Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer

The cast of 42 Balloons at The Lowry, Salford. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

First professional composer, lyricist or book writer credit in a production staged between July 18, 2025 and July 9, 2026 in the UK and reviewed by The Stage.

Nominees must be over 16 years old or over.

Submit Entry

Last Year's Winner

Yve Blake

Fangirls

Lyric Hammersmith, London

Australian Blake’s musical took a few years to make it to the UK but was worth the wait, offering a kooky homage to the culture of superfans.

Agent: PBJ Management

Previous Winners

Jack Godfrey for 42 Balloons at the Lowry, Salford
Michael R Jackson for A Strange Loop at Barbican Theatre, London
John Patrick Elliott for Cruise at the Duchess Theatre, London
Jim Barne and Kit Buchan for The Season at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Royal and Derngate, Northampton Rep)
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts for Operation Mincemeat at the New Diorama Theatre, London
Gus Gowland for Pieces of String at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Dan Gillespie Sells for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

The Stage Debut Awards