fosterIAN (fos-tîr’ē-ən) – an award given for excellence in the theatre that I have witnessed.
For a long time, one of my life’s ambitions was to get the word ‘fosterian’ into the lexicon. I always thought it would be an adjective, like Thatcherite or Marxist, but I’ve now come to realise it is actually a noun, and hence we have the fosterIAN awards.
Awarded annually, you can find all of the winners and nominees below in a searchable table format. An elite club of 12 are currently two-time winners, and nominations-wise, Josefina Gabrielle leads the list with five, Daniel Crossley, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Lucian Msamati, Andrew Scott and Imelda Staunton just behind on four.
| Winner | Runner-up | Other nominees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Best Lead Performance in a Play | Harriet Walter, The House of Bernarda Alba Ruth Wilson, The Second Woman | Katie Arnstein, The Long Run Hattie Morahan, Ghosts | Samuel Barnett, Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen Tom Claxton, A Manchester Anthem Paapa Essiedu, The Effect Joseph Fiennes, Dear England Janet McTeer, Phaedra Sophie Okonedo, Medea David Paisley, Jock Night Talia Pick/Emma Lucia, How We Begin |
| 2023 Best Supporting Performance in a Play | Will Close, Dear England Gina McKee, Dear England | Michele Austin, The Effect Sabrina Bartlett, She Stoops to Conquer | Paul Chahidi, Phaedra Elliot Cowan, A Little Life Ben Daniels, Medea Rosalind Eleazar, The House of Bernarda Alba Paul Hilton, Ghosts Sylvestra Le Touzel, Pygmalion Noof Ousellam, Macbeth Zubin Varla, A Little Life |
| 2023 Best Lead Performance in a Musical | Carl Mullaney, La Cage aux Folles Rachael Wooding/Faith Omole/Alex Young, Standing at the Sky's Edge | Billy Carter, La Cage aux Folles Rachel Tucker, Sunset Boulevard | Rosalind Ford, In Clay Tom Francis, Sunset Boulevard Katherine Kingsley, The Witches Ed Larkin/Jonny Amies, The Little Big Things Anoushka Lucas, Elephant Molly Osborne, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Jamie Parker, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Andrew Richardson, Guys and Dolls |
| 2023 Best Supporting Performance in a Musical | Zachary Hunt, Nathan Parkinson, Tom Roe, Natassia Bustamante and Melinda Orengo, Police Cops: the Musical Bonnie Langford, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends | Maimuna Memon, Standing at the Sky's Edge Amy Trigg, The Little Big Things | Haydn Gwynne, The Great British Bake Off - The Musical Linzi Hateley, The Little Big Things Philippa Hogg, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Debbie Kurup, La Cage aux Folles Robert Lonsdale, Standing at the Sky's Edge Liam Tamne, Lizzy Connolly and Samuel Thomas, Assassins David Thaxton, Sunset Boulevard Sally Ann Triplett, The Witches |
| 2022 Best Actress in a Play | Sophie Melville, Iphigenia in Splott | Erin Doherty, The Crucible | Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Blues for an Alabama Sky Noma Dumezweni, A Doll’s House Part 2 Chris Nietvelt, Age of Rage Claire Rushbrook, Middle Nicola Walker, The Corn is Green |
| 2022 Best Actor in a Play | Hans Kesting, Who Killed My Father | Shubham Saraf, The Father and the Assassin | Mohand Hasb Alrosol Abdalrahem & Peter Pearson, Mohand & Peter Jack Holden, Cruise Victor IJdens, Jesse Mensah, Felix Schellekens & Romijn Scholten, The End of Eddy Ramsey Nasr, A Little Life Daniel Ryan, Middle |
| 2022 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Kerry Howard, Jack Absolute Flies Again | June Watson, A Doll’s House Part 2 | Deborah Findlay, Orlando Marieke Heebink, A Little Life Wendy Kweh, Much Ado About Nothing Tracy-Ann Oberman, Noises Off Eileen Walsh, The Crucible |
