Courtney Bowman, Laurie Kynaston and Billy Luke Nevers will host the 23rd WhatsOnStage Awards at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre on 12 February 2023.
Commenting on her hosting role Bowman, who is also a nominee for her performance in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Legally Blonde, said: “The talent is already oozing! It’s gonna be a nice celebration of theatre, as always. I’m getting a great vibe from my co-hosts – they’re very, very silly – and we’ve got each other for support as well.”
Her former Legally Blonde co-star and current & Juliet cast member, Nevers said: “I am so excited to be presenting the WhatsOnStage Awards this year and celebrate all the achievements of this year in the UK theatre industry with two wonderful people. This year is going to be a bit different to what the awards will have seen before… You’ll have to come and find out why!”
One of the stars of the heavily nominated 2021 revival of Spring Awakening, Kynaston added: “The fact that the awards are publicly voted for shows the power that audiences hold… without them we wouldn’t be here at all! It’s also going to be gorgeous to be back in a room packed with the cream of British theatre royalty, having a right old knees up. What can you expect? The unexpected! Costume changes? Surprise guest appearances? Me forgetting my lines? Who knows! It’s going to be great fun, and it’s an awards ceremony for all of us. See you there on the 12th!”
Further details of the star-studded ceremony, co-produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys, will be released at a later date. Voting for the only major theatre awards chosen by theatregoers closed on 10 January.
Daniel Fish’s innovative 2019 Tony Award-winning revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved Oklahoma! leads the musical theatre nominees for this year’s awards. The production which is due to follow its sold-out Young Vic in 2022 by transferring to the West End’s Wyndham’s Theatre next month, has received eight nominations including a Best Director nod for Fish and a Best Supporting Performer nomination for Marisha Wallace.
Two other genre productions received a number of nominations – Rupert Goold’s version of Spring Awakening which has received six and the most nominated new musical Tammy Faye with five nominations. Both musicals are Almeida Theatre productions.
A total of 24 awards will be handed out at the ceremony which will feature additional and returning categories include Best Takeover Performance, Best Professional Debut, Best Casting Direction and Best Concert Event.
Commenting on the awards as they enter their 23rd year, WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Coleman said: “It’s been an utter joy to witness theatre bounce back revitalised and undeterred, and we can’t wait to celebrate the wealth of incredible talent on our stages at the next WhatsOnStage Awards.
“With our awards we always seek to keep the nominations process fresh with changes to our categories, reflecting the changes within our community. And as ever, we want to say a special thank you to the voting public, the people who keep our industry alive.”
Angela Thomas
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