2023 WhatsOnStage Awards explained

2023 WhatsOnStage Awards
Date:12 February 2023
Location:Prince of Wales Theatre
Host:Courtney Bowman, Laurie Kynaston and Billy Luke Nevers
Most Wins:My Neighbour Totoro (5)
Most Nominations:My Neighbour Totoro (9)
Network:BBC Radio 2
Previous:2022
Next:2024

The WhatsOnStage Awards, founded in 2001 as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, are a fan-driven set of awards organised by the theatre website WhatsOnStage.com, based on a popular vote recognising performers and productions of English theatre, with an emphasis on London's West End theatre.

The 2023 WhatsOnStage Awards, the 23rd iteration of the ceremony, took place on Sunday 12 February 2023 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The ceremony is to feature several category changes from the 2022 WhatsOnStage Awards, retiring the eight acting awards (Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Play and Best Actress in a Play, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Best Supporting Actor in a Play and Best Supporting Actress in a Play) in favour of four gender-neutral categories. In addition, the Best Takeover Performance award was reinstated, having last been presented at the 2015 ceremony, and two new categories: Best Professional Debut Performance and Best Concert Event, were introduced.[1] The ceremony will be hosted for the first time by Legally Blonde stars Courtney Bowman and Billy Luke Nevers and Spring Awakening star Laurie Kynaston.[2]

The stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed film My Neighbour Totoro received the most nominations with nine, while the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! was the most nominated musical, with eight.[3] Due to the continued large volume of eligible productions, the number of nominees in each category remained at six, following an increase at the previous ceremony.

For plays, My Neighbor Totoro was the night's big winner, receiving five awards, while Oklahoma and Legally Blonde won two awards each, becoming the joint most successful musicals at the ceremony. Prima Facie was notable for winning all three of the categories in which it was nominated and was the only other show to receive multiple wins.[4]

Winners and nominees

The nominees for the 23rd WhatsOnStage Awards were announced on 8 December 2022 by As You Like It stars Leah Harvey and Alfred Enoch in a livestream from the green room @sohoplace.[5]

Best New PlayBest New Musical
Best Play RevivalBest Musical Revival
Best Performer in a PlayBest Supporting Performer in a Play
Best Performer in a MusicalBest Supporting Performer in a Musical
Best Takeover PerformanceBest Professional Debut Performance
Best Direction Best Musical Direction/Supervision
Best ChoreographyBest Sound Design
Best Set DesignBest Costume Design
Best Lighting DesignBest Casting
Best Video DesignBest Graphic Design
Best Off-West End ProductionBest Regional Production
Best Concert EventBest West End Show

Productions with multiple wins and nominations

Multiple wins

Multiple nominations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nominations Released for the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards. 12 December 2022. Indiependent.co.uk.
  2. Web site: Hosts Announced For The 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards. 9 January 2023. Theatreweekly.com.
  3. Web site: 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards nominations led by My Neighbour Totoro, Oklahoma! and more. 8 December 2022. WhatsOnStage.com.
  4. Web site: The 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards – full list of winners. 12 February 2023. WhatsOnStage.com.
  5. Web site: Nominations in full: the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards. 8 December 2022. WhatsOnStage.com.