We’re thrilled to announce the finalists for the Spotlight Prize 2024!
Since its introduction in the 50s, the Spotlight Prize has given graduates the chance to establish their careers in front of industry professionals.
Over 70 drama schools and universities were invited to nominate a student from their graduating class, who then submitted a self-tape audition for this year’s Spotlight Prize. The 22 finalists were selected by a panel of industry experts based on the quality of their auditions.
Spotlight’s Managing Director, Matt Hood, was overjoyed with the selection, saying:
“Congratulations to our Spotlight Prize nominees for 2024. In a year with so much talent, the judges found it incredibly difficult to narrow down to just 20 nominees, so much so that this year, for the first time, we have 22 finalists. We’re excited to celebrate these performers at our annual showcase and add two more winners to the long list of Spotlight Prize alumni.”
The nominees and winners of past Spotlight Prize showcases include Gwendoline Christie, Sam Heughhan, Jodie Whittaker, Faye Marsay, Ben Whishaw, Edward Bluemel, Joel Fry, Bessie Carter, Laura Donnelly, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Rosalind Eleazar and Gabrielle Creevy – amongst many, many more.
Previously, the Prize was known as The Millington Award, and notable nominees and winners include Dame Judi Dench, Albert Finney, John Hurt, Brian Cox, Zoë Wanamaker, Robert Lindsay, Bill Treacher, James Bolam and Anna Calder-Marshall.
Without further ado, the finalists of the Spotlight Prize 2024 are:
1. Adam Hashmi
Drama Studio London
Headshot credit: Billy Brown
2. Alfanso May
London College of Music
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
3. Alyson Handley
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Headshot credit: Stewart Bywater
4. Alyssa Thabisile Sibanda
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Headshot credit: Stewart Bywater
5. Bethany Wooding
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Headshot credit: Olivia Spencer
6. Callum Alexander-Smith
LAMDA
Headshot credit: Stanley Morgan
7. Cindy Chawula
ICTheatre – Brighton campus
Headshot credit: Sam Cartwright
8. Dúa Róberts
Norwich University of the Arts
Headshot credit: M.A.D. Photography
9. Emma Symmonds
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Headshot credit: AKTA Photography
10. Gabrielle K. Appiah
Rose Bruford College
Headshot credit: Matt Jones
11. Georgi Arthur
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
12. Jaden Asha Evelyn
Fourth Monkey
Headshot credit: Fay Summerfield
13. Jessica Oppong
Mountview
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
14. Katie Shelley
D&B Performing Arts
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
15. Lara Dailey
Anglia Ruskin University
Headshot credit: Paul Tait
16. Niamh-Ella McCann
American College Dublin
Headshot credit: fnati.c headshots
17. Penny Morris
The Lir
Headshot credit: Leo Byrne
18. Scott Bowden
East 15 Acting School
Headshot credit: Benkin Photography
19. Senam Akpokavi
Arts Educational Schools
Headshot credit: Samuel Black
20. Trudy Akobeng
Guildford School of Acting
Headshot credit: Dujonna Gift
21. Tsen Day-Beaver
Manchester School of Theatre (MMU)
Headshot credit: AKTA Photography
22. Zannie Benfield
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Headshot credit: Harry Livingstone
An esteemed panel of judges will watch the finalists’ performances and announce the winners of the Best Actor (Screen) Award and Best Actor (Stage) Award on 17 July 2024 at The Spotlight Prize Awards. We’ll be announcing the directors and judges very shortly!
Spotlight Prize alumni have gone on to star in TV shows and films like Doctor Who, Outlander, Black Mirror, Game of Thrones, Fresh Meat, The Personal History of David Copperfield and Slow Horses. They’ve also gone on to tread the boards at The Globe and the National Theatre, and become members of The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.
From all of us at Spotlight, a huge congratulations to the finalists – we’re so excited to see your performances!
Take a look at our website for more information about the Spotlight Prize, including interviews with 2022’s winners Aaron Hodgetts and Angela Jones.
