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About the WhatsOnStage Awards

Each year thousands of theatregoers up and down the country nominate their favourite performers and shows in a number of categories. Nominations open on Tuesday 29 October and close on Wednesday 27 November 2019.

When the nominations close the top five nominees in each of those categories are put forward for the final vote along with the short-listed nominees in the technical categories*.

The full shortlist of nominees will be announced on Thursday 5 December 2019 when voting then opens and runs until Monday 27 January 2020.

*The shortlist for the technical categories (Choreography, Costume Design, Direction, Graphic Design, Lighting Design, Musical Direction, Set Design, Sound Design and Video Design) will be decided by an independent panel of industry experts appointed by WhatsOnStage. Their shortlist will then be voted on by the general public.

Key Dates

Tuesday 29 October 2019 | Nominations Open
Wednesday 6 November 2019 | Tickets go on sale

Wednesday 27 November 2019 at 5pm | Nominations close
Thursday 5 December 2019 | Nominees announced and voting opens
Monday 27 January 2020 at 5pm | Voting closes
Sunday 1 March 2020 | Winners announced at the Awards Ceremony

Nominations and Voting

Nominations and votes are limited to one per person and require an email address to maintain integrity of the submission. We do everything we can to ensure fairness across the board. Many performers and productions mobilise their fanbase, so be sure to get involved and spread the word using #WOSAwards.

Eligibility

All UK professional productions that began between December 2018 and 27 November 2019 are eligible in 21 of the 25 categories. The four exceptions are:

Best Off-West End Production

Any professional production that began in an Off-West End venue (in London) between December 2018 and 27 November 2019 is eligible.

Best Regional Production

Any professional production that began in a venue outside of Greater London between December 2018 and 27 November 2019 is eligible.

Best West End Show

This Award is being replaced – further details to follow.

Equity Award for Services to Theatre

This Award is voted for exclusively by members of Equity – the UK trade union for creative practitioners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for these awards?

All UK professional productions that began between December 2018 and 27 November 2019 are eligible in 21 of the 25 categories.

How are the nominees and winners chosen?

When nominations open on Tuesday 29 October 2019 voters can choose any person or show that is eligible according to the rules above. When nominations close on Wednesday 27 November 2019 the top FIVE nominees in those categories are short-listed for the final vote. The only exception to this are the technical categories as the five nominees will be chosen by a panel of industry experts.

When are the nominees announced?

The nominees will be announced on Thursday 5 December 2019 and voting then immediately opens.

When are the winners announced?

The winners of the awards are announced at a star-studded ceremony on Sunday 1 March 2020.

Can I attend the Launch Party?

The Launch Party is an invitation only event for nominees and sponsors. Tickets are not available to purchase.

How do I attend the Awards Ceremony?

Public tickets for the Awards Ceremony will go on sale on Wednesday 6 November 2019 at 11am at a range of prices starting from £27.50 (subject to availability).

Please note: Stalls seats are not on sale for the 20th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards ceremony.

If you have any access requirements please contact the box office directly: [email protected]

If you are a nominee please contact [email protected] regarding your ticket allocation.

RULES

You must be over 16 to nominate/vote
You must submit a valid email address to nominate/vote
Nominations/votes are limited to one per person
All nomination/voting results are tabulated and will be audited to remove fake, duplicate and other invalid votes
No automatic, programmed or robotic means of nomination/voting are permitted. Any such nominations/votes will be declared invalid and removed
WhatsOnStage reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend nominations/voting should any virus, bug, non-authorised human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the nomination/voting process
All decisions regarding the nomination/voting process are final and shall not be subject to challenge or appeal