| 2022 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Jordan Metcalfe, Jack Absolute Flies Again | Paapa Essiedu, A Number | Paul Bazely, The Father and the Assassin David Fynn, Much Ado About Nothing Hans Kesting, A Little Life Minne Koole, Age of Rage Joseph Millson, Noises Off |
| 2022 Best Actress in a Musical | Katie Brayben, Tammy Faye | Courtney Bowman, Legally Blonde | Carly Anderson, Crazy For You Liv Andrusier, Ride Kerry Ellis, Anything Goes Joanna Riding, Gypsy Frida Rødbroe, La Maupin |
| 2022 Best Actor in a Musical | Callum Scott Howells, Cabaret | Charlie Stemp, Crazy For You | Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Legally Blonde Sam Harrison, Love is Only Love George Maguire, The Wicker Husband, Alon Moni Aboutboul, The Band’s Visit Jamie Muscato, Moulin Rouge, |
| 2022 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Yuki Sutton & Amy Parker, Ride | Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Hex | Rosie Ashe, The Great British Bake Off – The Musical Nadine Higgin, Legally Blonde Kayleigh McKnight, LIFT Sally Ann Triplett, Billy Elliot Olivia Warren, Megan Armitage, Katrina Michaels and Olivia Thompson, La Maupin, |
| 2022 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | John Owen-Jones, The Great British Bake Off – The Musical | Joe Caffrey, Billy Elliot | Sharif Afifi, The Band’s Visit Peter Polycarpou, The Band’s Visit Alistair Toovey, Legally Blonde Patrick Vaill, Oklahoma! Zubin Varla, Tammy Faye |
| 2021 Best Actress in a Play | Sophie Melville, Mum | Cush Jumbo, Hamlet | Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Lava Jessie Buckley, Romeo and Juliet Julie Hesmondhalgh, Still Life Lesley Sharp, Paradise |
| 2021 Best Actor in a Play | Omari Douglas/Russell Tovey, Constellations | Ben Daniels, The Normal Heart | Charles Edwards, Best of Enemies Dickon Farmar, Gay Generations Josh O'Connor, Romeo and Juliet Jack Sunderland, DJ Bazzer’s Year 6 Disco |
| 2021 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Ayesha Dharker, The Book of Dust | Norah Lopez Holden, Hamlet | Liz Carr, The Normal Heart Deborah Findlay, Romeo and Juliet Anastasia Hille, Paradise Gloria Obianyo, Paradise |
| 2021 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Dino Fetscher, The Normal Heart | Pip Carter, The Book of Dust | Syrus Lowe, Best of Enemies Daniel Monks, The Normal Heart Lucian Msamati, Romeo and Juliet Luke Norris, The Normal Heart |
| 2021 Best Actress in a Musical | Sutton Foster, Anything Goes | Linzi Hateley, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Samantha Barks/Stephanie McKeon, Frozen Jessie Buckley, Cabaret Carly Mercedes Dyer, A Chorus Line Alex Young, She Loves Me |
| 2021 Best Actor in a Musical | Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret | Noel Sullivan, The Rhythmics | Declan Bennett, Carousel Adam Cooper, Singin' in the Rain Scott Mackie, The Off Key David Thaxron, She Loves Me |
| 2021 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Carly Mercedes Dyer, Anything Goes | Victoria Hamilton-Barritt & Rebecca Trehearn, Cinderella | Emily Barnett-Salter, A Chorus Line Kaisa Hammarlund, She Loves Me Joanna Riding, Carousel |
| 2021 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Ainsley Hall Ricketts, A Chorus Line | Robert Lindsay, Anything Goes | Stewart Clarke, Be More Chill Andy Coxon, She Loves Me Elliot Levey, Cabaret Obioma Ugoala, Frozen |
| 2019 Best Actress in a Play | Sarah Niles/Natalie Simpson/Racheal Ofori, Three Sisters | Marieke Heebink, Medea | Adjoa Andoh, Richard II Sharon D Clarke, Death of a Salesman Claire Foy, Lungs Leah Harvey, Small Island Chris Nietvelt, De Kersentuin |
| 2019 Best Actor in a Play | Lucian Msamati, ‘Master Harold’…and the boys | Cary Crankson, Country Music | Tobias Menzies, The Hunt Daniel Monks, Teenage Dick Wendell Pierce, Death of a Salesman Matt Smith, Lungs Zubin Varla, Equus |
