Toheeb Jimoh and Francesca Mills among nominees for Ian Charleson Awards

Toheeb Jimoh, Francesca Mills and Taheen Modak are among the nominees for this year’s Ian Charleson Awards, which celebrate performances by actors under the age of 30 in a classical role. 

Jimoh received the nod for his performance in Rebecca Frecknall’s Romeo and Juliet at London’s Almeida Theatre. He is currently playing Hal in Player Kings alongside Ian McKellen’s Falstaff, and is also known for playing Sam Obisanya in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. 

Mills was nominated for her performance as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe, with Modak nominated for his starring role in London Old Vic’s Pygmalion. 

Both Shyvonne Ahmmad and Anna Russell-Martin were shortlisted for their turns as Malcolm and Banquo, respectively, in Wils Wilson’s production of Macbeth for the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

The shortlist also includes Kibong Tanji for her performance as Aaron in Titus Andronicus at the Globe and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Danielle Phillips as Luce in The Comedy of Errors at the Globe, Tyreke Leslie for Adam in the RSC’s As You Like It and Shalisha James-Davis for Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. 

Jonathan Case was nominated for his performance as Seyton alongside Ralph Fiennes’ Macbeth in the Wessex Grove/Underbelly touring production, with Joséphine Callies receiving a nod for her turn as Katherine in Henry V at the Globe and Samuel Creasey nominated for Young Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.  

The list is completed by Joseph Payne for his performances in RSC’s The Tempest and Macbeth at the Globe, and Amber James for her turns in both Cymbeline and Fair Maid of the West with the RSC.   

The award will be judged by actors Emma Fielding and Ashley Zhangazha, artistic director of Sheffield Theatres Robert Hastie, and Alistair Coomer, the head of casting at the National Theatre. 

The winners are set to be announced in the Sunday Times’ Culture on May 26. 

Previous winners of the awards, supported by the Sunday Times and the National Theatre, include David Oyelowo, Tom Hollander and Rebecca Hall, with Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran receiving first prize last year for his turn as Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest.