’s most coveted awards, for her performance in Romeo and Juliet at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Sink follows in the footsteps of previous winners including Rachel Zegler, Jodie Comer, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Jack Wolfe.
At the ceremony hosted by actor and comedian Hammed Animashaun attended by some of UK theatre’s most influential figures, Sink’s win was the only award category where the winner was decided by public vote.
This year’s nominations across eight categories celebrated performers, composers, designers, writers, lyricists and directors whose breakthrough work premiered on stages across the UK.
The Best Performer in a Play prize was shared, with Robert Aramayo and Zoë Armerboth taking home the award. Aramayo was recognised for his performance in Guess How Much I Love You? at London’s Royal Court, while Armer won for her performance as Anya in The Virgins at Soho Theatre.
Julianne Pundan and James Spence (Picture: David Buttle) shared the award for Best Performer in a Musical
In the offstage categories, Tommaso Giacomin was named Best Director, while Georgie Dettmer took home the prize for Best Writer.
Natalie Roar was named Best Designer for her costume design on Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, while Ava Pickett took home the award for Best Creative West End Debut. Pickett’s win came just one year after she took home the Best Writer award at last year’s ceremony.
The awards were presented by a host of celebrated names from across the theatre industry including Sting, Indhu Rubasingham, Matthew Xia,Tyrone Huntley, Marisha Wallace and Michael Rishawn.
The awards, uniquely dedicated to shining a light on breakthrough theatre talent, also featured a packed programme. Attendees were treated to performances from Tyrone Huntley and Avenue Q, as well as a medley from the West End Theatre Choir and a surprise performance from Sting alongside The Last Ship co-star Frances McNamee.
The 2026 ceremony marked the ninth edition of The Stage Debut Awards since their inception in 2017, ahead of the awards’ 10th anniversary in 2027.
THE WINNERS IN FULL
Best Performer in a Play (sponsored by Encore)
- Robert Aramayo for Guess How Much I Love You? at the Royal Court Theatre, London
- Zoë Armer for The Virgins at Soho Theatre, London
Best Performer in a Musical (sponsored by Michael Harrison Entertainment)
- Julianne Pundan for Miss Saigon at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, and touring
- James Spence for Thespians at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, and touring
Best Writer (sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions)
- Georgie Dettmer for Are You Watching? at the Royal Court Theatre, London
Best Director
- Tommaso Giacomin for The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin at the New Diorama Theatre, London
Best Designer (sponsored by Preevue)
- Natalie Roar (costume design) for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, London
Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer (sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide)
- Jordan Luke Gage (book, music, lyrics) for Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London
Best Creative West End Debut (sponsored by Jamie Wilson Productions)
- Ava Pickett (writer) for 1536 at the Ambassadors Theatre
Best West End Debut Performer
- Sadie Sink for Romeo and Juliet at the Harold Pinter Theatre
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