| 2019 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Monica Dolan, All About Eve | Jackie Pulford, Karaoke Play | Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Three Sisters Janni Goslinga, De Kersentuin Pippa Nixon, The Ocean at the End of the Lane Cecilia Noble, Faith Hope and Charity Gemma Whelan, Pinter Seven |
| 2019 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Nick Holder, Faith Hope and Charity | Hugo Koolschijn, De Kersentuin | Rupert Graves, Pinter Five John Heffernan, Pinter Seven Martins Imhangbe/Natey Jones, Death of a Salesman Arinzé Kene/Sope Dirisu, Death of a Salesman Ken Nwosu, Three Sisters |
| 2019 Best Actress in a Musical | Audrey Brisson, Amélie the Musical | Kirsty Findlay/Bethany Tennick, Islander | Lucie Jones/Katherine McPhee, Waitress Miriam-Teak Lee, & Juliet Samantha Pauly, Evita Joanna Riding, Follies Zizi Strallen, Mary Poppins |
| 2019 Best Actor in a Musical | Jamie Muscato, West Side Story (Curve Leicester) | Keith Ramsay, Preludes | Andy Coxon, West Side Story (Royal Exchange) Jordan Fox/Michael Vinsen, [title of show] David Hunter, Waitress, Charlie Stemp, Mary Poppins Oliver Tompsett, & Juliet, |
| 2019 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Cassidy Janson/Melanie La Barrie, & Juliet | Jocasta Almgill/Emily Langham, West Side Story (Royal Exchange) | Laura Baldwin/Marisha Wallace, Waitress Tiffany Graves/Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson, The Boy Friend Claire Machin/Claire Moore, Mary Poppins Rebecca McKinnis/Lauren Ward, Dear Evan Hansen Carly Mercedes Dyer/Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, The View UpStairs, |
| 2019 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | David Bedella, & Juliet | Jack Butterworth, The Boy Friend | Ricardo Afonso, Jesus Christ Superstar Rob Houchen, The Light in the Piazza Samuel Holmes, Curtains Cedric Neal, The View UpStairs Jez Unwin, Amélie the Musical |
| 2018 Best Actress in a Play | Leah Harvey, Clare Perkins & Vinette Robinson, Emilia | Sarah Gordy, Jellyfish | Patsy Ferran, Summer and Smoke Marieke Heebink, Oedipus Elinor Lawless, To Have To Shoot Irishmen Carey Mulligan, Girls and Boys Sarah Niles, Leave Taking |
| 2018 Best Actor in a Play | Kyle Soller, The Inheritance | Hans Kesting, Oedipus | Ben Batt, The York Realist Ian Bonar, Jellyfish Paapa Essiedu, The Convert Richard Harrington, Home I'm Darling Shubnam Saraf, An Adventure |
| 2018 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Cecilia Noble, Nine Night | Martha Plimpton, Sweat | Adjoa Andoh, Leave Taking Eva Feiler, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Watermill) Penny Layden, Jellyfish Lashana Lynch, ear for eye Charity Wakefield, Emilia |
| 2018 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Paul Hilton, The Inheritance | Forbes Masson, Summer and Smoke | Louis Bernard, Much Ado About Nothing (Antic Disposition) Demetri Goritsas, ear for eye Wil Johnson, Leave Taking Nicky Priest, Jellyfish Sam Troughton, Stories |
| 2018 Best Actress in a Musical | Rosalie Craig, Company | Kaisa Hammarlund, Fun Home | Bonnie Langford, 42nd Street Eva Noblezada, Hadestown Caroline O'Connor, The Rink Gemma Sutton, The Rink Adrienne Warren, Tina the Musical |
| 2018 Best Actor in a Musical | Steven Miller, Sunshine on Leith | Andrew Finnigan, Drip | Paul-James Corrigan, Sunshine on Leith Arinzé Kene, Misty Michael Mather, Mythic Leon Scott, Midnight Zubin Varla, Fun Home |
| 2018 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Patti LuPone, Company | Amber Gray, Hadestown | Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Caroline or Change Vivien Carter, Sweet Charity (Watermill) Genevieve McCarthy, Mythic Hilary McLean, Sunshine on Leith Seyi Omooba, Christina Modestou & Renée Lamb, Little Shop of Horrors |
