Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Charlotte English from BIRD Conservatoire. Pictures: Ian Bowkett
Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2026 at the Sondheim Theatre, London.
You only had to be in the audience at the 18th Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (affectionately known as SSSSPOTY) competition at London’s Sondheim Theatre to appreciate the extraordinary calibre of talent on display. The audience wasn’t the only group struggling to separate the contenders, however.
Chair of the judges, writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson, said: “It was the most difficult decision in all the years I have been involved in this competition.” Turning to the 12 student performers, he added: “You made it hard for us.”
When SSSSPOTY began in 2007, there were just 10 entrants. This year, more than 350 video submissions were received, with 81 performers progressing to a live audition before Seckerson, musical director Nigel Lilley and guest judge Laura Pitt-Pulford. From there, a shortlist of 12 finalists (plus three reserves) was selected to perform at the West End theatre named after the great Stephen Sondheim.
Chair of the judges Edward Seckerson, patron Jenna Russell, Matt Wolf, Melanie La Barrie, runner-up Taziva-Faye Katsande, winner Charlotte English, Rosie Sutton (third place), Rachel Tucker and Andy Nyman
Those finalists were following in the footsteps of an impressive roll call of former competitors. Previous winners include Alex Young, Taron Egerton, Erin Doherty, Courtney Bowman, Izuka Hoyle, Stuart Thompson and Desmonda Cathabel, while the competition’s alumni also include Cynthia Erivo, Shaq Taylor, Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Lily Kerhoas and Oisín Nolan-Power.
The finalists were assessed by a distinguished judging panel comprising Stephen Sondheim Society patron Jenna Russell, Melanie La Barrie (recently seen as The Witch in Into the Woods at London’s Bridge Theatre), Andy Nyman (The Producers), Rachel Tucker (also part of the Into the Woods company as the Baker’s Wife) and renowned theatre critic Matt Wolf.
Each finalist was required to perform one song with music and lyrics by Sondheim alongside a contemporary piece selected from New UK Musicals, the organisation founded by Olivier Award-winning composer Darren Clark to showcase the best new musical theatre writing in the UK.
Runner-up Taziva-Faye Katsande
It was Sondheim’s express wish that for every one of his songs performed in the competition, a new song should also be presented, helping to encourage and support the creation of new work.
Huge congratulations then to 2026 champion Charlotte English from BIRD Conservatoire, who secured the title with a nuanced interpretation of ‘I Read’ from the staggeringly beautiful Passion. She received a cheque for £1,000 and the opportunity to headline her own Sondheim-infused cabaret in London.
Displaying a maturity beyond her years and a confident stage presence, English took the audience straight to the heart of the song and wasn’t afraid to reveal an intense vulnerability. It was little surprise that her acting through song proved such a hit with the judges.
Alongside a rousing rendition of ‘Last Midnight’ from Into the Woods, runner-up Taziva-Faye Katsande (also from BIRD Conservatoire) impressed with her interpretation of the contemporary song ‘Peace in the Puzzle’ from Clark’s Turing: A Musical.
She made refreshingly original storytelling choices, and the vocal riffs weren’t too shabby either. Who knew a song exploring a young woman’s fascination with codebreaking while working at Bletchley Park during the Second World War could be so infectious? Katsande received a prize of £500.
When host Bella Brown – stepping in at short notice for an unwell Oscar Conlon-Morrey – announced that Rosie Sutton would be performing ‘Getting Married Today’ from Company, a ripple of anticipation ran through the auditorium. Could the University of Oxford student master one of Sondheim’s most notoriously demanding patter songs?
Rosie Sutton received the third place prize, donated in the name of Sondheim Society member and MTR critic Jeremy Chapman
Any doubts were quickly dispelled. Sutton delivered the number with impressive precision, sharp comic timing and a strong sense of character. The judges rewarded her achievement with third place and a prize of £250.
Of course, competitions require winners, but many of the other students also made a lasting impression.
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts’ Cait du Feu brought tenderness and emotional clarity to ‘I Wish I Could Forget You’ from Passion, instilling the song with a meaning that seemed to stretch beyond the confines of the original piece.
For her contemporary selection, Erica Schoebinger (Drama Studio London) chose ‘Change of Plan’ from Finn Anderson’s Ballad Lines and performed it with a wonderful sense of freedom.
Josephine Shaw (Royal College of Music) embraced the emotional depth of ‘No One is Alone’ from Into the Woods, filling the theatre with exquisite vocals.
Marcus Harman (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama) stood out in the striking ‘Subway’ from Eamonn O’Dwyer’s Unexpected Beautiful, while Róisín Holland (Emil Dale Academy) was captivating in ‘The Girl Next Door’ from Gus Gowland’s Lifeboats. She clearly knows how to sell a song.
We are also likely to be seeing much more of Ruby Decent (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School). The dark comic energy she brought to ‘By the Sea’ from Sweeney Todd was complemented by ‘See-Through’ from In Clay by Jack Miles and Rebecca Simmonds, a memorable musical reflection on friendship.
A special mention must also go to reserve Nicholas McKeown (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), who was invited to perform after the judges took so long to reach their final decision. Seizing the opportunity to enjoy a moment in the spotlight, McKeown received a deservedly enthusiastic response for a heartfelt rendition of ‘Finishing the Hat’ from Sunday in the Park With George.
Also helping to entertain the audience while the panel continued its lengthy deliberations was 2025 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Georgia Blessitt, reprising the song that secured her victory, ‘Losing My Mind’; Gracie McGonigal, who will be returning to the role of Little Red Ridinghood in the West End transfer of Into the Woods at the Noël Coward Theatre from September 2026, performed ‘I Know Things Now’; and 2019 champion Stuart Thompson sang ‘Petrichor’ from Flyby, the world premiere production of which he recently led at Southwark Playhouse.
The SSSSPOTY class of 2026
As well as proving an excellent host, Brown – known to many as Rapunzel in Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre and as an acclaimed Mistress/Alternate Eva in Evita at the London Palladium – treated the audience to a beautiful rendition of ‘Not a Day Goes By’ from Merrily We Roll Along.
I should also mention the Act II opener: the National Youth Musical Theatre ensemble’s medley of songs from West Side Story, complete with some rather wonderful harmonies. The company is preparing a production of the groundbreaking musical, in association with the Stephen Sondheim Society, at Birmingham Hippodrome from 6-8 August 2026.
When asked about this year’s SSSSPOTY, Craig Glenday, chair of the Stephen Sondheim Society, commented: “Charlotte English was a very worthy winner in a contest packed with incredible competitors. The judges felt that Charlotte’s rendition of ‘I Read’ from Passion was authentic and moving, and captured all of the complex nuances of this song and the character of Fosca.
“But it was also the longest time it’s taken the panel to agree on the top three. In a field this talented, the job of picking out winners is far from easy, but the fact they were in the final ameans they are all winners. Ultimately it was a wonderful afternoon of Sondheim that I hope honoured Steve’s memory.”
It was indeed a final notable not only for vocal excellence but also for the individuality and emotional intelligence each performer brought to their chosen material. The afternoon served as a reminder that the future of musical theatre is in safe hands.
Another triumphant event that both celebrated the genius of Stephen Sondheim and showcased emerging talent of an exceptionally high standard
Congratulations to Glenday and co-producer Tina Foote on yet another triumphant event that both celebrated the genius of Stephen Sondheim and showcased emerging talent of an exceptionally high standard. Kudos, too, to director Hannah Chissick, one-man orchestra/musical director Nigel Lilley, assistant musical director John Haslam and the wider creative team.
It is also important to acknowledge those who donated the competition’s cash prizes. The first was given by Tessa Kulik in memory of former BBC sound archivist and audiobooks producer Mark Jones, while the second was donated by Tricia Sharpe and Ray Barker.
The third prize, which is expected to continue for several years, carried particular resonance for all of us at Musical Theatre Review. It was donated by the family of Stephen Sondheim Society member Jeremy Chapman, our friend and much-loved contributor for more than a decade.
Jeremy was a great champion of emerging talent and relished the opportunity each year to celebrate the students taking part in SSSSPOTY. In his absence, I have stepped in to write this report. I can only hope I have done him justice.
Lisa Martland
For the record, the 12 finalists selected for the 2026 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition were Ruby Decent (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School), Charlotte English (BIRD Conservatoire), Cait du Feu (Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts), Marcus Harman (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), Rebecca Hennessey (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), Róisín Holland (Emil Dale Academy), Taziva-Faye Katsande (BIRD Conservatoire), Samuel Louis Bennett (Italia Conti), Erica Schoebinger (Drama Studio London), Josephine Shaw (Royal College of Music), Rosie Sutton (University of Oxford) and Freddy Thompson (Trinity Laban).
The reserves were Phoebe Graham (LAMDA), Nicholas McKeown (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama) and Teddy Thompson (ArtsEd).
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