The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) is the UK’s first award show to celebrate the excellence and influence of Black performers and creatives within the UK theatre industry.
Launched in 2019, and now in its third year, the BBTAs are more relevant and impactful than ever before. On Sunday 21 November 2021, the BBTAs will return to the elegance of the Old Finsbury Town Hall, home of its inaugural ceremony.
This years nominees include:
John Pfumojena nominated as Best Supporting Male in a Musical Award for his role in Carousel, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Carousel was reimagined by the team at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, directed by Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
Yomi Ṣode’s and breathe… has been nominated for Book and Lyrics Recognition Award, Best Musical Director (Femi Temowo), Best Director for a Play or Musical (Miranda Cromwell), Best Producer (Almeida Theatre) and Best Male Actor in a Play (David Jonsson). Centring on the loss of a beloved matriarch, and breathe… explores family relationships, bonding and culture. This deeply personal and poetic play tackles the unspoken, between what we leave unsaid to protect each other and how we internalise the world.
The BBTAs highlight excellence and leadership within the UK theatre sector through the acknowledgement and celebration of established and emerging diverse talent. An important part of the awards is to champion the legacy of Black theatre pioneers and their visionary contributions. The BBTAs support and inspire young Black talent through award recognition and a year round outreach programme, creating an impact by facilitating pathways from the educational system into the arts and empowering diverse talent to create and tell their stories. The purpose of the movement is for Black talent to be recognised and represented throughout the UK theatre sector.
Over the past year, with many shows being streamed and/or performed live, there has been a plethora of innovative and ground-breaking theatre. The BBTAs will highlight the exceptional Black artists and creatives on and off stage during this time of national cultural recovery. The presence of Black talent in all aspects of theatre is more important than ever to ensure that the return to theatre is dynamic and diverse than ever. This year’s nominees demonstrate the abundance of talent and showcase excellence across UK theatre, as well as the broader arts and cultural landscape.
You can read more about BBTA’s 2021 Nominees here.
