Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year – Sondheim Theatre

Stephen Sondheim Student Performer of the Year 2023 Milly Willows is presented with her prize by Julia McKenzie. Pictures: David Ovenden

Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year at the Sondheim Theatre, London.

There was no arguing with the judges’ choice for Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY for short) after a knock-’em-dead performance of ‘The Worst Pies in London’ by star of the future Milly Willows.

The 22-year-old redhead from Swansea, in her third year at Italia Conti, knocked it out of the park with Mrs Lovett’s hilarious routine from Sweeney Todd – then backed it up with the lovely ‘A Story of My Own’ from Michael Webborn and Daniel Finn’s The Clockmaker’s Daughter.

The 12 finalists were tasked with singing a Sondheim of their choice and a song submitted by New UK Musicals and Milly’s fearless approach, great stagecraft and brilliant storytelling convinced the judges to make her the 15th SSSSPOTY champion since the competition kicked off in 2007.

The fact she had played Mrs Lovett in a student production, her first Sondheim musical, helped her to the £1,000 winner’s cheque, presented by Sondheim legend Julia McKenzie. The Royal Academy of Music’s Emily Botnen scooped the £500 second prize for her ‘Everybody Loves Louis’ (from Sunday in the Park With George) coupled with ‘Watchin’ the Door’ by Caroline Wigmore and Jen Green.

Big props to RAM for providing a third of the finalists (and one reserve) – surely a record – for a competition which originally attracted 250 entries, whittled down to 70 for the final audition. The judges, Nicola Hughes, Jenna Russell and Michael Jibson, were so impressed with RAM’s Icelandic entrant Pétur Svavarsson and Guildford School of Acting’s Harry Warburton – with good reason – that judges’ chair Edward Seckerson singled them out for honourable mentions.

L-R Jenna Russell, Nicola Hughes, Julia McKenzie, runner-up Emily Botnen, winner Milly Willows, Edward Seckerson, Michael Jibson and Alex Young

The wonderfully funny Alex Young made a piece of history as the first SSSSPOTY winner to host it. She was pretend coy about saying which year it was but I cannot tell a lie – it was 2010 – and what a superb asset she has been to the Society ever since.

Young reprised the song that won for her, ‘Sunday in the Park With George’, but this time was allowed a bit of help, calling on actor George Kemp to play George. Coincidentally, like the 2023 winner, she was drawn 12th and last when she prevailed.

While the judges were reaching their decision, Young brought on Ellie Nunn for a riotous ‘There’s Always a Woman’ duet from Anyone Can Whistle, the show she starred in at Southwark earlier this year.

The previous year’s winner is always asked back and it was a joy to hear Desmonda Cathabel – shortly to be seen in Miss Saigon at Sheffield Crucible – reprise the number that won it for her, ‘The Miller’s Son’ from A Little Night Music. There were also pleasing contributions from members of the National Youth Music Theatre who have a big Sondheim date coming up in August with Merrily We Roll Along at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant).

The tireless Nigel Lilley accompanied every performer as immaculately as ever (assisted by John Haslam), Hannah Chissick directed, Darren Clark was the New Songs Co-ordinator, and the whole shebang was masterminded by Sondheim Society chair, the remarkable Craig Glenday, who played an absolute blinder. Nothing new there…

Jeremy Chapman