Fresh Faces And Inspiring Words At The Stage Debut Awards

On Sunday, 17 September, 8 Northumberland Avenue saw theatre veterans and newcomers gathering together to celebrate the latter's accomplishments at the first edition of The Stage Debut Awards.

The red carpet was a grand and sparkling line of stars and stars-in-the-making: actors, writers, composers, and directors.

As the first guests and nominees started to arrive, the anxiety of being thrown in front of the press for what could have been the artists' first time was replaced by excitement and anticipation.

The debutants spoke were endearing as they recalled their surprise upon reading their name on the awards list. "I'm a bit shocked, really," said Kellan Frankland, nominated for Best Actress in a Play for her work in The House of Bernarda Alba at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. "I've never been to an awards ceremony before," confessed TJ Jones, nominated for Best Actor in a Play for The Seven Acts of Mercy at the Swan Theatre.

"To acknowledge the absolute beginnings of people, that's a beautiful thing," praised Harry Potter and the Cursed Child star Noma Dumezweni. She stressed the importance of nurturing the next generation, and never forgetting those contemporaries who haven't got recognition yet, or for whom this has come at an older age.

Best Actress in a Musical Miriam-Teak Lee, who will soon appear in the feverishly anticipated Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre, was glowing before and after her win. "I graduated last week - I couldn't believe it when I heard I was nominated! I'm over the moon, I'm ecstatic!"

It's particularly impressive that many of the nominees are barely out of school, like TJ Jones and Lee, and are already gaining mainstream attention with their promising talent.

Also striking is their open-mindedness and awareness. Siena Kelly, who was up against her co-star Lee for Best Actress in a Musical for On The Town at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, chatted about the progress the industry has made in regard to representation.

"I can see the change," she said. "It's happening, albeit not very quickly, but we need a positive attitude and I can see it getting better and better. Hopefully in ten years' time it will be the norm."

Everyone is proud of the steps the business has taken, but it's not sufficient, and as Dumezweni noted, "the world is what it is. What is extraordinary about it right at this moment is that we are all going 'I can't keep quiet, I really cannot keep quiet'. If I let the world carry on like this I will disappear'."

She pointed out that the use of the word "diversity" carries an unnecessary division, while we're striving for unity. "'Representation', to me, is seeing all things in the same place. The world is diverse, but that diversity is the representation of the world."

The actress, who's starring in the Broadway transfer of Cursed Child, is ecstatic about the future and looks forward to seeing the show and her character, Hermione Granger, grow. She said that revisiting theatre pieces interests her a lot, as she can see that her performances of the same role can differ a lot thanks to what she goes through in between productions.

Awards such as this have the potential to open up the theatrical world to the younger generation, but, as Kelly points out, "it's more to do with the prices of tickets than it not being advertised".

Among the diverse set of winners, one major surprise was 22-year-old Andrew Polec - a face completely new to the UK, who earned the audience-voted Joe Allen Best West End Debut, beating huge names of the likes of multi-award-winner Audra McDonald and Star Wars fan-favourite John Boyega.

A buzz went through the press room as fellow Bat Out of Hell cast member Christina Bennington went on to collect Polec's award. The actor, who's currently rehearsing for the Toronto opening of the smash-hit musical, sent heartfelt words via Bennington.

Samuel Thomas, up for Best Actor in a Play for Allegro at Southwark Playhouse, was utterly surprised by the nomination, as it came a long time after the show had closed. "Don't hold back for anything," he advised performers who are about to make their own debut. "Seize every moment you're doing a show, because you only make your debut once and it's all about making a lasting impression. Go for it and enjoy it!"

The actor, who opened in 35mm: A Musical Exhibition at The Other Palace the day after the ceremony and ended up nabbing the award, had nothing but words of praise for the other contenders. "We all deserve this, but I am happy to represent Allegro, mainly because it was a much smaller show."

Composer Dan Gillespie Sells, who wrote musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie (nominated for its Sheffield Crucible run) talked about the terror of winning: "The immediate thing is that there are all these people in the room, and all of them are amazing storytellers in their own right in various different ways. Everyone is in the business of telling stories, and you have to go and talk in front of them and tell your own in a limited amount of time."

He teased a few of the changes made for the transfer of the show to the Apollo Theatre in November: a couple of new songs and a deeper second act. "We knew we wanted to make changes even before we opened in Sheffield, but the heart of the show is the same." He attributes its success and new West End life to the spirit of the piece, which he wouldn't change a note of: "It speaks to how it is to be young now."

While the younger stars shared their excitement and fears, the more experienced actors disclosed stories of their first jobs. Master of Ceremonies for the night Ben Forster recounts that he made his West End debut in La Cava in 2000.

"I don't think I would have won any awards for it - I ended up on the floor being dragged off. I wrapped myself in a huge piece of silk while I was dancing, fell over, and Luke Evans dragged me offstage," he said with a laugh. He also revealed that the most challenging factor about his recent work in the title role of The Phantom of the Opera was the show's popularity. "Everyone has their own Phantom - there are people who are seeing it for the 50th time."

Presenter Rachel Tucker spoke about making her debut as Maureen in Rent at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin when she was 18. "I was definitely not as nervous as I am now," she admitted. "There was no pressure, no expectations. When you get older and people see what you're capable of, they expect certain things. That puts pressure on you as a professional performer and that can change and alter your performance. That's what makes the difference the older you get."

The Awards celebrated breakthrough artists who hope to emulate the careers of these theatrical greats, and by focussing on emerging performers and creatives, also encouraged young people to engage with or pursue theatre by instilling that passion and giving courage to those taking a chance.

Amidst a difficult climate for the arts, it highlighted up-and-coming talent and the relatable origins of established artists, giving much-needed inspiration to new theatre-makers.

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