The winners were announced in a ceremony that took place yesterday evening at 8 Northumberland Avenue.
The winners for this years The stage Debut Awards in association with Netflix have been unveiled, celebrating the best performers and creatives making professional and West End debuts across UK theatre.
Sadie Sink won the award for Best West End Debut Performer, one of the evening’s most coveted awards, for her performance in Romeo and Juliet at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Sink’s win was the only award category where the winner was decided by public vote.
There were two joint wins among this year’s performance categories. Julianne Pundan and James Spence shared the award for Best Performer in a Musical sponsored by Michael Harrison Entertainment. Pundan was recognised for her performance in Miss Saigon at Manchester’s Palace Theatre and on tour, while Spence won for his performance in Thespians at the Mercury Theatre Colchester and on tour.
The Best Performer in a Play prize sponsored by Encore was also shared, with Robert Aramayo and Zoë Armerboth taking home the award. Aramayo was recognised for his performance in Guess How Much I Love You? at London’s Royal Court, while Armer won for her performance as Anya in The Virgins at Soho Theatre.
Meanwhile, in the off-stage categories, Tommaso Giacomin was named Best Director, while Georgie Dettmer took home the prize for Best Writer sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions.
Actor and writer Jordan Luke Gage won Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, for Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough.
Natalie Roar was named Best Designer sponsored by Preevue for her costume design on Les Liaisons Dangereusesat the National Theatre, while Ava Pickett took home the award for Best Creative West End Debut sponsored by Jamie Wilson Productions. Pickett’s win came just one year after she took home the Best Writer award at last year’s ceremony.
The awards were presented by a host of celebrated names from across the theatre industry including Sting, Indhu Rubasingham, Matthew Xia,Tyrone Huntley, Marisha Wallace and Michael Rishawn.
The ceremony was hosted by actor and comedian Hammed Animashaun and also featured performances from Tyrone Huntley and Avenue Q, as well as a medley from the West End Theatre Choir and a surprise performance from Sting alongside The Last Ship co-star Frances McNamee.
Sam Marlowe, The Stage’s reviews editor and co-chair of the judging panel, said: “This year’s winners represent a truly exciting range of fresh talent – artists making their mark, bringing us work that speaks to our present moment and enriches and advances theatre as an art form. Their energy and vision are bound to ensure that the stage remains a vibrant, socially and culturally significant creative space.”