For the attention of (but not limited to): The UK Theatre Awards; The Critics’ Circle Awards; OFFIES; The WhatsOnStage Awards; The Oliviers & The Black British Theatre Awards,
According to SOLT UK, the Creative Industries sector is (as of 2025) bringing £125 billion into the UK economy, with 37 million audience members in 2024 alone. SOLT estimates that 244,000 people work in the UK Theatre Industry. In an investigation by Statista in 2020, only 53,000 (21.72%) of those people were working as an actor or performer. The remaining 191,000 (78.28%) people work in a multitude of backstage or creative departments.
Despite making up the vast majority of theatre workers, theatre crew face a world of stigma, where they are often unthanked and unrecognised in the work that they do. After working tirelessly during a show, they are met at stage door with a sea of smiling faces that drop as soon as audience members see it’s not a performer. Whilst performers build fan bases and receive letters, gifts and messages that reinforce a sense of purpose and appreciation, crew members get by on the love of the job alone and a possible quick ‘thanks’ following a mic check, wig or costume change.
These days - for the most part - theatre creatives are secure in their recognition and achievements, with Set, Costume, Lighting, Video and Sound Designers frequently represented and acknowledged in theatre award categories. That being said, The WhatsOnStage Awards are currently the only award company that has an award for Best Wigs, Hair & Makeup Design, despite WHAM being a fundamental department in every show. The UK Theatre Awards and the Critics’ Circle Awards both have just one award to represent all backstage creative departments. The Black British Theatre Awards only extend to Best Choreography, Best Theatre Design and Best Sound and/or Lighting Design. There is an apparent imbalance between the recognition and appreciation of those onstage compared to those offstage.
This year, The West End Wilma Awards decided to introduce five new categories to their 9th annual list of awards in an attempt to diversify and celebrate more unsung heroes in the theatre industry. Looking at the statistics following the completion of the ceremony, four of the five new categories received more votes than ‘Best Performer in an Off-West End Show’, which is usually an awards staple - proving that the public actively wish to vote in these rare, but nevertheless deserved, categories. Being winners of two of these new awards, Geri Allen and I chose to use our speeches as a way of highlighting why recognition for these “unsung heroes” is so important. Choosing to bypass certain departments or individuals reinforces the idea that these people are not important or worthy of the recognition, which is then unfortunately often reflected in the attitudes of fans and a small percentage of performers. Introducing awards to celebrate and support these departments and individuals puts them on a level playing field with performers and creatives, emphasising that every cog in the theatre industry machine is vital.
I urge you to reflect on the state of theatre without your swings, understudies, wigs assistants, dressers, swing dressers, wardrobe assistants, laundry assistants, stage managers, followspots, chaperones, sound monitor mixers, sound technicians, sound/auto riggers, tech swings, department HODs and Deputies, and everyone else who didn’t design anything for the show but works tirelessly backstage to make the show happen 8+ times a week. They deserve celebrating and feeling appreciated, too.
I hope to see genuine change from your 2026 Awards onwards.
Thank you for your time,
Zephyr Aspen (he/they)
Winner of ‘Best Dresser’ at the West End Wilma Awards 2025