| 2018 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Jonathan Bailey, Company | Patrick Page & André de Shields, Hadestown | Alex Cardall, Sweet Charity (Watermill) Alex James Ellison, The Secret Garden Richard Fleeshman, Company Matt Willis, Little Shop of Horrors |
| 2017 Best Actress in a Play | Hattie Morahan/ Kate O'Flynn/ Adelle Leonce, Anatomy of a Suicide | Victoria Hamilton, Albion | Shirley Henderson, Girl From the North Country Cherry Jones, The Glass Menagerie Justine Mitchell, Beginning Mimi Ndiweni, The Convert Connie Walker, Trestle |
| 2017 Best Actor in a Play | Ken Nwosu, An Octoroon | Andrew Scott, Hamlet (Almeida) | Andrew Garfield, Angels in America Gary Lilburn, Trestle Ian McKellen, King Lear Cyril Nri, Barber Shop Chronicles Sam Troughton, Beginning |
| 2017 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Bríd Brennan, The Ferryman | Kate Kennedy, Twelfth Night (Royal Exchange) | Sheila Atim, Girl From the North Country Laura Carmichael, Apologia Romola Garai, Queen Anne Lashana Lynch, a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun) Kate O'Flynn, The Glass Menagerie |
| 2017 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Fisayo Akinade, Barber Shop Chronicles | Brian J Smith, The Glass Menagerie | Philip Arditti, Oslo Gershwn Eustache Jnr, a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun) Fra Fee, The Ferryman Patrice Naiambana, Barber Shop Chronicles Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Angels in America |
| 2017 Best Actress in a Musical | Janie Dee, Follies AND Josefina Gabrielle, A Little Night Music AND Josie Walker, Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Amie Giselle-Ward, Little Women | Sharon D Clarke, Caroline or Change Kelly Price, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ T'Shan Williams, The Life |
| 2017 Best Actor in a Musical | Giles Terera, Hamilton | Scott Hunter/Andy Coxon, Yank! A WWII Love Story | John McCrea, Everybody's Talking About Jamie Philip Quast, Follies Michael Rouse, Superhero Jamael Westman, Hamilton |
| 2017 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Tracie Bennett, Follies | Rachel John, Hamilton | Christine Allado, Hamilton Julie Atherton, The Grinning Man Sharon D Clarke, The Life Joanna Riding, Romantics Anonymous Lucie Shorthouse, Everybody's Talking About Jamie |
| 2017 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Jason Pennycooke, Hamilton | Mark Anderson, The Grinning Man | Fred Haig, Follies Cornell S John, The Life Chris Kiely, Yank! A WWII Love Story Gareth Snook, Romantics Anonymous Obioma Ugoala, Hamilton |
| 2016 Best Actress in a Play | Juliet Stevenson/Lia Williams, Mary Stuart | Uzo Aduba/Zawe Ashton, The Maids | Gemma Arterton Nell Gwynn, Linda Bassett, Escaped Alone Helen McCrory, The Deep Blue Sea Maxine Peake, A Streetcar Named Desire Harriet Walter, The Tempest (Donmar) |
| 2016 Best Actor in a Play | O-T Fagbenle, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Lucian Msamati, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Phil Dunster, Pink Mist Paapa Essiedu, Hamlet (RSC) Rhys Isaac-Jones, Jess and Joe Forever Lucian Msamati, Amadeus Danny Sapani, Les Blancs |
| 2016 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Jade Anouka, The Tempest | Lizzy Connolly/Amanda Lawrence, Once in a Lifetime | Nadine Marshall, Father Comes Home From The War (Parts 1, 2, and 3) Tanya Moodie, Hamlet (RSC) Siân Phillips, Les Blancs Rachael Stirling, The Winter's Tale (Globe) Susan Wokoma, A Raisin In The Sun |
| 2016 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Peter Polycarpou, Scenes from 68* Years | Anthony Boyle, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Rudi Dharmalingham, Mary Stuart Dex Lee, Father Comes Home From The War (Parts 1, 2, and 3) Nick Fletcher, The Deep Blue Sea Jonjo O'Neill, Unreachable Alan Williams, Mary Stuart |
| 2016 Best Actress in a Musical | Jenna Russell, Grey Gardens | Clare Burt, Flowers for Mrs Harris | Samantha Barks, The Last 5 Years Glenn Close, Sunset Boulevard Kaisa Hammarlund, Sweet Charity Cassidy Janson, Beautiful Landi Oshinowo, I'm Getting My Act Together... |
| 2016 Best Actor in a Musical | Louis Maskell, The Grinning Man | Ako Mitchell, Ragtime | Declan Bennett, Jesus Christ Superstar Dex Lee, Grease Hugh Maynard, Sweeney Todd Charlie Stemp, Half A Sixpence Mark Umbers, She Loves Me |
| 2016 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Jennifer Saayeng, Ragtime | Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Murder Ballad | Josie Benson, Sweet Charity Sheila Hancock, Grey Gardens Rachel John, The Bodyguard Katherine Kingsley, She Loves Me Gloria Onitiri, The Grinning Man |
| 2016 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Julian Bleach, The Grinning Man | Tyrone Huntley, Jesus Christ Superstar | Adam J Bernard, Dreamgirls Daniel Crossley, Sweet Charity Stuart Neal, The Grinning Man Dominic Tighe, She Loves Me Gary Tushaw, Ragtime |
| 2015 Best Actress in a Play | Lia Williams, Oresteia | Letitia Wright, Eclipsed | Thusitha Jayasundera, My Eyes Went Dark Marianne Jean-Baptiste, hang Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nell Gwynn Lara Rossi, Octagon |
| 2015 Best Actor in a Play | John Heffernan, Oppenheimer | David Morrissey, Hangmen | Chiwetel Ejiofor, Everyman Jamie Samuel, Plastic Figurines Eelco Smits, Glazen Speelgoed Angus Wright, Oresteia |
| 2015 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Daisy Haggard, You For Me For You | T’Nia Miller, Eclipsed | Priyanga Burford, The Effect Estella Daniels, Octagon Rosalind Eleazor, Plaques and Tangles Sally Rogers, Hangmen |
| 2015 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | John Simm, The Homecoming | David Moorst, Violence and Son | Harm Duco Schut, Glazen Speelgoed Johnny Flynn, Hangmen James Garnon, As You Like It (Globe) David Sturzaker, Nell Gwynn |
| 2015 Best Actress in a Musical | Natalie Dew, Bend It Like Beckham | Katie Brayben, Beautiful | Tracie Bennett, Mrs Henderson Presents Jennifer Harding, The Clockmaker's Daughter Debbie Kurup, Anything Goes Kelly Price, Little Shop of Horrors |
| 2015 Best Actor in a Musical | Giles Terera, Pure Imagination | Matt Henry, Kinky Boots | Ian Bartholomew, Mrs Henderson Presents Killian Donnelly, Kinky Boots Scott Garnham, Grand Hotel Alex Gaumond, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers |
| 2015 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Emma Williams, Mrs Henderson Presents | Amy Lennox, Kinky Boots | Anita Dobson, Follies Anna Francolini, wonder.land Lauren Samuels, Bend It Like Beckham Lorna Want, Beautiful |
| 2015 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Emmanuel Kojo, Show Boat | Ako Mitchell, Little Shop of Horrors | Matthew Malthouse, Mrs Henderson Presents Ian McIntosh, Beautiful Jamie Parker, High Society George Rae, Grand Hotel |
| 2014 Best Actress in a Play | Gillian Anderson, A Streetcar Named Desire | Chris Nietvelt & Halina Reijn, Maria Stuart (Toneelgroep Amsterdam) | Linda Bassett, Visitors Susannah Fielding, The Merchant of Venice (Almeida) Denise Gough, Adler and Gibb Imelda Staunton, Good People |
| 2014 Best Actor in a Play | Cary Crankson, The Saints | Jack Holden, Johnny Get Your Gun | Jonathan Broadbent, My Night With Reg Chris Connel, Wet House Harry Melling, peddling Mark Strong, A View From The Bridge |
| 2014 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Vanessa Kirby, A Streetcar Named Desire | Phoebe Fox & Nicola Walker, A View From The Bridge | Blythe Duff, The James Plays Liz White, Electra Lydia Wilson, King Charles III |
