The theatregoers have spoken. At a star-studded ceremony tonight at The London Palladium, hosted by Gina and Mazz Murray, the winners of the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards were revealed. As the only major UK theatre prizes decided entirely by the public, the evening served as a vibrant testament to the "unwavering passion" of the theatre community.
The "bear from Peru" was the undisputed king of the night. Paddington The Musical made history by taking home nine awards, equalling the record for the most wins ever alongside Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Miss Saigon.
Beyond winning Best New Musical, the production dominated the creative categories, including Best Direction for Luke Sheppard and Best Professional Debut for Timi Akinyosade. WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood remarked, “The voters really did look after that Bear! Paddington’s record-setting haul has firmly cemented it as a fan-favourite.”
It was also a triumphant night for Rachel Zegler, who took home Best Performer in a Musical for her turn in Evita. The win follows her headline-grabbing "al fresco" performances from the Palladium’s balcony last summer. Evita secured five awards in total, including Best Musical Revival. Zegler also doubled her personal tally, winning Best Concert Event for her live residency at the venue.
While musicals led the charge, Jonathan Bailey secured Best Performer in a Play for Richard II at the Bridge Theatre, which also won Best Play Revival. Stephen Fry was recognized as Best Supporting Performer in a Play for The Importance of Being Earnest, while the legendary Les Misérables was crowned Best West End Show as it celebrates its 40th year.
The AudienceView Services to UK Theatre Award was presented to playwright James Graham, honoring a prolific year that saw his work, including Punch and Boys From the Blackstuff, reach audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
