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Starlight Express Races to Victory and Doctor Who Stars Reunite at the 25th WhatsOnStage Awards!

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The 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards rolled into the London Palladium yesterday (9th February 2025), celebrating a quarter-century of theatrical excellence. Leading the charge was Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express, which steamed ahead with seven awards, including Best Musical Revival and Best Professional Debut for Jeevan Braich. This impressive haul mirrors last year's success of another Lloyd Webber classic, Sunset Boulevard, which also basked in the glow of seven awards. Clearly, the maestro has a knack for hitting the right notes with theatregoers year after year.

In a twist that seems plucked from a sci-fi script, former Doctor Who co-stars David Tennant and Freema Agyeman both clinched acting accolades for their roles in Shakespearean revivals. Tennant, best known for his time-traveling exploits as the Tenth Doctor, won Best Performer in a Play for his portrayal of Macbeth. Meanwhile, Agyeman, who journeyed alongside him as companion Martha Jones, secured Best Supporting Performer in a Play for her role as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. It's almost as if their stellar performances were written in the stars—or perhaps in the time vortex.

The evening also saw Imelda Staunton take home the award for Best Performer in a Musical for her dazzling turn in Hello, Dolly! The West End will be saying "hello" to her again soon, as she's set to star alongside her real-life daughter, Bessie Carter, in mother-and-daughter drama Mrs. Warren's Profession. Talk about method acting!

Layton Williams, who is currently making waves as the Iceberg in Titanique, was honored with Best Takeover Performance as the Emcee in Cabaret. 



 

Full list of WhatsOnStage Award winners

Best New Musical – sponsored by Travelzoo

 Best New Play – sponsored by Go Live Theatre

 Best Musical Revival – sponsored by Concord Theatricals

 Best Play Revival – sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London – Official Hotel Partner

 Best West End Show – sponsored by Dewynters

Best Performer in a Musical – sponsored by Ticketmaster

 Best Supporting Performer in a Musical – sponsored by Newman Displays

 Best Performer in a Play – sponsored by Sine Digital

Best Supporting Performer in a Play

Best Takeover Performance – supported by Hurtwood House, the School for Theatre 

 Best Professional Debut Performance – sponsored by AKA

 Best Regional Production – sponsored by Music Theatre International

 Best Off-West End Production – sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide

 Best Direction – sponsored by LOVEtheatre

 Best Concert Event

 Best Musical Direction/Supervision – sponsored by Disney’s Hercules

 Best Choreography – sponsored by LaDuca Shoes

Best Costume Design

Best Lighting Design – sponsored by White Light

 Best Set Design – sponsored by Preevue

 Best Sound Design – sponsored by HERE @ Outernet

 Best Video Design – sponsored by TikTok 

 Best Wigs, Hair and Make Up Design, supported by BBC Three’s Glow Up 

Best Casting Direction

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By Sian McBride