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]
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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]
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.
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.
2021
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]
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
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]
Performance categories
- Best Performer in a Musical
- Best Supporting Performer in a Musical
- Best Performer in a Play
- Best Supporting Performer in a Play
- Best Professional Debut Performance
- Best Takeover In A Role
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Production categories
- Best New Play
- Best New Comedy
- Best New Musical
- Best Play Revival
- Best Musical Revival
- Best Shakespearean Production
- Best Director
- Best Set Designer
- Best Lighting Designer
- Best Video Design
- Best Choreographer
- Best Original Music
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Special categories
- London Newcomer Of The Year
- Best Off-West End Production
- Best Regional Production
- Best West End Show
- Best Concert Event
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Defunct categories
2008[10]
- Best Actress in a Play: Maggie Smith – The Lady from Dubuque at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Best Actor in a Play: Ian McKellen – King Lear, RSC at the New London
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Diana Rigg – All About My Mother at the Old Vic
- Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Lee Evans – The Dumb Waiter at Trafalgar Studios
- Best Actress in a Musical: Leanne Jones – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury
- Best Actor in a Musical: Michael Ball – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Tracie Bennett – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Ben James-Ellis – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury
- Best Solo Performance: Fiona Shaw – Happy Days at the NT Lyttelton
- Best Ensemble Performance: The Taming of the Shrew & Twelfth Night – Propeller at the Old Vic
- Best Takeover in a Role: Kerry Ellis – Wicked at the Apollo Victoria
- Best New Play: All About My Mother by Samuel Adamson – at the Old Vic
- Best New Comedy: Elling by Simon Bent – at the Bush & Trafalgar Studios
- Best New Musical: Hairspray by Marc Shaiman, Scott Whittman, Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan – at the Shaftesbury
- Best Play Revival: Equus – at the Gielgud
- Best Musical Revival: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – at the Adelphi
- The Best Shakespearean Production: Macbeth – at the Gielgud
- Best Director: Jack O'Brien – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury
- Best Set Designer: Rob Howell – The Lord of the Rings at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- Best Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury
- London Newcomer of the Year: Daniel Radcliffe – Equus at the Gielgud
- Best Off West End Production: A Christmas Carol & The Magic Flute – at the Young Vic and I Love You Because – at the Landor
- Best Regional Production: Pygmalion – at the Theatre Royal Bath & on tour
- Theatre Event of the Year: Daniel Radcliffe's steamy publicity shots for Equus
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2009 [11]
- Best Actress in a Play: Katy Stephens – The Histories, RSC at the Roundhouse
- Best Actor in a Play: Kenneth Branagh – Ivanov, Donmar West End at Wyndham's
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Sophie Thompson – The Female of the Species at the Vaudeville
- Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Tom Hiddleston – Othello at the Donmar Warehouse & Ivanov, Donmar West End at Wyndham's
- Best Actress in a Musical: Sofia Escobar – West Side Story at Sadler's Wells
- Best Actor in a Musical: Ryan Molloy – Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Tracie Bennett – La Cage aux Folles at the Playhouse
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Stephen Ashfield – Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward
- Best Solo Performance: Eddie Izzard – Stripped at the Lyric
- Best Ensemble Performance: Into the Hoods – at the Novello
- Best Takeover in a Role: Daniel Boys – Avenue Q at the Noël Coward
- Books Best New Play: Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge – at the Duke of York's
- Best New Comedy: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute – at Trafalgar Studios & the Comedy
- Best New Musical: Jersey Boys by Bob Gaudio, Bob Crewe, Rick Elice & Marshall Brickman – at the Prince Edward
- Best Play Revival: Ivanov, Donmar West End – at Wyndham's
- Best Musical Revival: West Side Story – at Sadler's Wells
- Best Shakespearean Production: Othello – at the Donmar Warehouse
- Best Director: Michael Grandage – Othello & The Chalk Garden at the Donmar Warehouse & Ivanov, Donmar West End at Wyndham's
- Best Set Designer: Klara Zieglerova – Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward
- Best Lighting Designer: Malcolm Rippeth – Brief Encounter at The Cinema, Haymarket & Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Gielgud
- Best Choreographer: Lynne Page – La Cage aux Folles at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Playhouse
- London Newcomer of the Year: Josh Hartnett – Rain Man at the Apollo
- Best Off West End Production: Come Dancing – at Theatre Royal Stratford East
