The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) lit up London’s Piccadilly Theatre last night in a dazzling celebration of Black excellence, artistry, and legacy. The UK’s biggest night in Black theatre returned with standing ovations, emotional speeches, and unforgettable performances, marking the seventh annual ceremony in spectacular fashion.
The 2025 ceremony — sponsored by ATG Entertainment and presented in partnership with Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Global Creatures, and with thanks to Playful Productions — celebrated a year of groundbreaking theatre and powerful storytelling on and off the stage.
Hosted by an all-star lineup of presenters, including Vanessa Williams, Matt Henry, Cush Jumbo OBE, Baroness Lola Young, David Blake, Miriam-Teak Lee, Cherrelle Skeete, Miranda Cromwell and Jason Pennycooke.
An Unforgettable Night in the West End
The evening delivered world-class performances from Alexandra Burke, Beverley Knight, the Kingdom Choir and the casts of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and The Harder They Come.
From Shifters to The Lion King, Marie & Rosetta to Hamilton, the nominees from these productions represented the rich spectrum of Black artistry shaping the British stage today — with performers from Shifters, The Lion King, Hamilton, Starlight Express, Hadestown, and Oliver! The Musical all taking home awards.
The 2025 BBTA Winners Revealed
Please find the full list of 2025 BBTA Winners HERE
Beverley Knight took home Best Female Lead Actor in a Play for her moving portrayal in Marie & Rosetta at The Rose Theatre (Sponsored by LAMDA).
Lynette Linton was recognised with Best Director for Intimate Apparel at the Donmar Warehouse, while Arinzé Kene’s compelling performance in Alterations at the National Theatre earned him Best Male Lead Actor in a Play.
Jay Perry’s dynamic turn in Hamilton won him Best Male Lead Actor in a Musical and Musical theatre standout Shanay Holmes triumphed with Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical for her show-stopping performance in Oliver! The Musical at the Gielgud Theatre (Sponsored by Link-Artists), while The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre roared to victory with Best Musical Production (Sponsored by TodayTix).
The powerful new play Shifters, staged at the Duke of York’s Theatre, earned Best Production – Play (Sponsored by AKA), cementing its place as one of the year’s most celebrated productions.
Winners of the 2025 Black British Theatre Awards
CREATIVES GROUP
- Best Producer (Body of Work or Production) — Chuchu Nwagu (Sponsored by Thomas Hopkins Productions Ltd)
- Best Director — Lynette Linton, Intimate Apparel, Donmar Warehouse
- Best Musical Director — Takisha Sargent, The Women of Llanrumney, Theatre Royal Stratford East (Sponsored by YOU Management Ltd)
- Best Choreographer or Movement Director — Ingrid Mackinnon, Princess Essex, Shakespeare’s Globe
- Best Dance Production or Performer — Our Mighty Groove, Sadler’s Wells East & Uchenna Dance
RECOGNITION GROUP (BODY OF WORK) AWARDS
- Best Sound and/or Lighting Design — Eamonn O’Dwyer
- Theatre Design — Georgie Lynch (Sponsored by Disney Theatrical Group)
- Book and Lyrics — Trish Cooke (Sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide UK)
- Best Playwright — Anne Odeke (Sponsored by Brixton House in Association with The Writers Group)
- Best Casting Director — Heather Basten (Sponsored by Spotlight)
PLAY AWARDS
- Best Male Lead Actor in a Play — Arinzé Kene, Alterations, National Theatre (Sponsored by London Production Studios, Dick Fiddler is Dead)
- Best Female Lead Actor in a Play — Beverley Knight, Marie & Rosetta, The Rose Theatre (Sponsored by LAMDA)
- Best Supporting Male Actor in a Play — Emmanuel Akwafo, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bridge Theatre
- Best Supporting Female Actor in a Play — Cash Holland, A Raisin in the Sun, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
- Best Production – Play — Shifters, Duke of York’s Theatre (Sponsored by AKA)
MUSICAL AWARDS
- Best Male Lead Actor in a Musical — Jay Perry, Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre
- Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical — Shanay Holmes, Oliver! The Musical, Gielgud Theatre (Sponsored by Link-Artists)
- Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical — Cedric Neal, Hadestown, Lyric Theatre (Sponsored by The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind)
- Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical — Jade Marvin, Starlight Express, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (Sponsored by I’m Every Woman)
- Best Musical Production — The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre (Sponsored by TodayTix)
CHAMPION & ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
- Best Child Performer (Under 16) — Keilah Kofi, The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
- LGBTQIA+ Champion — Newtion Matthews
- Best Teacher — Stewart Avon-Arnold, Studio 59 (Sponsored by LIPA)
- Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick Award — Liam Godwin
- Lifetime Achievement Award — Nicola Blackman (Sponsored by London Theatre Direct)
Reflecting on Black History, Celebrating Black Futures
Aligned with Black History Season, the 2025 awards celebrate the enduring contributions of Black actors, playwrights, designers, and creatives to British theatre. The BBTAs are a reminder that Black excellence is not confined to one night, one season, or one era—it is a constant, transformative presence that has shaped the UK stage for generations and continues to inspire the future of theatre.
The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) honour this enduring legacy, celebrating excellence, representation, and the cultural contributions of Black artists 365 days a year. Previous winners have included Layton Williams, Freema Agyeman, Danny Sapani, Karis Anderson, Nancy Medina, Sean Green, Choir Boy and MJ The Musical. Previous presenters have included Lemar, Dawn Butler MP, Zoe Birkett and Patron and Broadcaster Brenda Emmanus OBE.
