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WhatsOnStage Awards

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WhatsOnStage Awards
Current: 2024 WhatsOnStage Awards
Awarded forAchievements in British theatre
VenuePrince of Wales Theatre
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byWhatsOnStage.com
First awarded2001
Website[1]
Television/radio coverage
NetworkBBC Radio 2 (2020–present)

The WhatsOnStage Awards (WOS Awards), formerly known as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, are organised by the theatre website WhatsOnStage.com.[1] The awards recognise performers and productions of British theatre with an emphasis on London's West End theatre.[2]

Nominations and eventual winners are selected by the theatre-going public's vote. The awards are held each February. Between 2012 and 2023, they have been staged at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre, with the awards being moved to the London Palladium for the 2024 edition.[3]

History

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In early 2001, WhatsOnStage.com published the shortlists for that year's Laurence Olivier Awards and invited site visitors to vote online for who they thought should win. In a fortnight, 5,000 people took part – and their results differed wildly from the Olivier judges. For the 2002 awards, the editors compiled their own shortlists and in 2003, they held their first launch party to announce the shortlists to around 200 industry guests. The first awards concert and ceremony was introduced for the 2008 awards.

Judging

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Each year, the awards shortlists are drawn up with the help of thousands of theatregoers who log on to nominate their favourites across all 20+ awards categories. Nominations are announced at a star-studded launch event held in early December. Voting then opens and runs until the end of January the following year. In 2012–13, over 60,000[4] theatregoers logged on to vote, with leaders in many categories fluctuating dramatically from day to day.

Ceremony

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2016

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The 2016 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony took place on 21 February at the Prince of Wales Theatre and were hosted by Mel Giedroyc and Steve Furst.[5]

2017

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The 2017 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony took place on 19 February 2017 at the Prince of Wales Theatre and were hosted by Simon Lipkin and Vikki Stone.[6]

2018

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The 2018 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony took place on 25 February 2018 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

2019

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The 2019 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony took place on 3 March 2019 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.[7]

2020

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The 2020 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony took place on 1 March 2020 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

2021

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 WhatsOnStage Awards were held virtually. They did not honour creatives as they traditionally did but instead recognised 21 members of the public who had supported the theatre industry during the pandemic.[8]

2022

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The 2022 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony were held on 27 February 2022 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

2023

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The 2023 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony were held on 12 February 2023 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

2024

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The 2024 WhatsOnStage Awards concert and ceremony were be held on 11 February 2024 at the London Palladium.[3]

Presenters

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Presenters of the WhatsOnStage Awards have included James Corden, Sheridan Smith, Christopher Biggins, Mel Giedroyc, Miranda Hart, Alan Davies, Jenny Eclair, Rufus Hound, Steve Furst, Vikki Stone and Simon Lipkin.[9]

Performances

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Over the years, guest presenters and performers at the Launch Party have included Graham Norton, Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, Lesley Garrett, Ryan Molloy, James Earl Jones, Jools Holland, Patina Miller, Julian Clary, Jeremy Irons, Simon Russell Beale, Bertie Carvel and Meera Syal.[9]

West End stars who have performed at the Awards Concerts at the Prince of Wales have included Alfie Boe, Sally Ann Triplett, Ryan Molloy, Jodie Prenger, Hannah Waddingham, Leanne Jones, Jill Halfpenny, Hadley Fraser, Ramin Karimloo, Rosemary Ashe, Nancy Sullivan, Samantha Barks, Sarah Lark, Kim Criswell, Siobhan McCarthy, Julie Atherton, Suranne Jones, Elena Roger, Sean Palmer, Clare Foster, Hannah Waddingham, Dean Chisnall, Brian May, Kerry Ellis, Tim Minchin, Melanie C and Sam Tutty.

Venues

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The inaugural launch party was held at The Venue, before moving to the Dominion Theatre in 2004, Planet Hollywood in 2005 and 2006, and Café de Paris, where it has been every year since with the exception of the 2009 awards, when it was held at the London Hippodrome as part of their campaign to save the venue as a performance space.[citation needed]

The first awards concert and ceremony was introduced for the 2008 awards and was held at the 960-seat Lyric Theatre. The concert moved to the 1,100-seat Prince of Wales Theatre for the 2009 awards and was a sell-out for four straight years from 2009–2012. The concert moved to the Palace Theatre for the 2013 awards but returned to the Prince of Wales Theatre for 2014.[citation needed]

Award categories

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Defunct categories

Recent winners

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2018[20]
2022[21]
Main article: 2022 WhatsOnStage Awards
  • Best performer in a male identifying role in a musical: Eddie Redmayne - Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre, London
  • Best performer in a male identifying role in a play: James McAvoy - Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre, London
  • Best supporting performer in a male identifying role in a play: Jake Wood - 2:22 A Ghost Story
  • Best supporting performer in a female identifying role in a play: Akiya Henry - The Tragedy of Macbeth, Almeida Theatre, London
  • Best new musical: Back to the Future the Musical
  • Best musical revival: Anything Goes
  • Best new play: 2:22 A Ghost Story
  • Best play revival: Cyrano de Bergerac
  • Best off-West End production: My Son's A Queer but What Can You Do? - The Turbine Theatre
  • Best West End show: Six - Vaudeville Theatre
  • Best lighting design: Tim Lutkin - Back to the Future the Musical
  • Best sound design: Gareth Owen - Back to the Future the Musical
  • Best video design: Finn Ross - Frozen


Past winners[22]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Home". WOS Awards. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ David Lister (19 March 2001). "Theatregoers rage at stars who fail to light up stage". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 December 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  3. ^ a b Writer, Staff (9 November 2023). "24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards to be Hosted at the London Palladium". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ Claire Allfree (18 February 2013). "Stephen Fry leads star-studded list in WhatsOnStage.com Awards". The Independent. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicole Kidman, and Judi Dench Take Home 2016 WhatsOnStage Awards". 21 February 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Watch highlights from the 17th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". 19 February 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  7. ^ Snow, Georgia (3 March 2019). "WhatsOnStage Awards 2019: the winners in full". The Stage. Retrieved 17 June 2019 – via www.thestage.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Winners Announced of WhatsOnStage Awards 2021". 15 March 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Whatsonstage Awards History". Whatsonstage.com, accessed 19 November 2013
  10. ^ "Hairspray and Equus sweep theatre awards". The Guardian. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Donmar and Jersey Boys Dominate Theatregoers' Choice Awards". Official London Theatre. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Rachel Weisz and Jude Law win at Whatsonstage Awards". The Stage. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Winners 2011". West End Theatre. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Full List Of 2012 Whatsonstage.com Award-Winners". Broadway World. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Sweeney Todd, Sheridan Smith And Stephen Fry Big Winners At Whatsonstage.com Awards". Huffington Post. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Full List: Winners of the 2014 WhatsOnStage Awards". whatsonstage.com. 23 February 2014.
  17. ^ "Miss Saigon dominates WhatsOnStage awards". BBC. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch's Hamlet takes quartet at WhatsOnStage awards". theguardian.com. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  19. ^ "Billie Piper and Jamie Parker win top prizes at WhatsOnStage Awards". The Stage. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  20. ^ "WhatsOnStage Awards 2018: Winners in full". The Stage. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Eddie Redmayne and Lily Allen win WhatsOnStage theatre awards". BBC News Online. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Archive". Retrieved 11 December 2015.
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