- Best Regional Production: Hamlet – RSC at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
- Theatre Event of the Year: David Tennant returning to the stage in Hamlet for the RSC
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2010[12]
- Best Actress in a Play: Rachel Weisz - A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse
- Best Actor in a Play: Jude Law - Hamlet, Donmar West End at Wyndham's
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Miriam Margolyes - Endgame at the Duchess
- Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Patrick Stewart - Hamlet, RSC at the Novello
- Best Actress in a Musical: Patina Miller - Sister Act at the London Palladium
- Best Actor in a Musical: Rowan Atkinson - Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Jodie Prenger - Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Oliver Thornton - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace
- Best Solo Performance: Derren Brown - Derren Brown: Enigma at the Adelphi
- Best Ensemble Performance: On the Waterfront at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Best Takeover in a Role: John Barrowman - La Cage aux Folles at the Playhouse
- Best New Play: Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth at the Royal Court Downstairs
- Best New Comedy: Calendar Girls by Tim Firth at the Noël Coward
- Best New Musical: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by Allan Scott & Stephan Elliott at the Palace
- Best Play Revival: A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse
- Best Musical Revival: Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- Best Shakespearean Production: Hamlet - RSC at the Novello
- Best Director: Trevor Nunn - Inherit the Wind at the Old Vic & A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Garrick
- Best Set Designer: Brian Thomson - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace
- Best Lighting Designer: Natasha Katz - Sister Act at the London Palladium at The Cinema, Haymarket, & Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Gielgud
- Best Choreographer: Ross Coleman - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace
- London Newcomer of the Year: Diana Vickers - The Rise & Fall of Little Voice at the Vaudeville
- Best Off West End Production: The Pirates of Penzance at the Union Theatre
- Best Regional Production: Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall Bristol Old Vic & tour
- Best West End Show: Wicked
- Theatre Event of the Year: The pairing of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Waiting for Godot
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2011[13]
- Best Actress in a Play: Zoe Wanamaker - All My Sons at the Apollo
- Best Actor in a Play: David Suchet - All My Sons at the Apollo
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Tamsin Greig - The Little Dog Laughed at the Garrick
- Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Patrick Stewart - Hamlet, RSC at the Novello
- Best Actress in a Musical: Sheridan Smith - Legally Blonde at the Savoy
- Best Actor in a Musical: Ramin Karimloo - Love Never Dies at the Adelphi
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Jill Halfpenny - Legally Blonde at the Savoy
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Joseph Millson - Love Never Dies at the Adelphi
- Best Solo Performance: Meera Syal - Shirley Valentine at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Trafalgar Studios 1
- Best Ensemble Performance: Les Misérables 25th anniversary concert – the company of companies – at The O2
- Best Takeover in a Role: Rachel Tucker - Wicked at the Apollo Victoria
- Best New Play: Anne Boleyn by Howard Brenton – at Shakespeare's Globe
- Best New Comedy: Yes, Prime Minister by Antony Jay & Jonathan Lynn – at the Gielgud
- Best New Musical: Legally Blonde - by Nell Benjamin, Laurence O'Keefe & Heather Hach – at the Savoy
- Best Play Revival: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello
- Best Musical Revival: Les Misérables 25th anniversary production at the Barbican
- Best Shakespearean Production: Hamlet at the National, Olivier
- Best Director: Timothy Sheader Into the Woods & The Crucible at the Open Air
- Best Set Designer: Joanna Scotcher - The Railway Children at Waterloo Station
- Best Lighting Designer: James Farncombe Ghost Stories at the Lyric Hammersmith & Duke of York's
- Best Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell - Legally Blonde at the Savoy
- London Newcomer of the Year: Jonathan Groff - Deathtrap at the Noël Coward
- Best Off West End Production: La Bohème at the Cock Tavern, Kilburn & Soho
- Best Regional Production: Chess on tour
- Best West End Show: Wicked
- Theatre Event of the Year: Les Misérables 25th anniversary concert at The 02 & screened to cinemas worldwide
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2012[14]
- Best Actress in a Play: Vanessa Redgrave - Driving Miss Daisy at Wyndham's
- Best Actor in a Play: James Corden - One Man, Two Guvnors at the National, Lyttelton & Adelphi
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Catherine Tate - Season's Greetings at the National, Lyttelton
- Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Oliver Chris - One Man, Two Guvnors at the National, Lyttelton & Adelphi
- Best Actress in a Musical: Amanda Holden - Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- Best Actor in a Musical: Richard Fleeshman - Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Hannah Waddingham - The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Nigel Harman - Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- Best Solo Performance: Kerry Ellis - Anthems at the Royal Albert Hall
