British-Nigerian actor Tosin Cole has been nominated for the Best West End Debut Performer category at the 2025 Stage Debut Awards for his lead performance in Shifters. The awards ceremony will take place on September 28 in London.
Shifters, a romantic drama by Benedict Lombe, leads this year’s nominations with multiple nods. Lombe is up for Best Creative West End Debut, while both Cole and his co-star Heather Agyepong have secured nominations for their standout performances.
Cole faces strong competition in the Best West End Debut Performer category, which also features Rachel Zegler and Diego Andres Rodriguez for their acclaimed roles in Jamie Lloyd’s Evita. Other nominees include Emma Flynn (Clueless the Musical), Georgie Buckland (The Devil Wears Prada), Kat Ronney (Titanique), and Samuel Brewer (Oedipus).
This category remains unique as the only public-voted award, recognizing debut West End performances regardless of prior professional experience. Voting is open online until September 14.
Other notable nominations include:
- Best Creative West End Debut: Jethro Compton and Darren Clark (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Eline Arbo (The Year), Olivier Award winner Justin Craig (Stereophonic), and the creative team behind Titanique — Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and director Tye Blue.
- Best Performer in a Play: Hilson Agbangbe (Wonder Boy), Paula Clarke (The Tragedy of Richard III), Joseph Edwards (The Red Shoes), and more.
- Best Performer in a Musical: Leesa Tulley, Dora Gee, Megan Ellis, and Eve Shanu-Wilson headline an all-female lineup.
- Best Writer, Director, and Designer categories: Honoring rising stars like Nathan Englander, Ava Pickett, Aditya Chopra, and Juliette Demoulin, among others.
With Netflix as the headline sponsor, the awards will be hosted by celebrated actor and comedian Julian Clary. Additional presenters and live performances will be announced in the coming weeks.
Established in 2017 to celebrate professional debuts in UK theatre, the Stage Debut Awards hit a milestone this year, as the shortlist represents productions from all four UK nations for the first time.