The Stage Debut Awards: the nominees in full

The Stage has today announced the shortlist for the inaugural Debut Awards, which recognise breakthrough performers and creatives in theatre.

Nominees of note include Amber Riley and Adam J Bernard, who are currently starring in Dreamgirls, Dan Gillespie Sells, whose debut musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie transfers to the Apollo this year, and Ben Hunter, who made his London theatre debut in the Gary Barlow musical The Girls.

The awards also feature a West End Debut category, of which the nominees are: John Boyega (Woyzeck), Anthony Boyle (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Andy Karl (Groundhog Day), Audra McDonald (Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill), Andrew Polec (Bat Out of Hell), Imogen Poots (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Amber Riley (Dreamgirls) and Charlie Stemp (Half a Sixpence).

Winners of The Stage Debut Awards will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 17^th September 2017. Below is a full list of the nominees.

Best Actor in a Play

Jack Archer for Nivelli's War at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast

TJ Jones for The Seven Acts of Mercy at the Swan Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon

Kenneth Omole for Assata Taught Me at the Gate Theatre, London

Abraham Popoola for Othello at Tobacco Factory, Bristol

Best Actress in a Play

Anya Chalotra for Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe, London

Kellan Frankland for The House of Bernarda Alba at the Royal Exchange, Manchester

Grace Molony for The Country Girls at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester

Jess Peet for Alice in Wonderland at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

Best Actor in a Musical

Adam J Bernard for Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre, London

Ben Hunter for The Girls at the Phoenix Theatre, London

Samuel Thomas for Allegro at Southwark Playhouse, London

Daniel Urch for 110 in the Shade at Ye Olde Rose and Crown, London

Best Actress in a Musical

Chloe Carrington for Hair at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Emily Hughes for Fiddler on the Roof at Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Siena Kelly for On the Town at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London

Miriam-Teak Lee for On the Town at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London

Best Director

Sean Aydon for Richard III at the Rosemary Branch, London

Alexander Lass for 46 Beacon at Trafalgar Studios 2, London

Lekan Lawal for Betrayal at Derby Theatre, Derby

Lynette Linton for Assata Taught Me at the Gate Theatre, London

Best Designer

Rosie Elnile for The Convert at the Gate Theatre, London

Joshua Gadsby for Dreamplay at the Vaults, London

Simon Spencer for The Tempest at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon

Jessica Staton for Extra Yarn at the Orange Tree Theatre, London

Best Composer

Jonah Brody for Removal Men at the Yard, London

Ruth Chan for Snow in Midsummer at the Swan Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon

Dan Gillespie Sells for Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Stephen Jackson for Roller Diner at the Soho Theatre, London

Best Writer

Titas Halder for Run the Beast Down at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury and Finborough Theatre, London

Asif Khan for Combustion at Tara Arts, London

Katherine Soper for Wish List at the Royal Exchange, Manchester

Victoria Willing for Spring Offensive at the Clapham Omnibus, London

The Joe Allen Best West End Debut

John Boyega for Woyzeck at the Old Vic

Anthony Boyle for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre

Andy Karl for Groundhog Day at the Old Vic

Audra McDonald for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill at Wyndhams Theatre

Andrew Polec for Bat Out of Hell at the London Coliseum

Imogen Poots for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Amber Riley for Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre

Charlie Stemp for Half a Sixpence at the Noel Coward Theatre