The Ian Charleson Awards celebrate the best stage performances by actors under 30 in a classical role and were established by The Sunday Times and the National Theatre in recognition of Charleson, who died aged 40 in 1990, shortly after giving an impressive final turn as Hamlet. His portrayal inspired the Sunday Times critic John Peter to create the awards.
This year’s prize was awarded by Ian McKellen and the judges were the actress Emma Fielding, the actor Ashley Zhangazha, Robert Hastie, the artistic director of Sheffield Theatres, and Alastair Coomer, the head of casting at the National Theatre. We speak to the stage stars of tomorrow…
First prize
Francesca Mills, 28
Nominated for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Globe
I was born in Shropshire with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, and realised I wanted to act when I was nine. My parents have been supportive and sit in the front row of all my shows. I’m lucky they have never tried to steer me in a different direction. Playing Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream was on my bucket list because I was passionate about being in a version of the play where the remarks about Hermia’s height in the fight scene were brought to life if a little person was in the part. There’s nothing like the Globe’s stage, it’s a rare experience being there and I loved it from beginning to end.
What I’m doing next
I’ve just played the Duchess in The Duchess of Malfi. I’m filming the TV drama Silent Witness. I’m not allowed to say who I play, but I’m a new regular.
The judging panel said
“She’s a classical actor coming into their own,” and “commanded the Globe stage. She speaks the verse as if it mattered. She is a performer whose wit, wickedness, physical commitment, emotional empathy and generosity of spirit continue to make her an invaluable asset to the classical theatre of this country.”
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Second prize
Toheeb Jimoh, 27
Nominated for Romeo and Juliet, Almeida
The Young Vic theatre ran something called Parallel Productions where they encouraged children from the local community of Lambeth, south London, to audition for a youth production of the main play in the main house. I did A Streetcar Named Desire with the director Rebecca Frecknall.
Career highs so far
When I received an Emmy nomination for the comedy series Ted Lasso, and starring with Ian McKellen in Player Kings. It’s amazing working with him, a real dream come true. He’s a great actor, that goes without saying, and a wonderful person.
Third prize
Joseph Payne, 29
Nominated for The Tempest, RSC and Macbeth, Shakespeare’s Globe
When I was younger I wanted to be Spider-Man, but once I realised that wasn’t possible it was a toss-up between two career choices: music (I play trumpet, piano and guitar) or acting. I decided on acting because it was the closest to being Spider-Man. You don’t get many pats on the back in this industry, so this nomination feels special, especially for my role as Malcolm in Macbeth. Having to endure all the terrible things that happened to him took an emotional toll.
My preshow ritual
I become a recluse — I put my headphones on and go into my own little world.
Jonathan Case, 30
Nominated for Macbeth, Wessex Grove/Underbelly touring
I was shy when I was five so my mum took me to the Playbox Theatre in Warwickshire. Doing Lord of the Flies when I was 15 cemented my desire to do this job. I hadn’t worked for three months (which isn’t that long, but you get a creeping fear) before I was cast in Macbeth with Ralph Fiennes. He’s an incredibly physical actor, which I found impressive.
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Preshow rituals
A teacher at drama school taught us a meditative qigong technique where you rub different parts of your body furiously. In my opinion it does raise your energy, so I suggested it to the cast and by the end there was a little team of us doing it, including the actress Indira Varma, who played Lady Macbeth.
Taheen Modak, 27
Nominated for Pygmalion, Old Vic
I wanted to be a footballer, but quickly realised that I wasn’t good enough. At my primary school in Hounslow, west London, I was a last-minute addition to a comedy sketch show about The X Factor, and the audience erupted with laughter during my performance. That changed things for me and led me to study drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. My first professional role was in the ITV drama The Bay opposite Morven Christie.
In ten years…
I want to be someone who people can call on when there’s a challenging part, someone you can call on to get a difficult job done.
Amber James, 29
Nominated for Cymbeline and The Fair Maid of the West at the RSC
My mum took me to see Macbeth at the RSC when Steve Toussaint played Banquo. He was captivating and it was the first time I saw a black actor in a huge role. Playing Titania and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2018 was a career highlight. I had recently lost my grandad, who I was very close to, and this magical play felt like a safe haven.
Most embarrassing moment on stage
Once when I was doing Titus Andronicus at the RSC I slipped on the body oil Luke MacGregor was wearing as Chiron and fell in front of a thousand people.
