Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2026: Full List of UA Clients and Productions Nominated

The nominees for the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2026 have been announced.

Voted on by UK‑based theatre critics who are members of the Circle, the awards recognise outstanding theatre across 2025. This year marks a historic first for the awards’ 37‑year history: the publication of a full shortlist, following both longlist and shortlist voting rounds.

Winners will be revealed at a ceremony at the National Theatre on 26 March.

United Agents is proud to celebrate the exceptional work of our clients recognised across multiple categories:

 

Best New Play

• Alice Birch – Romans: a novel, Almeida Theatre
• Jack Holden – Kenrex, The Other Palace
• Joe Murphy & Joe Robertson – Kyoto, Soho Place

 

Best Revival of a Play or Musical

• Evita, The London Palladium
  • Cast includes Harrison Wilde
  • Children’s Casting by Harry Blumenau CDG CSA
• Intimate Apparel, Donmar Warehouse
  • Lighting Design by Jai Morjaria
  • Sound Design by George Dennis
• Into The Woods, Bridge Theatre
  • Casting by Stuart Burt CDG CSA
• Indian Ink, Hampstead Theatre
  • Written by Tom Stoppard
  • Sound Design by Gregory Clarke
  • Cast includes Gavi Singh Chera and Felicity Kendal

 

Best New Musical

• Here We Are, National Theatre
  • Cast includes Jack Butterworth
• Paddington The Musical, Savoy Theatre
  • Lighting Design by Neil Austin
• Shucked, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
  • Cast includes Stevie Webb
• Sing Street, Lyric Hammersmith
  • Designer: Bob Crowley
  • Cast includes Lochlann O’Mearáin and Grace Collender
  • Casting by Stuart Burt CDG CSA

 

Best Ensemble or Cast

• 1536, Almeida Theatre
  • Lighting Design by Jack Knowles
  • Sound Design by Tingying Dong
• Here We Are, National Theatre
  • Cast includes Jack Butterworth
• Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre
  • Cast includes Lucy Karczewski

 

Most Promising Playwright

• Sophia Chetin-Leuner – P*rn Play, Royal Court

 

Best Actor

• David Shields – Punch, Young Vic / Apollo

 

Best Actress

• Rosamund Pike – Inter Alia, National Theatre

 

Best Designer

• Miriam Buether – Kyoto, Soho Place / The Land Of The Living, National Theatre

 

Best Shakespearean Performance

• Samuel West – Twelfth Night, Barbican

 

Best Newcomer

• Jasper Talbot – Inter Alia, National Theatre

 

A huge congratulations to all our clients and collaborators recognised this year. We look forward to celebrating the winners at the National Theatre on 26 March.