23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards
The WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major theatre awards nominated and voted for by the public. Each year thousands of theatregoers up and down the country decide their favourite performers and shows across a range of categories.
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About the WhatsOnStage Awards
Now in their 24th year, the WhatsOnStage Awards are considered one of the top highlights of the theatrical calendar, saluting the best of UK theatre. On the night, as well as seeing the winners crowned, attendees also enjoy a host of exclusive live performances from top theatre talent.
Key dates
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Thursday 10 November 2022 - Nominations open
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Wednesday 23 November 2022 - Nominations close
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Thursday 8 December 2022 - Nominees are revealed in an online launch and voting opens
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Tuesday 10 January 2023 - Voting closes
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Sunday 12 February 2023 - Ceremony
Sponsors for the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards
Headline Sponsor:
Click the logos below to find out more!
Official Hotel Partner
We are so grateful for all the support we receive from some of the biggest names in the industry and across so many different sectors, all with a love and passion for UK theatre. If you’d like to join these amazing companies, get in touch today for sponsorship details!
Nominations & voting
Details on nominations and voting for the 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards will be available soon.
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.
When nominations open, voters can choose any person or show that is eligible according to the rules above. When nominations close, the top nominees in those categories are short-listed for the final vote.
The exceptions to this are the technical categories (Direction, Musical Direction/Supervision, Casting Direction, Choreography, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Set Design, Sound Design, Video Design, Graphic Design) as the nominees will be chosen by a panel of industry experts appointed by WhatsOnStage. Their shortlist is then be voted on by the general public.
Eligibility
All live, original UK professional productions – and performers within these productions – whose performances began between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 are eligible in almost all of the categories.
Productions that have been eligible in previous years, plus any performers that have appeared in these productions between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 are not eligible in almost all categories.
The exceptions are:
Best West End Show (more details below)
Best Takeover Performance
Best Professional Debut Performance
There are further rules for three categories:
Best Off-West End Production
Any professional production whose performances began in an Off-West End venue (in London) between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 is eligible.
Best Regional Production
Any professional production whose performances began in a venue outside of Greater London between 26 November 2021 and 22 November 2022 is eligible.
Best Concert Event
This category is open to any self-described concert event that ran for a maximum of three performances.
Best West End Show
This award recognises the most popular show currently running in a West End theatre that will have played for at least 12 months up to 10 January 2023. This includes shows that began performances before 26 November 2021.
Voting process
Voting is open from Thursday 8 December 2022 until Tuesday 10 January 2023.
You can only vote once in each category.
You do not need to vote in every category.
When you are done click the submit button.
Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday 12 February 2023.
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.
Nomination process
Nominations are open from Thursday 10 November 2022 until Wednesday 23 November 2022.
You can only nominate once in each available category.
You do not need to nominate in every category.
When you are done click the submit button.
The nominees will be announced on Thursday 8 December 2022, when voting opens.
FAQs
When nominations open voters can choose any person or show that is eligible according to the rules above. When nominations close, the top nominees in those categories are short-listed for the final vote. The exceptions to this are the technical categories as the nominees will be chosen by a panel of industry experts.
Details for next year nominations will be available shortly.
The winners of the awards are announced at a star-studded ceremony. Dates for 2024 will be announced later this year.
The launch will be online only this year.
Tickets for next year's ceremony will be on sale nearer the time.