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Shyvonne Ahmmad, 29
Nominated for Macbeth, RSC
Growing up in Perth, Scotland, I would often re-enact movie scenes in my room, but I didn’t see a play until I was 21, when I was studying drama at Edinburgh College. I was told there that I was “too contemporary for Shakespeare”, so being nominated for this award means a lot.
Spent my first salary on
A bed. I wanted something that was mine and that nobody else had slept on.
Shalisha James-Davis, 29
Nominated for Romeo & Juliet, Royal Exchange Theatre
I moved to London from Nottingham in 2014 to join the National Youth Theatre. I hustled, sofa-surfed and ended up cold-calling a casting director to get my first job in Our Country’s Good at the National Theatre. In May 2020 I was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer and have been cancer-free for two years, so to be nominated for this award feels incredible.
Preshow ritual
Yoga or listening to empowering black artists like Megan thee Stallion and Beyoncé.
Joséphine Callies, 23
Nominated for Henry V, Shakespeare’s Globe and Headlong
I was born and raised in Paris and studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Henry V is my first play in the UK. English is my second language, which feels like an extra layer of protection when performing — a further distancing from myself. For Henry V we had an intimacy coach, who helped with my performance of Katherine, the victim of an arranged marriage and sexual assault. It was scary performing that on stage, but I felt safe.
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My favourite play
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s a fantastical, imaginary world that I’ve always loved escaping into.
Samuel Creasey, 28
Nominated for The Winter’s Tale, Shakespeare’s Globe, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
I’ve always been a showman. Growing up in a small town in south Wales, I had two loves: magic and The Jerry Springer Show. I would put on performances for my family, either with a magician’s set or pretending to be Jerry Springer. At school I would beg people to let me do a magic trick on them. It was the film Funny People starring Adam Sandler that convinced me to pursue a career in acting and study at ArtsEd. I haven’t looked back, but the older and more experienced I am, the more self-doubt I have about acting.
How I learn my lines
I record myself saying everyone else’s lines and then leave what I say blank. I play that recording over and over again, saying my lines in the gaps until it’s perfect.
Tyreke Leslie, 23
Nominated for As You Like It, RSC
I’ve always been insecure and shy. Acting has become my medium for letting myself be free. Raised in south London, I asked to star in a school play as an angel and haven’t looked back. I was gobsmacked and cried when I found out that I had been nominated for this award. After years of feeling anxious I felt proud of myself.
Most embarrassing moment on stage
My first job after drama school was in an RSC tour of Twelfth Night. I got stuck to the set doors on my entrance and fell to the floor and landed on my face. Luckily I was playing Toby Belch, so I pretended that I was drunk.
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Kibong Tanji, 27
Nominated for Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s Globe, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
I used to be a swimmer and represented Cameroon, where my parents are from, at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore and Turkey. I, however, grew up in Bermondsey, southeast London. My dad encouraged me to swim, but I didn’t have the love for it that he had. Instead I moved into acting. I’ve always been a performer. As a child I would talk to myself in the mirror.
What I’m doing next
Richard III at the Globe. I play Clarence, the king’s brother, who is drowned, and I get submerged on stage three times. My swimming training has come in handy.
Anna Russell-Martin, 26
Nominated for Macbeth, RSC
My acting journey started in dance, then I tried my hand at drama. I was born in Glasgow and trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Dance School of Scotland. The role of Banquo in Macbeth is not huge — there’s not much text to work with — so I was delighted that my performance was recognised.
Preshow ritual
I give my best performance when I’m relaxed. Other actors may slag me off for it, but I sit on my phone before a show.
Danielle Phillips, 28
Nominated for The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare’s Globe
My dad, who died last year, was a joiner. My mum, a PCSO, was a single mum and had a lot of childcare issues, so she would send me to youth clubs. She sent me to the Doncaster Little Theatre when I was seven and I remember having the best three hours of my life there. I’ll never forget the buzz from the opening night of The Comedy of Errors. I’ve got multiple neurodiversities and thought I’d struggle in a room with Shakespeare actors, but this nomination has reignited my self-belief.
Preshow rituals
I walk around with a nebuliser, which helps to moisten my mouth. In The Comedy of Errors we stood in a circle holding hands and said something like a prayer.
