Host Julian Clary. Picture: Andy Hollingworth
Julian Clary will host The Stage Debut Awards 2025 ceremony at 8 Northumberland Avenue in central London on 28 September 2025.
Presented in association with Netflix, the announcement of the annual event’s new host was accompanied by the unveiling of this year’s 46 nominees in the running for the prestigious prizes.
Looking forward to taking charge of the star-packed event, Clary said: “It is a true pleasure to host this annual celebration of emerging talent in the theatre industry where we will honour the artistry, creativity and dedication of the newest voices shaping the future of the stage. I look forward to celebrating the extraordinary promise of these rising stars.”
The eight eligible categories championing performers, directors, designers, writers, composers and lyricists are Best Performer in a Play; Best Performer in a Musical; Best Director; Best Writer; Best Designer; Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer; and Best West End Creative Debut. The winner of the Best West End Debut Performer is the only category to be determined by a public vote.
The 2025 nominees for Best West End Debut Performer include two sets of co-stars – Rachel Zegler and Diego Andres Rodriguez, the leading actors of Jamie Lloyd’s hit revival of Evita, and the romantic leads of the Olivier-Award nominated Shifters, Tosin Cole and Heather Agyepong. The nominees also include Georgie Buckland from The Devil Wears Prada, Clueless the Musical’s Emma Flynn, Kat Ronney for Titanique and Samuel Brewer for Oedipus.
This year’s Best Performer in a Musical category features a four-strong all-female line-up – Leesa Tulley for Why Am I So Single? at London’s Garrick Theatre, Dora Gee for The Mad Ones at The Other Palace in London, Megan Ellis for Muriel’s Wedding The Musical at Leicester’s Curve Theatre and Eve Shanu-Wilson for The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre, London.
The nominees in the Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer category are Martin Batchelar, James Cooper and Bryn Christopher for Lovestuck at Theatre Royal Stratford East in London, Yve Blake for Fangirls at the Lyric Hammersmith in London and One Man Musical by Flo & Joan by Nicola and Rosie Dempsey at The Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh.
Launched in 2017 as a way to recognise the most exciting new performers and creatives making their marks in theatres over the previous 12 months, The Stage Debut Awards highlight breakthrough actors, writers, directors, designers and composers or lyricists.
Angela Thomas
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