The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAS) are presented annually and recognise excellence among Black performers and creatives in the UK.

History

The BBTAS were first established in 2019 and created by Solange Urdang and Omar F. Okai.[1]

After her award as Best Female Actor in a Musical in 2021, Lucy St Louis was the first Black female actress to be cast in the role of Christine Daee in the London production of The Phantom of the Opera.[2] Following this, she joined the cast of Wicked as Glinda, making history with Alexia Khadime (Elphaba) as for the first time both leading roles were played by actors of color.[3]

In 2022 the awards had great recognition, with public votes quadrupling since the previous year.[4]

Voting System

Anyone can submit a nomination for each year's BBTAS, by completing an online form. Nominees must have lived in the UK for at least 3 years to be considered or be British Nationals and "of Black of African or Caribbean descent or of Mixed Ethnicity. Productions must have at least 50% of eligible performers.[5] Each individual can only nominate once.

Ceremony

Through the years the awards ceremony has been hosted by big names of the theatre industry, such as Cynthia Erivo, Danny Sapani, Clint Dyer, Giles Terera and Layton Williams.

2019

These inaugural awards were held at The Old Finsbury Town Hall in Islington and hosted by Ore Oduba.[6]

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was broadcast on Sky Arts on 25 October and took place at the Young Vic Theatre.[7]

2021

The ceremony was held at The Old Finsbury Town Hall again and were hosted by Cynthia Erivo and Danny Sapani. Guest presenters included previous winners Miriam-Teak Lee and Layton Williams, as well as Jason Pennycooke, Dawn Hope and Matthew Xia.[8]

2022

This award ceremony was held at the National Theatre and presented by Danny Sapani again.[9]

2023

It was announced that the 2023 Awards will be held on 29 October and returning to the National Theatre, Lyttelton.[10]

Award categories

Drama

  • Best Play
  • Best Male Actor in a Play
  • Best Female Actor in a Play
  • Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play
  • Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play

Musical Theatre

  • Best Musical
  • Best Male Actor in a Musical
  • Best Female Actor in a Musical

Various

  • Best Director Award for a Play or a Musical
  • Best Producer
  • Best Choreographer
  • Best Dance Performance in a Dance Production
  • Best Use of Innovation and Technology
  • Light and Sound Recognition Award
  • Costume Design Recognition
  • Book and Lyrics Recognition
  • Musical Director Recognition
  • LGBTQ+ Champion Award
  • Disability Champion Award
  • Best Teacher of Performing Arts as a Subject
  • Best Recent Graduate Award
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

Winners

2019

Sources:[12][13]

2020

Source:[14]

2021

  • Best Production Play - and breathe… at the Almeida Theatre
  • Best Male Actor in a Play - David Jonsson for and breathe…
  • Best Female Actor in a Play - Isabel Adomakoh Young for Romeo and Juliet
  • Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play - Andrew French for Romeo and Juliet
  • Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play - Aretha Ayeh for Romeo and Juliet
  • Best Director Award for a Play or a Musical - Miranda Cromwell for and breathe…
  • Best Musical Production - West End Musical Celebration at the Palace Theatre
  • Best Male Actor in a Musical - Ivano Turco for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella
  • Best Female Actor in a Musical - Lucy St. Louis for The Phantom of the Opera
  • Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical - Caleb Roberts for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella
  • Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical - Natasha May-Thomas for Carousel
  • Lifetime Achievement - Derek Griffiths

Source:[15]

2022

Source:[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Meet The Founders". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  2. ↑ "Lucy St Louis, The World's 1st black Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera". Black History Month 2023. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  3. ↑ Gans, Andrew (2023-03-07). "Lucy St. Louis and Alexia Khadime Make History in London's Wicked Beginning March 7". Playbill.com.
  4. ↑ Fabrique. "The 2022 Black British Theatre Awards — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  5. ↑ "Vote — Black British Theatre Awards". vote.blackbritishtheatreawards.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  6. ↑ Limited, London Theatre Direct (2019-10-28). "Who won at the 2019 Black British Theatre Awards?". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  7. ↑ "Nominees for 2020 Black British Theatre Awards announced". London Theatre. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  8. ↑ admin (2023-05-22). "The 2021 Black British Theatre Awards Winners". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  9. ↑ "Black British Theatre Awards 2022 winners announced". 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  10. ↑ admin (2023-05-22). "Venue and Date Announcement for BBTAs 2023!". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  11. ↑ Limited, London Theatre Direct (2019-10-28). "Who won at the 2019 Black British Theatre Awards?". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  12. ↑ Limited, London Theatre Direct (2019-10-28). "Who won at the 2019 Black British Theatre Awards?". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  13. ↑ Ludmon, Mark (2019-10-28). "Winners in first Black British Theatre Awards 2019". British Theatre. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  14. ↑ "Black British Theatre Awards 2020 - Full Winners List". British Theatre. 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  15. ↑ admin (2023-05-22). "The 2021 Black British Theatre Awards Winners". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  16. ↑ "Black British Theatre Awards 2022 winners announced". 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
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