Nominees for 2019 Ian Charleson Awards announced

## 2019 Ian Charleson Awards shortlist announced! The Charlesons reward actors under the age of 30 performing in a classical role, which is defined as being pre-1918. The awards ceremony was initiated in tribute to the **Ian Charleson**, who died in 1990 shortly after appearing in *Hamlet *at the National Theatre. Previous Ian Charleson winners include **Emma Fielding** (1993, for Agnes in *The School for Wives* at the Almeida Theatre), **David Oyelowo**, (2000, for the titular role in Henry VI, [**Royal Shakespeare Company**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/tickets/royal-shakespeare-company)), **Paapa Essiedu** (2016, for the titular role in *Hamlet* and Edmund in *King Lear*, [**RSC**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/tickets/royal-shakespeare-company)), **Andrea Riseborough** (2006, for Isabella in *Measure for Measure* and the titular role in *Miss Julie, *Peter Hall Company), **Dominic West** (1997, for Konstantin in [***The Seagull***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/4414/the-seagull-tickets.aspx), Peter Hall Company and [**Old Vic Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/60/old-vic-theatre.aspx)), and **Bally Gill** (2018, for Romeo in *Romeo and Juliet*, RSC). This year's awards ceremony, which has been delayed for obvious reasons, has 12 nominees in total. The results will be announced in an upcoming issue of *Culture*. The Bridge Theatre's production of *A Midsummer Night's Dream* has managed to rake in three nominations in total for co-stars **Hammed Animashaun**, **Isis Hainsworth**, and **Kit Young**. Meanwhile, **Heledd Gwynn** has been nominated for two of her roles, including Ratcliffe in Headlong's *Richard III* and the lead role of Hedda in *Hedda Gabler*. Despite being an updated, ultra-modern version of **Edmond Rostand**'s original 1897 play that featured a rapping **James McAvoy**, [**Jamie Lloyd's *Cyrano de Bergerac***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/4242/cyrano-de-bergerac-tickets.aspx) **— freely adapted by **Martin Crimp** — still met the criteria for the Ian Charleson Awards this year. The show can boast more street cred now after earning a nomination for **Eben Figueiredo** as Christian. Find out who else has been nominated below. ### Ian Charleson Awards 2019 nominees in full * **Billy Postlethwaite** for Macbeth in *Macbeth* at the Watermill Theatre * **Eben Figueiredo** for Christian in [***Cyrano de Bergerac***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/4242/cyrano-de-bergerac-tickets.aspx) at Jamie Lloyd Company at the [**Playhouse Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/96/playhouse-theatre.aspx) * **Ebony Jonelle** for Rosalind in *As You Like It* for the National Theatre Public Acts/Queen's Theatre Hornchurch * **Ekow Quartey** for Lysander in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* at Shakespeare's Globe * **Hammed Animashaun** for Bottom in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* at the Bridge Theatre * **Heledd Gwynn** for Hedda in *Hedda Gabler* at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and Hastings and Ratcliffe in *Richard III* for Headlong * **Ioanna Kimbook** for Cariola in *The Duchess of Malfi* at the Almeida * **Isis Hainsworth** for Hermia in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* at the Bridge Theatre * **Kit Young** for Lysander in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* at the Bridge Theatre * **Kitty Archer** for Mariane in *Tartuffe* at the National Theatre * **Racheal Ofori** for Udo in *Three Sisters* at the National Theatre * **Ronke Adekoluejo** for Abosede in *Three Sisters* at the National Theatre

📰 Keep following [**London Theatre Direct's news pages**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news) for all the latest West End and UK theatre announcements.