The Stage Debut Awards 2022 in association with Ambassador Theatre Group were presented during a ceremony at 8 Northumberland Avenue in London on September 18.

Hosted by actor, writer and director Susan Wokoma, the awards celebrate breakthrough talent in theatre.

Here are the winners in full:

Best performer in a play 

Winners:

Elisabeth Gunawan for Unforgettable Girl at Voila! Europe Theatre Festival, London

Ensemble of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy at the New Diorama and Royal Court, London

• Mark Akintimehin
• Emmanuel Akwafo
• Nnabiko Ejimofor
• Darragh Hand
• Aruna Jalloh
• Kaine Lawrence 

Also nominated:

Samuel Creasey for The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage at Bridge Theatre, London
Kudzai Mangombe for Malindadzimu at Hampstead Theatre, London
Saba Shiraz for An Adventure at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Tommy Sim’aan for Starcrossed at Wilton’s Music Hall, London
Joe Usher for Rock / Paper / Scissors at Sheffield Theatres
Michael Workeye for House of Ife at the Bush Theatre, London
Dewi Wykes for Petula at National Theatre Wales and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru

Best performer in a musical

sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line 

Winner:

Elijah Ferreira for Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse 

Also nominated:

Hugh Coles for Back to the Future the Musical at the Adelphi Theatre, London
Ben Joyce for Jersey Boys at Trafalgar Theatre, London
Bella Maclean for Spring Awakening at the Almeida, London
Joe Pitts for Spring Awakening at the Almeida, London

Best director

sponsored by Theatredor 

Winner:

Monique Touko for Malindadzimu at Hampstead Theatre, London 

Also nominated:

Anthony Almeida for Cat on a Hot Tin roof at Curve, Leicester
Alice Fitzgerald for Purple Snowflakes and Titty Wanks at the Royal Court, London

Best designer 

Winner:

TK Hay (set and costume) for An Adventure at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton 

Also nominated:

Caitlin Mawhinney (set and costume) for My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored at Leeds Playhouse in co-production with Red Ladder Theatre and Teechers Leavers ’22 at Hull Truck
Liz Whitbread (set and costume) for Favour at the Bush Theatre, London

Best writer

sponsored by Sonia Friedman Productions 

Winner:

Tyrell Williams for Red Pitch at the Bush Theatre, London 

Also nominated:

Kemi-Bo Jacobs for All White Everything But Me at the Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
Eilidh Loan for Moorcroft at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow

Best composer, lyricist or book writer 

Winner:

John Patrick Elliott for Cruise at the Duchess Theatre, London 

Also nominated:

Jordan Paul Clarke and Francesca Forristal for Public Domain at Vaudeville Theatre, London
Lauryn Redding for Bloody Elle at the Royal Exchange, Manchester

Best West End debut performer 

Winner:

Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at the Harold Pinter Theatre 

Also nominated:

Lizzie Annis for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre
Emilia Clarke for The Seagull at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Hugh Coles for Back to the Future the Musical at Adelphi Theatre
Emma Corrin for Anna X at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Sutton Foster for Anything Goes at the Barbican
Hannah Jarrett-Scott for Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) at the Criterion Theatre
Ben Joyce for Jersey Boys at Trafalgar Theatre

Best creative West End debut

sponsored by Trafalgar Entertainment

Winner:

Julia Cheng (choreographer) for Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre, London

Also nominated:

Tacita Dean (designer) for The Dante Project at the Royal Opera House
Jack Holden (writer) for Cruise at the Duchess Theatre
Yasmin Joseph (writer) for J’Ouvert at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Isobel McArthur (writer) for Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) at the Criterion
Rebekah Murrell (director) for J’Ouvert at the Harold Pinter Theatre