The Black British Theatre Awards reveal 2021 nominees for its annual event taking place
on Sunday 21st November at Old Finsbury Town Hall, London
The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) is the UK’s first award show to celebrate the excellence and influence of Black performers and creatives within the UK theatre industry.
Launched in 2019, and now in its third year, the BBTAs are more relevant and impactful than ever before. On Sunday 21 November 2021, the BBTAs will return to the elegance of the Old Finsbury Town Hall, home of its inaugural ceremony.
The BBTAs highlight excellence and leadership within the UK theatre sector through the acknowledgement and celebration of established and emerging diverse talent. An important part of the awards is to champion the legacy of Black theatre pioneers and their visionary contributions. The BBTAs support and inspire young Black talent through award recognition and a year round outreach programme, creating an impact by facilitating pathways from the educational system into the arts and empowering diverse talent to create and tell their stories. The purpose of the movement is for Black talent to be recognised and represented throughout the UK theatre sector.
Over the past year, with many shows being streamed and/or performed live, there has been a plethora of innovative and ground-breaking theatre. The BBTAs will highlight the exceptional Black artists and creatives on and off stage during this time of national cultural recovery. The presence of Black talent in all aspects of theatre is more important than ever to ensure that the return to theatre is dynamic and diverse than ever. This year’s nominees demonstrate the abundance of talent and showcase excellence across UK theatre, as well as the broader arts and cultural landscape.
2021 BBTAS NOMINEES REVEALED
Thank you to all our Sponsors & Partners
CREATIVES GROUP
BEST DIRECTOR AWARD FOR A PLAY OR MUSICAL
SPONSORED BY THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP
Anthony Simpson-Pike, Lava, Bush Theatre
Miranda Cromwell, and breathe…, Almeida Theatre
Tinuke Craig,The Color Purple – at Home, Curve, in association with Birmingham Hippodrome
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR
SPONSORED BY ITALIA CONTI
Femi Temowo, and breathe…, Almeida Theatre
Ian Oakley, From Here, Chiswick Playhouse
Nadine Lee, Bagdad Cafe, The Old Vic
BEST PRODUCER AWARD
Almeida Theatre, and breathe…
Chris Steward and Shanay Holmes, West End Musical Celebration at Palace Theatre
Tanisha Spring, A Killer Party
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD
SPONSORED BY ONE DANCE UK
Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe, The Sun, The Moon and The Stars, Theatre Royal Stratford East
Ingrid Mackinnon, Romeo and Juliet, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Sarah Golding, Cruise, Duchess Theatre
BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE PRODUCTION AWARD
Joseph Sissens, The Statement, The Royal Ballet
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION AWARD
SPONSORED BY ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
‘And Still We Dance!’, Afro Dance Xplosion
‘BLKDOG’, Far From the Norm
‘Like Water’, Ballet Black
BEST USE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
SPONSORED BY THE LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMING ARTS
Chris Steward and Shanay Holmes, West End Musical Celebration at Palace Theatre
Ryan Carter, The Secret Society of Leading Ladies, Barn Theatre
RECOGNITION GROUP (BODY OF WORK)
LIGHT AND SOUND RECOGNITION AWARD
Tony Gayle
COSTUME DESIGN RECOGNITION AWARD
Jodie-Simone Howe
BOOK AND LYRICS RECOGNITION AWARD
Annabel Mutale Reed
Benedict Lombe
Yomi Sode
MUSICAL DIRECTOR RECOGNITION AWARD
SPONSORED BY THE URDANG
Ian Oakley
Sean Green
CASTING DIRECTOR RECOGNITION AWARD
SPONSORED BY SPOTLIGHT
Chandra Ruegg
Isabella Odoffin
ACHIEVEMENTS GROUP
LGBTQ+ CHAMPION AWARD
SPONSORED BY BIRD COLLEGE
Alex Thomas-Smith
Jay Perry
Nicole Raquel Dennis
BEST TEACHER OF PERFORMING ARTS AS A SUBJECT AWARD
SPONSORED BY GSA – UNIVERSITY OF SURREY
Ashley Campbell, British Theatre Academy
Hakeem Onibudo, Impact Dance
Kamara Gray, Artistry Youth Dance
BEST RECENT GRADUATE AWARD
SPONSORED BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION
Georgina Onuorah, Arts Educational Schools
Kayla Carter, Royal Academy of Music
Natasha May-Thomas, Urdang Academy
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Derek Griffiths MBE
PLAYS GROUP
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
David Jonsson, and breathe…, Almeida Theatre
Michael Balogun, Death of England, National Theatre
Omari Douglas, Constellations, Vaudeville Theatre
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
Isabel Adomakoh Young, Romeo and Juliet, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, Lava, Bush Theatre
Tia Bannon, seven methods of killing kylie jenner, Royal Court Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
Andrew French, Romeo and Juliet, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Ola Ayofe, After Life, National Theatre
Stephen K Amos, My Night With Reg, Turbine Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
Anoushka Lucas, After Life, National Theatre
Aretha Ayeh, Romeo and Juliet, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Rosalind Eleazar, Uncle Vanya, Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST PRODUCTION PLAY
SPONSORED BY LINK TALENT
and breathe…, Almeida Theatre
J’Ouvert, Harold Pinter Theatre
Lava, Bush Theatre
MUSICALS GROUP
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Ivano Turco, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Liam Tamne, The Prince Of Egypt, Dominion Theatre
Tyrone Huntley, Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Lucy St. Louis, The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Marisha Wallace, Hairspray, London Coliseum
Shanay Holmes, Disenchanted
BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
SPONSORED BY MICHAEL HARRISON ENTERTAINMENT
Ashley Samuels, Hairspray, London Coliseum
Caleb Roberts, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
John Pfumojena, Carousel, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
SPONSORED BY GALLOWAYS AGENCY
Gloria Onitiri, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Natasha May-Thomas, Carousel, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Tanisha Spring, The Prince Of Egypt, Dominion Theatre
BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION AWARD
SPONSORED BY THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP
The Color Purple – at Home, Curve, in association with Birmingham Hippodrome
The Last Five Years, Minack Theatre
West End Musical Celebration, Palace Theatre
PRODUCT SPONSORS:
AESOP
IMUSICAL
Solange Urdang and Omar F Okai, Co-Directors of the BBTAs: ‘We are already so overwhelmed by the response and support this year in particular as online viewing has given access to new audiences who are really engaged and now looking forward to supporting live theatre. A younger and more diverse audience is the future and this year has certainly seen positive change for black theatre audiences.’
Rachel Nwokoro, Winner of Disability Champion Award 2020: ‘Receiving the first ever Disability Champion award last year felt like the sweetest recognition of an essential yet often stigmatised part of my identity. Thank you eternally to the BBTAs for lovingly hosting such a sacred ceremony of Black celebration and joy. I felt an awakening of our shared ancestors, the ones whose names donned the empty seats, and I heard their roar around our own. It is a memory I hold deep in my heart and I will for years to come. I left the night with a clear and celestial truth: We are here, we are abundant and we are unstoppable. They can’t stop us.”
