The National Theatre dominates the nominations for the 2013 What’s On Stage Awards with an impressive 25 nominations, while the new stage adaptation of The Bodyguard leads the way in the musical stakes.
Following its opening earlier this week, the Whitney Houston-inspired musical has received six nominations including Best New Musical and Best Actress In A Musical for the show’s Tony and Grammy Award-winning leading lady Heather Headley.
The National’s production of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, which will transfer to the Apollo theatre next year, has notched up a staggering six nominations, including Best Actor In A Play for Luke Treadaway, the show’s Asperger’s Syndrome protagonist, Best New Play for acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens and Best Director for Marianne Elliott.
Other nominations for the acclaimed Southbank venue include Best New Play for Lucy Prebble’s The Effect, Best Actress In A Play for star of Prebble’s scientific drama Billie Piper and The Last Of The Haussmans’ Julie Walters, Best Supporting Actress In A Play for Walters’ co-star Helen McCrory and Moon On A Rainbow Shawl’s Jenny Jules, Best Supporting Actor In A Play for Scenes From An Execution’s Tim McInnerny, Best Solo Performance for star of Misterman Cillian Murphy, Best New Comedy for Alan Bennett’s People and The Last Of The Haussmans’ Stephen Beresford, Best Play Revival for She Stoops To Conquer and Best Shakespearean Production for the Simon Russell Beale-led Timon Of Athens.
Up against Piper and Walters in the battle for Best Actress In A Play is Evening Standard Award-winner Hattie Morahan for her performance in the Young Vic’s A Doll’s House, double Olivier Award-winner Sheridan Smith for Hedda Gabler, Sally Hawkins for her performance in Nick Payne’s award-winning play Constellations and Jill Halfpenny for Abigail’s Party.
Also receiving nods for their individual performances are Adrian Lester, David Haig, David Suchet, Mark Rylance, Stephen Fry, Michael Ball, Mark Gatiss, Rupert Everett, Will Young, Tim Minchin, Melanie Chisholm, Imelda Staunton, Rob Brydon, Michael Ball, Tom Chambers, Adam Cooper, Alex Bourne, Lloyd Owen and Mark Umbers.
This year’s Olympic fever has been recognised in the 2013 nominations with Danny Boyle’s Olympics opening ceremony being nominated for Theatre Event Of The Year and the West End transfer of Chariots Of Fire receiving an impressive five nominations.
Alongside The Bodyguard in the hotly-contended Best New Musical category are Top Hat, Daddy Long Legs, Loserville, Soho Cinders and Sweet Smell Of Success, with Chichester Festival Theatre transfers Sweeney Todd, Singin’ In The Rain and Kiss Me, Kate receiving 18 nominations between them throughout the shortlist.
The winners of the 2013 What’s On Stage awards will be revealed at an awards concert on 17 February at the Palace theatre.
For a full list of nominees, check out our list below:
Digital Theatre Best Actress In A Play
Billie Piper – The Effect , Headlong at the National Theatre Cottesloe
Hattie Morahan – A Doll’s House at the Young Vic
Jill Halfpenny – Abigail’s Party at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Wyndham’s
Julie Walters – The Last Of The Haussmans at the National Theatre Lyttelton
Sally Hawkins – Constellations at the Royal Court Upstairs & Duke of York’s
Sheridan Smith – Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic
Digital Theatre Best Actor In A Play
Adrian Lester – Red Velvet at the Tricycle
David Haig – The Madness Of George III at the Apollo
David Suchet – Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the Apollo
Luke Treadaway – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at the National Theatre Cottesloe
Mark Rylance – Twelfth Night & Richard III at Shakespeare’s Globe & the Apollo
Rupert Everett – The Judas Kiss at Hampstead
Best Supporting Actress In A Play
Fenella Woolgar – Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic
Helen McCrory – The Last Of The Haussmans at the National Theatre Lyttelton
Jenny Jules – Moon On A Rainbow Shawl at the National Theatre Cottesloe
Linda Bassett – In Basildon at the Royal Court Downstairs & People at the National Theatre Lyttelton
Natalie Casey – Abigail’s Party at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Wyndham’s
Sophie Thompson – The Physicists at the Donmar Warehouse & She Stoops To Conquer at the National Theatre Olivier
Best Supporting Actor In A Play
Adrian Scarborough – Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic
Andy Nyman – Abigail’s Party at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Wyndham’s
Kyle Soller – Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the Apollo
Mark Gatiss – The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse & 55 Days at Hampstead
Stephen Fry – Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe & the Apollo
Tim McInnerny – Scenes From An Execution at the National Theatre Lyttelton
STAR Best Actress In A Musical
Emi Wokoma – Soul Sister at Hackney Empire & the Savoy
Hannah Waddingham – Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic
Heather Headley – The Bodyguard at the Adelphi
Imelda Staunton – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
Megan McGinnis – Daddy Long Legs at the St James
Scarlett Strallen – Singin’ In The Rain at the Palace
Theatre Tokens Best Actor In A Musical
Adam Cooper – Singin’ In The Rain at the Palace
Alex Bourne – Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic
Lloyd Owen – The Bodyguard at the Adelphi
Mark Umbers – Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Michael Ball – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
Tom Chambers – Top Hat at the Aldwych
Best Supporting Actress In A Musical
Beverly Rudd & Suzie Chard – Soho Cinders at Soho
Debbie Kurup – The Bodyguard at the Adelphi
Katherine Kingsley – Singin’ In The Rain at the Palace
Melanie Chisholm – Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2
Sian Phillips – Cabaret at the Savoy
Vivien Parry – Top Hat at the Aldwych
W&P Longreach Best Supporting Actor In A Musical
Adam Garcia – Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic
Daniel Crossley – Singin’ In The Rain at the Palace
Jon Robyns – Spamalot at the Harold Pinter & Playhouse
Ricardo Afonso – Top Hat at the Aldwych
Sam Buttery – Taboo at the Brixton Club House
Tim Minchin – Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2
Jo Hutchison International Best Solo Performance
Chris Larner – An Instinct For Kindness at Trafalgar Studios 2
Cillian Murphy – Misterman at the National Theatre Lyttelton
Idina Menzel – Idina Menzel at the Apollo
Mark Quartley & Paul Chequer – Private Peaceful at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Roger Rees – What You Will at the Apollo
Simon Callow – A Christmas Carol at the Arts
The Imail Best Ensemble Performance
Chariots Of Fire at Hampstead & the Gielgud
Let It Be at the Prince of Wales
Our Boys at the Duchess
Richard III & Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe & the Apollo
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at the National Theatre Cottesloe
The Ladykillers at the Gielgud
Best Takeover In A Role
Danielle Hope – Les Misérables at the Queen’s
Dean Chisnall – Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Gina Beck – Wicked at the Victoria Apollo
Oliver Tompsett – We Will Rock You at the Dominion
Owain Arthur – One Man, Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Ramin Karimloo – Les Misérables at the Queen’s
Best New Play
55 Days by Howard Brenton at Hampstead
Chariots Of Fire by Mike Bartlett at Hampstead & the Gielgud
Constellations by Nick Payne at the Royal Court Upstairs & Duke of York’s
Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti at the Tricycle
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time by Simon Stephens at the National Theatre Cottesloe
The Effect by Lucy Prebble for Headlong at the National Theatre Cottesloe
The Time Out Best New Comedy
All New People by Zach Braff at the Duke of York’s
Birthday by Joe Penhall at the Royal Court Downstairs
NSFW by Lucy Kirkwood at the Royal Court Downstairs
People by Alan Bennett at the National Theatre Lyttelton
The Ladykillers by Graham Linehan at the Gielgud
The Last Of The Haussmans by Stephen Beresford at the National Theatre Lyttelton
Best New Musical
Daddy Long Legs by Paul Gordon & John Caird at the St James
Loserville by James Bourne & Elliot Davis at the Garrick
Soho Cinders by George Stiles, Anthony Drewe & Elliot Davis at the Soho
Sweet Smell Of Success by Marvin Hamlisch & John Guare at the Arcola
The Bodyguard by Alex Dinelaris at the Adelphi
Top Hat by Matthew White & Howard Jacques at the Aldwych
Best Play Revival
A Doll’s House at the Young Vic
Abigail’s Party at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Wyndham’s
Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the Apollo
Our Boys at the Duchess
She Stoops To Conquer at the National Theatre Olivier
The Judas Kiss at Hampstead
Radisson Blu Edwardian Best Musical Revival
Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2
Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic
Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Singin’ In The Rain at the Palace
Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
Taboo at Brixton Club House
Best Shakespearean Production
Julius Caesar – RSC at the Noël Coward
King Lear at the Almeida
Much Ado About Nothing – RSC at the Noël Coward
Richard III at Shakespeare’s Globe & the Apollo
Timon Of Athens at the National Theatre Olivier
Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe and the Apollo
Totally Theatre Productions Best Director
Edward Hall – Chariots Of Fire at Hampstead & the Gielgud
Gregory Doran – Julius Caesar, RSC at the Noël Coward
Jonathan Kent – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
Lindsay Posner – Abigail’s Party at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Wyndham’s, Noises Off at the Old Vic & Novello, Uncle Vanya at the Vaudeville
Marianne Elliott – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at the National Theatre Cottesloe
Thea Sharrock – The Bodyguard at the Adelphi
Feast Best Set Designer
Bunny Christie – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at the National Theatre Cottesloe
Hildegard Bechtler – Scenes From An Execution at the National Theatre Lyttelton
Michael Taylor – The Ladykillers at the Gielgud
Miriam Buether – Chariots Of Fire at Hampstead & the Gielgud, Wild Swans at the Young Vic & The Effect at the National Theatre Cottesloe
Tim Hatley – The Bodyguard at the Adelphi
Tom Scutt – The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe at Kensington Gardens & Constellations at the Royal Court Upstairs & Duke of York’s
White Light Best Lighting Designer
Humphrey McDermott – Let It Be at the Prince of Wales
Lee Curran – Constellations at the Royal Court Upstairs & Duke of York’s
Mark Henderson – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
Patrick Woodroffe – Jesus Christ Superstar at O2
Paul Anderson – The Master And Margarita, Complicite at the Barbican
Paule Constable – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time & This House at the National Theatre Cottesloe
Made Best Choreographer
Andrew Wright – Singin’ In The Rain at the Palace
Bill Deamer – Top Hat at the Aldwych
Karen Bruce – Midnight Tango at the Aldwych
Nathan M Wright – The Sweet Smell Of Success at the Arcola
Scott Ambler – Chariots Of Fire at Hampstead & the Gielgud
Stephen Mear – Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic
Autograph Best Original Music
Daddy Long Legs – Paul Gordon at the St James
Soho Cinders – George Stiles at Soho
The Last Session – Steve Schalchlin at the Tristan Bates
The Magistrate – Richard Sisson at the National Theatre Olivier
The Recruiting Officer – Michael Bruce at the Donmar Warehouse
Sweet Smell Of Success – Marvin Hamlisch at the Arcola
Dewynters London Newcomer Of The Year
Alex Lawther (actor) – South Downs at the Harold Pinter
Joshua Miles (actor) – Bully Boy at the St James
Lolita Chakrabarti (playwright) – Red Velvet at the Tricycle
Maria Friedman (director) – Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Rob Brydon (actor) – A Chorus Of Disapproval at the Harold Pinter
Will Young (actor) – Cabaret at the Savoy
Boom Ents Best Off-West End Production
Desire Under The Elms at Lyric Hammersmith
Mad About The Boy at the Bush, Young Vic & Unicorn theatres
Shivered at Southwark Playhouse
Steel Pier at the Union
Taboo at the Brixton Club House
Uncle Vanya at The Print Room
Tickets.com Best Regional Production
American Idiot on tour
Company at Sheffield Crucible
Gypsy at Leicester Curve
Medea – Headlong at Watford Palace & on tour
The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui at Chichester Festival
Wonderful Town – The Lowry, Salford & on tour
Equity Best West End Show
Les Misérables at the Queen’s
Matilda The Musical – RSC at the Cambridge
The Lion King at the Lyceum
The Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty’s
War Horse at the New London
Wicked at the Apollo Victoria
AKA Theatre Event Of The Year
Danny Boyle’s Olympics Opening Ceremony
Jesus Christ Superstar’s arena tour, following the ITV casting competition Superstar
Mark Rylance returning to Shakespeare’s Globe in Twelfth Night & Richard III
The Globe to Globe season, all 37 plays in 37 different languages, as part of the World Shakespeare Festival
The opening of the new state-of-the-art St James Theatre on the site of the demolished Westminster Theatre
The premiere of the Susan Boyle bio-musical I Dreamed A Dream