The nominees for The Stage Debut Awards 2024 have been announced, with multiple NHB authors and plays recognised across different categories.

A fantastic three NHB authors feature on the shortlist for Best Writer: Martha Loader for Bindweed, Harry McDonald for Foam, and Azuka Oforka for The Women of Llanrumney.

The Best Creative West End Debut shortlist includes nominations for Marcelo Dos Santos (writer of Backstairs Billy) and Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (composer and lyricist of next to normal, respectively). There is also recognition for the acclaimed West End transfer of Tyrell Williams' play Red Pitch, with a nomination for Daniel Bailey (director).

Elsewhere, Elvis Costello is shortlisted for Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer for his music for Conor McPherson's adaptation of Cold War. There is also recognition in other categories for The House Party (Best Performer in a Play, Nadia Parkes), Little Women (Best Director, Emily Foran), next to normal (Best West End Debut Performer, Jack Wolfe) and Player Kings (Best West End Debut Performer, Toheeb Jimoh).

The Stage Debut Awards ceremony will take place in London on 29 September. Previous winners of the Awards include NHB authors Michael R Jackson, Rob Madge, Katherine Soper, Andrew Thompson and Tyrell Williams.

We're proud to share that we've partnered with the producers of the West End transfer of Benedict Lombe's wonderful play Shifters – now on at the Duke of York’s Theatre, having originally been seen at the Bush Theatre in West London – on the Shifting The Narrative Bookshop, a pop-up bookshop stocked with titles that shift the narrative of Blackness away from trauma, and instead focus on Black joy, love, futurism and celebration.

The bookshop is located in the outer foyer of the Duke of York's Theatre, and is open at the following times:

• Mon 12 - Tues 20 August (not Saturday 17): 12 noon - 2pm BST
• Saturday 17 August: 11am - 1pm BST
• Sunday 18 August: Closed

A fantastic range of brilliant, celebratory plays by NHB-published Black British writers are available in the bookshop – including Nine Night by Natasha Gordon, Red Pitch by Tyrell Williams, and HEART by Jade Anouka – as well as Benedict Lombe's debut play, the multi-award-winning Lava.

All books are available to purchase with a recommended donation of the RRP but will be free to those whose circumstances are financially challenging. Proceeds from the bookshop will go to the Free Books Campaign, Black Minds Matter UK, and Sistah Space.

Matt Applewhite, Managing Director of Nick Hern Books: 'As the proud publisher of Bene Lombe's Shifters – and dozens more brilliant plays by Black British writers – we are delighted to be supporting this urgent and joyful initiative sharing and celebrating these stories and voices even more widely.'