- Best Ensemble Performance: London Road - at the National, Cottesloe
- Best Takeover in a Role: Alfie Boe - Les Misérables at the Queen's
- Best New Play: Three Days in May by Ben Brown - at Trafalgar Studios 1
- Best New Comedy: One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean - at the National, Lyttelton & Adelphi
- Best New Musical: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by Allan Scott & Stephan Elliott at the Palace
- Best Play Revival: Driving Miss Daisy at Wyndham's
- Best Musical Revival: The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
- Best Shakespearean Production: Much Ado About Nothing at Wyndham's
- Best Director: Danny Boyle - Frankenstein at the National, Olivier
- Best Set Designer: Rob Howell - Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly & Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge
- Best Lighting Designer: Hugh Vanstone - Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly
- Best Choreographer: Peter Darling - Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge
- London Newcomer of the Year: Tim Minchin - Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge
- Best Off West End Production: The Riots - at the Tricycle
- Best Regional Production: Sweeney Todd at Chichester Festival
- Best West End Show: War Horse
- Theatre Event of the Year: David Tennant & Catherine Tate reuniting on stage in Much Ado About Nothing
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2013[15]
- Best Actress in a Play: Sheridan Smith – Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic
- Best Actor in a Play: Rupert Everett – The Judas Kiss at the Hampstead
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Natalie Casey - Abigail's Party at the Menier Chocolate Factor & Wyndham's
- Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Stephen Fry – Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe & the Apollo
- Best Actress in a Musical: Imelda Staunton – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
- Best Actor in a Musical: Michael Ball – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Melanie C – Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Tim Minchin – Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2
- Best Solo Performance: Idina Menzel – Idina Menzel at the Apollo
- Best Ensemble Performance: Richard III & Twelfth Night – at Shakespeare's Globe & the Apollo
- Best Takeover in a Role: Ramin Karimloo – Les Misérables at the Queen's
- Best New Play: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Simon Stephens – at the National, Cottesloe
- Best New Comedy: The Ladykillers by Graham Linehan – at the Gielgud
- Best New Musical: The Bodyguard by Alex Dinelaris – at the Adelphi
- Best Play Revival: Abigail's Party – at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Wyndham's
- Best Musical Revival: Sweeney Todd – at the Adelphi
- Best Shakespearean Production: Twelfth Night – at Shakespeare's Globe & the Apollo
- Best Director: Jonathan Kent – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
- Best Set Designer: Tom Scutt – The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe at Kensington Gardens & Constellations at the Royal Court Upstairs & Duke of York's
- Best Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi
- Best Choreographer: Andrew Wright – Singin' in the Rain at the Palace
- Best Original Music: Sweet Smell of Success – Marvin Hamlisch at the Arcola
- London Newcomer of the Year: Will Young – Cabaret at the Savoy
- Best Off West End Production: Taboo – at the Brixton Club House
- Best Regional Production: American Idiot – on tour
- Best West End Show: Les Misérables – at the Queen's
- Theatre Event of the Year: Danny Boyle's Olympics Opening Ceremony
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2014[16]
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2015[17]
- Best Actress in a Play: Billie Piper in Great Britain
- Best Actor in a Play: David Tennant in Richard II
- Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Vanessa Kirby in A Streetcar Named Desire
- Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Mark Gatiss in Coriolanus
- Best Actress in a Musical: Eva Noblezada in Miss Saigon
- Best Actor in a Musical: Jon Jon Briones in Miss Saigon
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Rachelle Ann Go in Miss Saigon
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Kwang Ho Hong in Miss Saigon
- Best Takeover in a Role: Kerry Ellis for Wicked
- Best New Play: Shakespeare in Love
- Best New Musical: Memphis
- Best Play Revival: Coriolanus
- Best Musical Revival: Miss Saigon
- Best Director: Laurence Connor for Miss Saigon
- Best Set Designer: Totie Driver & Matt Kinley for Miss Saigon
- Best Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson for Coriolanus
- Best Choreographer: Bob Avian & Geoffrey Garratt for Miss Saigon
- Best Off West End Production: Sweeney Todd at Twickenham Theatre
- Best Regional Production: Oliver! at Sheffield Theatres
- Best West End Show: Miss Saigon
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2022[21]- 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
- Best graphic design: Bob King Creative - Frozen
"Home". WOS Awards. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
"Winners 2011". West End Theatre. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.