| 2014 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Joe Caffrey, Wet House | Hans Kesting, Maria Stuart (Toneelgroep Amsterdam) | Patrick Godfrey, Donkey Heart Julian Ovenden, My Night With Reg Hugh Skinner, Thérèse Raquin (Theatre Royal Bath) Geoffrey Streatfeild, My Night With Reg |
| 2014 Best Actress in a Musical | Imelda Staunton, Gypsy | Gemma Arterton, Made in Dagenham | Charlotte Baptie, Free As Air Natalie Mendoza, Here Lies Love Christina Modestou, In The Heights Sophie Thompson, Guys and Dolls |
| 2014 Best Actor in a Musical | Sam Mackay, In The Heights | Benjamin Scheuer, The Lion | Adrian der Gregorian, Made In Dagenham Killian Donnelly, Memphis Jon Robyns, The Last Five Years Jeremy Secomb, Sweeney Todd (Tooting Arts Club) |
| 2014 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Jenna Russell, Urinetown | Lara Pulver, Gypsy | Samantha Bond, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, In The Heights Kiara Jay, Sweeney Todd (Tooting Arts Club) Zoe Rainey, The Return of the Soldier |
| 2014 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Jason Pennycooke, Memphis | Aaron Tveit, Assassins | Damian Buhagiar, In The Heights Tyrone Huntley, Memphis Nadim Naaman, Sweeney Todd (Tooting Arts Club) Jonathan Slinger, Urinetown |
| 2013 Best Actress in a Play | Marianne Jean-Baptiste, The Amen Corner | Michelle Terry, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Globe) | Lucy Ellinson, Grounded Stella Gonet/Fenella Woolgar, Handbagged Lesley Manville, Ghosts (Almeida) Shuna Snow, Iron |
| 2013 Best Actor in a Play | Philip Duguid-McQuillan & Jamie Samuel, Jumpers for Goalposts | Al Weaver, The Pride | Brian Cox, The Weir Hugo Koolschijn, Scenes from a Marriage (Toneelgroep Amsterdam) Benedict Wong, Chimerica |
| 2013 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Linda Bassett, Roots | Deborah Findlay, Coriolanus | Anna Calder-Marshall, The Herd Isabella Laughland, The Same Deep Water As Me Hadewych Minis, Scenes from a Marriage (Toneelgroep Amsterdam) Cecilia Noble, The Amen Corner |
| 2013 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Pearce Quigley, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Globe) | Roeland Fernhout, Scenes from a Marriage (Toneelgroep Amsterdam) | Richard McCabe, The Audience Jeff Rawle, Handbagged Andy Rush, Jumpers for Goalposts Alexander Vlahos, Macbeth (MIF) |
| 2013 Best Actress in a Musical | Rosalie Craig, The Light Princess | Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple | Zrinka Cvitešić, Once the musical Anita Dobson, Carnival of the Animals Scarlett Strallen, A Chorus Line Charlotte Wakefield, The Sound of Music |
| 2013 Best Actor in a Musical | Kyle Scatliff, Scottsboro Boys | Declan Bennett, Once the musical | David Birrell, Sweeney Todd Nick Hendrix, The Light Princess Matt Smith, American Psycho Michael Xavier, The Sound of Music |
| 2013 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Leigh Zimmerman, A Chorus Line | Nicola Hughes, The Color Purple | Amy Booth-Steel, The Light Princess Katie Brayben, American Psycho Cassidy Janson, Candide Sophia Nomvete, The Color Purple |
| 2013 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Kit Orton, The Hired Man | Michael Matus, The Sound of Music | Ben Aldridge, American Psycho Christian Dante White, Scottsboro Boys Kane Oliver Parry, The Light Princess Gary Wood, A Chorus Line |
| 2012 Best Actress in a Play | Kate O’Flynn, Lungs | Laurie Metcalf, Long Day’s Journey Into Night | Hattie Morahan, A Doll’s House Helen McCrory, Last of the Haussmans Cate Blanchett, Big and Small Sally Hawkins, Constellations |
| 2012 Best Actor in a Play | Luke Treadaway, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time | Rafe Spall, Constellations | Billy Carter, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me David Suchet, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Hugh Ross, A Life Dominic Rowan, A Doll’s House |
