Famous faces such as Paul Mescal and Rose Ayling-Ellis have been nominated for the upcoming 2023 Stage Debut Awards.
The highly anticipated event will feature a head-to-head competition between the Normal People star and former Strictly Come Dancing champion in the category of best West End debut performer.
This celebration of emerging theater talent in the UK encompasses a wide range of categories, including performers, composers, designers, writers, lyricists, and directors.
Paul Mescal’s Nomination
Paul Mescal, known for his exceptional acting skills and a previous Oscar nomination for best actor, has secured a nomination for his debut West End performance.
His role in “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the Phoenix Theatre earned him this recognition.
Rose Ayling-Ellis’s Nomination
Former EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis has also made her mark with a nomination for her performance in “As You Like It” at the @sohoplace theater.
Diverse Nominees
Mescal and Ayling-Ellis share the nomination spotlight with a talented lineup, including Emily Fairn, Mike Faist, Kyle Ramar Freeman, Gabriel Howell, Zachary Quinto, and Samira Wiley.
Maisie Ellis’s Recognition
Another former EastEnders star, Maisie Ellis, who also participated in the Strictly final in 2020, has secured a nomination in the best performer in a musical category.
Sir Lenny Henry’s Notable Achievement
Veteran comedian and performer Sir Lenny Henry has taken on a new role as a first-time writer.
His work “August In England,” a solo show commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Windrush Generation, earned him a nomination in the writer category.
The performance was held at the Bush Theatre in west London.
Welsh Language Representation
The 2023 Stage Debut Awards also mark a milestone with the first-ever nomination for a Welsh language performance.
Elan Davies is recognized for her outstanding performance in the Welsh speaking production “Imrie” at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.
This showcases the diversity of talent across different languages and regions.
Nominated Writers
The awards also acknowledge exceptional writers.
Jennifer Lunn and Richard Mylan received nominations for their works “Es & Flo” at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff and “Sorter” at the Swansea Grand Theatre, respectively.
Alistair Smith, the editor of The Stage, expressed his excitement about the high-quality nominees and the broad geographical representation in this year’s shortlist.
The nominees will gather to celebrate their achievements at the seventh annual Stage Debut Awards ceremony, hosted by drag artist, performer, and singer Divina De Campo on October 1, 2023.
The event promises to be a memorable one, with guest presenters and performers set to be revealed in September.