2023 WhatsOnStage Awards

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.

2023 WhatsOnStage Awards
Date12 February 2023
LocationPrince of Wales Theatre
Hosted byCourtney Bowman, Laurie Kynaston and Billy Luke Nevers
Most awardsMy Neighbour Totoro (5)
Most nominationsMy Neighbour Totoro (9)
Television/radio coverage
NetworkBBC Radio 2
← 2022 · WhatsOnStage Awards · 2024 →

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

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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]

 
Jodie Comer won Best Performer in a Play for her role in the one-woman play Prima Facie.
 
Host Courtney Bowman won Best Performer in a Musical for her starring role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.
 
Joe Locke won Best Professional Debut Performance for his work in The Trials.
 
Lucie Jones won Best Takeover Performance for assuming the role of Elphaba in Wicked.
 
Phelim McDermott won Best Direction for My Neighbour Totoro.
Best New Play Best New Musical
Best Play Revival Best Musical Revival
Best Performer in a Play Best Supporting Performer in a Play
Best Performer in a Musical Best Supporting Performer in a Musical
Best Takeover Performance Best Professional Debut Performance
Best Direction Best Musical Direction/Supervision
Best Choreography Best Sound Design
Best Set Design Best Costume Design
Best Lighting Design Best Casting
Best Video Design Best Graphic Design
Best Off-West End Production Best Regional Production
Best Concert Event Best West End Show

Productions with multiple wins and nominations

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Multiple wins

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Multiple nominations

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References

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