Michael Kholwadia in the award-winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor. Picture: Pamela Raith Photography
The winners of the UK Theatre Awards 2025 have been announced at a ceremony hosted by Faye Tozer. For over 30 years, the annual event has celebrated the creative excellence and outstanding achievements seen on and off stage throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Nominees from across all four nations attended the afternoon’s celebration, which took place at 8 Northumberland Avenue, supported by headline sponsor Encore.
Jesus Christ Superstar (a Watermill Theatre production by arrangement with LW Entertainment) won for Best Musical Production, Flumps (a Mercury Original production in association with The Thelmas) for Best New Play, and Animal Farm (a Leeds Playhouse and Stratford East co-production in association with Nottingham Playhouse) for Best Play Revival.
Amidst a strong contingent of nominated venues, the North of England led the way with Sheffield Theatres and Chester’s Storyhouse securing two wins each. Sheffield’s co-productions Kenrex (Best Performance in a Play for Jack Holden, co-produced with Aria Entertainment) and Pig Heart Boy (Best Show for Children and Young People, co-produced with Children’s Theatre Partnership and Unicorn Theatre) triumphed in their respective categories, while Storyhouse picked up wins for The Parent Agency (Best Performance in a Musical for Rakesh Boury and Rebecca McKinnis, co-produced with Scenario Two) and Excellence in Inclusivity.
Elsewhere in the On Stage categories, Georgie Henley took home the award for Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play) for The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs (a Kiln Theatre, Antic Productions and Damsel Productions co-production), Prasanna Puwanarajah won Best Director for Twelfth Night (a Royal Shakespeare Company production) and Kei Ishihara/BlankRD (scenography), Sacico Ito/Brucke (costume design), Simon Wilkinson (lighting design) and Ailie Cohen (puppet design) collectively secured the award for Best Design for Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey (a Vanishing Point and Kanagawa Arts Theatre co-production in association with Tramway in partnership with Dundee Rep and The Japan Foundation).
Achievement in Dance was awarded to Natural Behaviour by Thick and Tight, and Achievement in Opera to Welsh National Opera for Peter Grimes (a WNO production).
Alongside Storyhouse for Excellence in Inclusivity, Off Stage Award winners were Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, winning Excellence in Arts Education for their touring theatre intervention production Cross The Line; Theatre By The Lake, picking up Excellence in Touring for Steel: Regional and National Tour; BEAM, Hertford for Excellence in Sustainability; and Orchard Theatre and Orchard West Theatre for Excellence in Workforce Culture.
The highly anticipated winner of the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award was Royal & Derngate, with close competition from fellow nominees Birmingham Rep and Shakespeare North Playhouse.
Carlos Acosta CBE, Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, was also honoured at the ceremony, receiving the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award in recognition of his extraordinary career both on and off stage, and his commitment to broadening access to dance across the UK and internationally.
Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, co-CEOs of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: “This year’s UK Theatre Awards have once again shone a spotlight on the breadth and brilliance of work taking place across the UK. From inspiring community projects to world-class productions, the talent and dedication of our members makes us immensely proud.
“Our congratulations go to all of the winners and nominees, and our thanks to the sponsors and partners who make these awards possible. It’s been a joy to celebrate another remarkable year of UK theatre with you all.”
Full list of winners at the UK Theatre Awards 2025
On Stage Awards:
Best Musical Production
Jesus Christ Superstar, a Watermill Theatre production by arrangement with LW Entertainment
Best New Play
Flumps, a Mercury Original production in association with The Thelmas
Best Play Revival
Animal Farm, a Leeds Playhouse & Stratford East co-production in association with Nottingham Playhouse
Best Director
Prasanna Puwanarajah for Twelfth Night, a Royal Shakespeare Company production
Best Performance in a Musical
Rakesh Boury & Rebecca McKinnis for The Parent Agency, a Scenario Two and Storyhouse co-production
Best Performance in a Play
Jack Holden for KENREX, a Sheffield Theatres & Aria Entertainment co-production
Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play)
Georgie Henley for The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs, a Kiln Theatre, Antic Productions and Damsel Productions co-production
Best Design
Kei Ishihara/BlankRD for Scenography, Sacico Ito/Brucke for Costume Design, Simon Wilkinson for Lighting Design and Ailie Cohen for Puppet Design for Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey, a Vanishing Point and Kanagawa Arts Theatre co-production in association with Tramway in partnership with Dundee Rep and The Japan Foundation
Best Show for Children & Young People
Pig Heart Boy, a Children’s Theatre Partnership, Unicorn Theatre and Sheffield Theatres co-production
Achievement in Dance
Natural Behaviour by Thick and Tight
Achievement in Opera
Welsh National Opera for Peter Grimes, a WNO production
Off Stage Awards:
Excellence in Arts Education
Lyric Hammersmith Theatre for Cross the Line
Excellence in Touring
Theatre By The Lake for Steel: Regional and National Tour
Excellence in Inclusivity
Storyhouse
Excellence in Sustainability
BEAM, Hertford
Excellence in Workforce Culture
Orchard Theatre & Orchard West Theatre
UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre
Royal & Derngate
Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre
Carlos Acosta
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