Sharon D Clarke and Layton Williams among winners at Black British Theatre Awards

The inaugural Black British Theatre Awards took place on 27th October 2019 at the Old Finsbury Town Hall, with The Half God of Rainfall and Hamilton awarded best production of a play and best musical production respectively.

Sharon D Clarke took home the award for best female actor in a musical for her performance as Caroline Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change at the Playhouse Theatre, as well as the lifetime recognition award.

Other winners at the awards ceremony included Lynette Linton winning best director for SweatLenny Henry for best supporting male actor in a play for his performance in King Hedley II at Theatre Royal Stratford East, while Layton Williams won best male actor in a musical for his performance as Jamie New in Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

The full list of winners from the 2019 Black British Theatre Awards are listed below:

Recognition Group

Light and Sound Recognition Award

Tony Gayle

Set Design Recognition Award

Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey

Book and Lyrics Recognition Award

Debbie Tucker Green

Also nominated: 

Arinze Kene
Inua Ellams

Musical Director Recognition Award

Benjamin Kwasi Burrell

Also nominated:

Michael Henry
Sean Green

Creatives Group

Best director

Lynette Linton, Sweat 

Also nominated:

Roy Alexander Weise, Nine Night
Nancy Medina, The Half God of Rainfall

Best Producer

Tobi Kyeremateng, Babylon Festival, Bush Theatre

Best Choreographer

Shelley Maxwell, Equus

Also nominated:

Alesandra Seutin, Reckoning, Sadler's Wells
Rachael Nanyonjo, Sleeping BeautyTheatre Royal Stratford East

Best Opera Production
Porgy and Bess, English National Opera

Best Dance Performance

Prentice Whitlow, Rite of SpringPhoenix Dance Company

Also nominated: 

Carlos Acosta, Don Quixote
Precious Adams, Manon, English National Ballet

Best Dance Production

Rite of SpringPhoenix Dance Company

Also nominated:

The Suit/Dream Within a Midsummer Nights Dream, Ballet Black 
Sylvia, ZooNation

Plays

Best Male Actor in a Play

Arinze Kene, Misty

Also nominated:

Kwami Odoom, The Half God of Rainfall
Aaron Pierre, King Hedley

Best Female Actor in a Play

Gloria Williams, Bullet Hole

Also nominated:

Rakie Ayola, The Half God of Rainfall
Sharon D Clarke, Death of a Salesman

Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play

Lenny Henry, King Hedley

Also nominated:

Osy Ikhile, Sweat
Sule Rimi, All My Sons

Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play

Michelle Greenidge, Nine Night

Also nominated:

Cherrelle Skeete, King Hedley
Martine Laird, King Hedley

Best Production of a Play

The Half God of Rainfall

Also nominated:

The Small Island
Nine Night

Musicals

Best Male Actor in a Musical

Layton Williams, Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Also nominated: 

Jay Perry, Motown the Musical
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Best Female Actor in a Musical

Sharon D ClarkeCaroline or Change

Also nominated: 

Rachel John, Hamilton
Maiya Quansha-Breed, Six the Musical

Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical

Cavin Cornwall, Jesus Christ Superstar

Also nominated:

Jason Pennycooke, Hamilton
Arun Blair-Mangat, Leave to Remain

Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical

Beverley KnightSylvia

Also nominated:

Amara Okereke, Les Miserables
Kelly Agbowu, Waitress
Madeline Appiah, Tina the Musical

Best Musical Production

Hamilton

Also nominated: 

Tina the Musical
Motown

Achievement Awards

Best Teacher of Performing Arts as a Subject

Angeline Bell, Urdang Academy

Also nominated:

Dollie Henry, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Best Recent Graduate Award

Amara Okereke, ArtsEd

Also nominated: 

Maiya Quansah-Breed, Guildford School of Acting

Lifetime Recognition Award

Sharon D Clarke

Originally published on

Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock exclusive London theatre updates!

Special offers, reviews and release dates for the best shows in town.

You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy