The nominees for the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards have been announced, with multiple NHB plays and authors featured across the shortlists.

A fantastic three NHB-published plays are up for the Best New Play award: Giant by Mark Rosenblatt, Princess Essex by Anne Odeke and Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris. Both Giant and Princess Essex also have nods in performing categories, with Romola Garai up for Best Supporting Performer in a Play for her role in Giant, and Anne Odeke – who, in addition to writing Princess Essex, also starred in the title role – shortlisted for Best Performer in a Play.

The most-nominated play at this year's awards is the Max Webster-directed revival of Shakespearean psychological drama Macbeth, which transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End following a hit run at the Donmar Warehouse. The production is up for six prizes: Best Play Revival, a Best Performer in a Play nod each for stars David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, and nominations for Best Sound Design (Gareth Fry), Best Musical Direction/Supervision (Alasdair Macrae), and Best Casting Direction (Anna Cooper).

Also up for Best Play Revival is Robert Icke's visionary new version of Sophocles classic Oedipus, which is currently playing at Wyndham's Theatre, London. This arresting new take, which transforms the epic tragedy into an essential and explosive political thriller, also earns Icke a nomination for Best Director.

Dear Evan Hansen, which is now on a national tour this Autumn following its first, multi-award-winning UK run in London's West End, is shortlisted for Best Musical Revival and Best Regional Production. This new production of the musical by Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul was first seen at Nottingham Playhouse, and is now touring through to July 2025.

Elsewhere, there are two nominations for The Years, adapted for the stage by Eline Arbo and translated into English by Stephanie Bain from the novel by Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux. The production, which transfers to London's West End early next year, is shortlisted for Best Director (Eline Arbo) and Best Casting Direction (Amy Ball). And finally, NHB author Julie Hesmondhalgh is shortlisted for Best Supporting Performer in a Play for her role in Punch by James Graham, which transfers to the Young Vic Theatre, London, from March 2025. 

The WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major theatre awards nominated and voted for by the public. The winners will be announced at a live ceremony on 9 February – you can see the full lists of nominees and vote for the shows you'd like to win here.