| 2012 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Niamh Cusack, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time | Laura Howard, Lost in Yonkers | Ruth Sheen, In Basildon Nicola Walker, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Katie Brayben, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Open Air) Fenella Woolgar, Hedda Gabler |
| 2012 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Paul Chahidi, Twelfth Night (Globe) | Charles Edwards, This House | Robin Soans, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me Rory Kinnear, Last of the Haussmans Cyril Nri, Julius Caesar Olly Alexander, Mercury Fur |
| 2012 Best Actress in a Musical | Carly Bawden, My Fair Lady | Janie Dee, Hello, Dolly! | Caroline O’Connor, Gypsy Anna Francolini, Victor/Victoria Rosalie Craig, Ragtime Jenna Russell, Merrily We Roll Along |
| 2012 Best Actor in a Musical | Simon Russell Beale, Privates on Parade | Mark Umbers, Merrily We Roll Along | Richard Dempsey, Victor/Victoria Julian Ovenden, Finding Neverland Will Young, Cabaret Dominic West, My Fair Lady |
| 2012 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Clare Foster, Merrily We Roll Along | Bonnie Langford, 9 to 5 | Josefina Gabrielle, Merrily We Roll Along Debbie Kurup, The Bodyguard Helena Blackman, A Winter’s Tale Laura Pitt-Pulford, Hello, Dolly! |
| 2012 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Michael Xavier, Hello, Dolly! | Damian Humbley, Merrily We Roll Along | Alistair Brookshaw, A Winter’s Tale Stuart Matthew Price, Sweet Smell of Success Ben Kavanagh, Boy Meets Boy Oliver Boot, Finding Neverland |
| 2011 Best Actress in a Play | Eve Best, Much Ado About Nothing (Globe) | Ruth Wilson, Anna Christie | Rosie Wyatt, Bunny Siân Brooke, Ecstasy Lisa Palfrey, The Kitchen Sink Geraldine James, Seagull |
| 2011 Best Actor in a Play | Benedict Cumberbatch, Frankenstein | Andrew Scott, Emperor and Galilean | Trevor Fox, The Pitmen Painters Dominic West, Othello Jude Law, Anna Christie Charles Edwards, Much Ado About Nothing (Globe) |
| 2011 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Alexandra Gilbreath, Othello | Sheridan Smith, Flare Path | Sinéad Matthews, Ecstasy Billie Piper, Reasons to be Pretty Kirsty Bushell, Double Feature 1 Esther Hall, Many Moons |
| 2011 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Ryan Sampson, The Kitchen Sink | Harry Hadden-Paton, Flare Path | Robert Hands, The Comedy of Errors (Propeller) Edward Franklin, Many Moons Craig Parkinson, Ecstasy Adam James, Much Ado About Nothing (Wyndhams) |
| 2011 Best Actress in a Musical | Imelda Staunton, Sweeney Todd | Adrianna Bertola, Josie Griffiths, Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Eleanor Worthington Cox & Sophia Kiely, Matilda | Laura Pitt-Pulford, Parade Beverley Klein, Bernarda Alba Jemima Rooper, Me and My Girl Scarlett Strallen, Singin’ in the Rain |
| 2011 Best Actor in a Musical | Bertie Carvel, Matilda | Michael Ball, Sweeney Todd | Daniel Evans, Company Daniel Crossley, Me and My Girl Alastair Brookshaw, Parade Vincent Franklin, The Day We Sang |
| 2011 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Samantha Spiro, Company | Kate Fleetwood, London Road | Josefina Gabrielle, Me and My Girl Josie Walker, Matilda Rosalind James, Ragtime Ann Emery, Betty Blue Eyes |
| 2011 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Daniel Crossley, Singin’ in the Rain | Nigel Harman, Shrek the Musical | Connor Dowling, Guys and Dolls Jack Edwards, Betty Blue Eyes David Burt, Crazy For You Nick Holder London Road |
| 2010 Best Actress in a Play | Michelle Terry, Tribes | Nancy Carroll, After the Dance | Zoë Wanamaker, All My Sons Helen McCrory, The Late Middle Classes Miranda Raison, Anne Boleyn Sophie Thompson, Clybourne Park |
