Choir Boy, MJ the Musical, and actors Layton Williams, Joshua-Alexander Williams and Danny Sapani among winners at the Black British Theatre Awards 2024.
On 4 November 2024, the 6th Black British Theatre Awards took place at the Lyceum Theatre in London – home of Disney’s acclaimed musical, The Lion King.
The awards, which celebrate the influence of Black performers and creatives in the UK theatre industry, featured incredible performances from notable shows and presenters. Myles Frost kicked the ceremony off with ‘Billie Jean’ from MJ the Musical, which was later followed by Ray Shell’s powerful narrative from Iced, Akomaasa Arts Academy’s inspiring performance The Path of Courage, and Koko Alexandra’s soulful rendition of Mood Indigo. The audience was also treated to the cast of Disney’s The Lion King, including Merryl Ansah and Thenjiwe Nofemele, performing ‘Shadowland’ and concluding the spectacular event with ‘Circle of Life’.
Spotlight were proud to sponsor the award for Best Child Performer (Under 16), which was won by Spotlight member Janai Bartlett.
We’re thrilled to see so many of our members among the winners and nominees, including Best Lead in a Play winners Terique Jarrett and Tiwa Lade, Best Lead in a Musical winners Ivano Turco and Karis Anderson, and Best Casting Director Selma Nicholls. Other nominated and winning Spotlight members are indicated by a star* in the full list of winners below.
The winners of the Black British Theatre Awards 2024:
Plays
Best Production – Play
- Choir Boy – Bristol Old Vic – WINNER
- Ain’t I A Woman? – The Tower Theatre
- Swim, Aunty, Swim! – Belgrade Theatre
Best Male Lead Actor in a Play
- Terique Jarrett* – Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic – WINNER
- Christopher Mbaki* – Before I Go, Brixton House
- Neil Reidman* – Without, the Omnibus Theatre, Courtyard Theatre
Best Female Lead Actor in a Play
- Tiwa Lade* – My Father’s Fable, The Bush Theatre – WINNER
- Ellena Vincent* – The Book of Grace, Arcola Theatre
- Francesca Amewudah-Rivers* – Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre
Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play
- Joshua-Alexander Williams* – Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre – WINNER
- Branden Cook* – Skeleton Crew, Donmar Warehouse
- Frank Skully* – Kiss, Marry, Kill, Dante or Die (Tour)
Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play
- Freema Agyeman* – Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre – WINNER
- Adele James* – Underdog: The Other Other Brontë, The National Theatre
- Mia Jerome* – Romeo and Juliet, Duke of York’s Theatre
Musicals
Best Musical Production
- MJ the Musical – Prince Edward Theatre – WINNER
- Jamaica Love (UK Tour)
- TINA: The Tina Turner Musical – The Aldwych Theatre
Best Male Lead Actor in a Musical
- Ivano Turco* – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Tour) – WINNER
- Layton Williams* – Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
- Owen Chaponda – The Lion King, The Lyceum Theatre
Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical
- Karis Anderson* – TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre – WINNER
- Jenny Fitzpatrick* – Oliver!, Leeds Playhouse
- Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky* – Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical, The Other Palace
Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical
- Marley Fenton* – The Wizard of Oz, Norwich Theatre Royal – WINNER
- Ashley Campbell* – Just For One Day, The Old Vic
- Michael Ahomka-Lindsay* – Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical
- Elèna Gyasi* – Mean Girls, Savoy Theatre – WINNER
- Phebe Edwards* – MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
- Raphaella Philbert* – The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
Creative Awards
Best Producer
- Landé Belo – Ain’t I A Woman?, The Tower Theatre – WINNER
- Chuchu Nwagu – Red Pitch, @sohoplace
- Jade Samuels* – The Architect, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival
Best Director
- Nancy Medina – Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic – WINNER
- Dermot Daly* – Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz, Royal Court Theatre
- Landé Belo – Ain’t I A Woman?, The Tower Theatre
Best Musical Director
- Sean Green – MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre – WINNER
- CeCelia Wickham-Anderson – Jamaica Love, Trafalgar Theatre and Tour
- Hannah Ledwidge – No More Mr Nice Guy, Birmingham Rep
Best Choreographer or Movement Director
- Mthuthuzeli November – The Waiting Game, Ballet Black – WINNER
- Christopher Tendai – Closer To Heaven, The Turbine Theatre
- Lanre Malaolu* – Now, I See, Stratford East Theatre
Best Dance Production or Performer
- Ebony Thomas – The Waiting Game, Ballet Black – WINNER
- Boy Blue – Cycles, The Barbican Theatre
- Monique Jonas – Romeo and Juliet, Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Best Lighting Design
- Ryan Day – WINNER
- Joshie Harriette
- Simisola Majekodunmi
Best Sound Design
- Xana – WINNER
- Khalil Madovi
- Tony Gayle
Recognition Awards
Best Theatre Design
- Jessica Cabassa – WINNER
- Debbie Duru
- Georgia Wilmot
Book and Lyrics
- Lady Lykez – WINNER
- Anoushka Lucas*
- DK Fashola
Best Playwright
- Siana Bangura – WINNER
- Lucie Lutte*
- Tobi King Bakare*
Best Casting Director
- Selma Nicholls* – WINNER
- Heather Basten*
- Isabella Odoffin*
Champion Awards
Best Child Performer (Under 16)
- Janai Bartlett* – TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre – WINNER
- Dylan Trigger* – MJ the Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
- Mia-Nicole Alexander* – The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
Best Non-Binary Performer
- Claudia Kariuki* – WINNER
- Phoebe Campbell*
- Sam Crerar*
LGBTQIA+ Champion
- Layton Williams* – WINNER
- Ivano Turco*
Disability Champion
- Linseigh Green* – WINNER
- Chris Fonseca*
- Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini
Achievement Awards
Best Recent Graduate
- Kwamé Kandekore* – MJ the Musical, Emil Dale Academy – WINNER
- Joshua-Alexander Williams* – Romeo and Juliet, ArtsEd
- Sedona Sky – Heathers the Musical, ArtsEd
Best Teacher
- Dannika Dudfield* – Soar Performance Academy – WINNER
- Kamara Gray – Artistry Youth Dance
- Nadine Kennedy Wood – NDC College
Founders Choice Award
- Danny Sapani* – King Lear, Almeida Theatre – WINNER
Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick Award
- Shanay Holmes* and Chris Steward* – West End Musical Productions – WINNER
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Namron OBE – WINNER
From all of us at Spotlight, we want to say a huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees!
Read more industry news and see award nominations and winners.
