In contrast to previous ceremonies, this year’s awards will focus on the audiences.
It has been confirmed that this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards will take place in a virtual ceremony, broadcast live from the Turbine Theatre on the 14th March via Stream.Theatre.
But given that all theatres were closed in 2020, this year’s ceremony will focus on audiences. Therefore, WhatsOnStage Awards this year are asking for nominations from audiences for ‘Angels’ – who normally in theatre are investing in shows enabling productions to get off the ground, so it is the term fitting for people that go that extra mile to help others.
In a statement, it was explained: “as the WOS Awards are and always have been centred around the audience, rather than ask them to nominate performers and creatives we will be inviting them to nominate Angels – someone in their life that has been a source of love, support and kindness during the pandemic.”
The WhatsOnStage Awards will then select 21 Angels from the nominations received and will announce the names in the ceremony as well as treating them to a night at the theatre when live performances return.
Co-produced by with Paul Taylor-Mills, the ceremony will incorporate a number of performances from shows that were cut short in 2020, along with shows that will hopefully open this year and beyond.
It has also been confirmed that productions that would have been eligible for the 2021 WhatsOnStage Awards will automatically be “rolled over” and included in the nominations for 2022, so all productions that opened from December 2019 until 16 March 2020 will still have an opportunity to be voted on.
Tickets for the 21st Annual WhatsOnStage Awards will be just £21.00* (a special early bird price of £15* is available if booked by midnight on Sunday 21 February 2021.) To find out how to nominate someone as an Angel visit: https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/21st-annual-whatsonstage-awards-angels_53404.html