| 2010 Best Actor in a Play | John Heffernan, Love Love Love | Benedict Cumberbatch, After the Dance | Jacob Casselden, Tribes David Suchet, All My Sons Roger Allam, Henry IV Part I + II Andrew Scott, Design for Living |
| 2010 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Rachael Stirling, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose, Kingston) | Jemima Rooper, All My Sons | Jessica Raine, Earthquakes in London Sylvestra Le Touzel, Les Parents Terribles Clare Higgins, Hamlet (NT) Madeleine Potter, Broken Glass |
| 2010 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Robin Soans, Palace of the End | Nigel Lindsay, Broken Glass | Adrian Scarborough, After the Dance Eddie Redmayne, Red Stephen Campbell Moore, All My Sons William Gaunt, Henry IV Part I + II |
| 2010 Best Actress in a Musical | Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow | Emma Williams, Love Story | Cora Bissett, Midsummer Sheridan Smith, Legally Blonde Katie Moore, Salad Days Kirsty Hoiles, Spend! Spend! Spend! |
| 2010 Best Actor in a Musical | Sam Harrison, Salad Days | Jon-Paul Hevey, Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi | John Owen-Jones, Les Misérables Alan Richardson, Iolanthe Matthew Pidgeon, Midsummer Dean Charles Chapman, Billy Elliot |
| 2010 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Hannah Waddingham, Into the Woods | Jodie Jacobs, State Fair | Karen Mann, Spend! Spend! Spend! Siobhan McCarthy, The Drowsy Chaperone Jill Halfpenny, Legally Blonde Twinnie Lee Moore, Flashdance |
| 2010 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Michael Xavier, Into the Woods | Matthew James Willis, Iolanthe | Tom Parsons, Avenue Q Michael Howe, The Drowsy Chaperone Liam Tamne, Departure Lounge Earl Carpenter, Les Misérables |
| 2009 Best Actress in a Play | Rachel Weisz, A Streetcar Named Desire | Phoebe Nicholls/Lisa Dillon, When the Rain Stops Falling; Chris Nietvelt, The Roman Tragedies | Imelda Staunton, Entertaining Mr Sloane Juliet Stevenson, Duet for One Anna Chancellor, The Observer |
| 2009 Best Actor in a Play | Hans Kesting, The Roman Tragedies | Jude Law, Hamlet (Donmar) | Dominic Rowan, The Spanish Tragedy David Troughton, Inherit the Wind Dan Stevens, Arcadia Henry Goodman, Duet for One |
| 2009 Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Rebecca Hall, The Winter’s Tale (Bridge Project) | Kate Fleetwood, Life is a Dream | Jessie Cave, Arcadia Michelle Dockery, Burnt By The Sun Alexandra Gilbreath, Twelfth Night Ruth Wilson, A Streetcar Named Desire |
| 2009 Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Andrew Scott, Cock | Simon Paisley-Day, Entertaining Mr Sloane | Mark Dexter, Inherit the Wind Tom Goodman-Hill, Enron Ethan Hawke, The Winter’s Tale (Bridge Project) Barnaby Kay, A Streetcar Named Desire |
| 2009 Best Actress in a Musical | Samantha Spiro, Hello, Dolly! | Julie Atherton, The Last Five Years | Melanie Chisholm, Blood Brothers Donna King, Frank’s Closet Patina Miller, Sister Act Tamzin Outhwaite, Sweet Charity |
| 2009 Best Actor in a Musical | Simon Burke, La Cage aux Folles | Carl Mullaney, Frank’s Closet | Roger Allam, La Cage aux Folles Mark Umbers, Sweet Charity Aneurin Barnard, Spring Awakening Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert |
| 2009 Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Josefina Gabrielle, Hello, Dolly! | Sheila Hancock, Sister Act | Josefina Gabrielle, Sweet Charity Tiffany Graves, Sweet Charity The Lovely Debbie McGee, Frank’s Closet Jodie Prenger, Oliver! |
| 2009 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Oliver Thornton, Priscilla Queen of the Desert | Daniel Crossley, Hello, Dolly! | Rowan Atkinson, Oliver! Clive Carter, Priscilla Queen of the Desert John Marquez, Annie Get Your Gun Jason Pennycooke, La Cage aux Folles |
