The first-ever digital Mousetrap Awards took place on Wednesday 24 June and the winners were announced in an exciting ceremony on YouTube, available to watch here.
The ceremony was organised and hosted by Mousetrap Theatre Projects Youth Forum who also chose the nominees in the 14 original categories which included the Big Little Stars award for young performers and the Saved The Day award for performers who took to the stage at the last minute to save their shows.
This year’s ceremony saw a record-breaking number of 15-29-year-old theatre-fans cast their vote in the only UK theatre awards run and voted for by young people. Over 3,300 young people voted to crown their favourite shows and performances of 2019.
Dear Evan Hansen was the big winner of the night scooping 4 awards – Watch This Face, Top Tech, Soundtrack of my Soul and Best Musical. The awards were accepted in filmed speeches by actors Sam Tutty and Rebecca McKinnis, writers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and videographer Peter Nigrini.
Sam Tutty in Dear Evan Hansen at the Noël Coward Theatre. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Justin Paul, winner of the Soundtrack of my Soul award said: “It means so much to us that this award is voted on by young people, and this organisation means so much to us that it brings theatre to young people who need to see theatre who might not be able to see it otherwise.”
Sir Ian McKellen won the most prestigious award of the night – Special Recognition for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre. He was nominated for his one-man show, which raised money for theatres and charities including Mousetrap.
In his acceptance speech he said: “Many thanks for an award which was a timely reminder of normality.”
Other big winners of the night included & Juliet which picked up the Spectacular Set award, Waitress, which won both Best Female Performer and Best Male Performer for Laura Baldwin and David Hunter respectively and The Bridge Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which scooped the Best Play award.
Cassidy Janson, Melanie La Barrie, Miriam Teak Lee, Arun Blai Mangat and ensemble of & Juliet
The ceremony was an exuberant celebration of British theatre and featured performances from some of the young people who Mousetrap has reached during lockdown through its #EveryHomeATheatre project.
Simon Stephens, playwright of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time said: “This is a strange time for theatre, but the faith of our audiences – and especially the faith of our young audiences – really galvanises us and gets us through and really pushes us towards some optimistic future. It means a great deal.”
You can find a full list of winners below and if you’d watch the Mousetrap Awards 2020 ceremony, click the button below.
Full List of Winners
Watch This Face award Winner: Sam Tutty as Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen
Saved the Day award Winner: Toby Marlow as Catherine Parr in Six
Bring it Back Winner: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Big Little Stars Winner: Zion Gardner, John Madondo, Samuel O’Loughlin and Jay-Jay Prince as Simba in The Lion King
Soundtrack of my Soul Winner: Dear Evan Hansen
Top Tech Winner: Dear Evan Hansen
Home Sweet Home Winner: The Young Vic Theatre
Spectacular Set Winner: & Juliet
Power of the Ensemble Winner: Come From Away
Best Female Performer Winner: Laura Baldwin as Dawn in Waitress
Best Male Performer Winner: David Hunter as Dr Pomatter in Waitress
Best Play Winner: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre
Best Musical Winner: Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward Theatre
Special Recognition for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre Winner: Sir Ian McKellen