Charlotte English from BIRD Conservatoire has been announced as the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2026 following her rendition of I Read from the musical Passion, one of the less recently performed pieces from this year’s competition. Beating 11 other finalists to win a £1,000 prize presented by Jenna Russell, Charlotte’s other song was The Sparrow’s Tale from Darren Clark’s The Wicker Husband first performed at the Watermill in 2020, continuing this prize tradition of performing one Sondheim song for which the students are largely judged and a piece selected from New UK Musicals in honour of Sondheim’s own wish to make space for new work as well.`
Taking place fittingly at the Sondheim Theatre in the West End, the stakes are high for the finalists, all from UK drama schools selected via heats in order to select the last 12, and flying visits from two former winners served as a reminder of the opportunity that this platform can bring. While the judges retire to deliberate, as usual, the previous winner provides some waiting room entertainment, and this year the Society welcomed back Georgia Blessitt performing Losing My Mind from Follies while announcing her recent selection for the Les Misérables arena tour – making the Sondheim Theatre, the usual home of the long-running musical, an appropriate venue for her. She was joined by Stuart Thompson, now a major rising star in British theatre following his 2019 win with roles in Spring Awakening and A Taste of Honey, singing a song from current show FLYBY at Southwark Playhouse.
Photo: Ian Bowkett
For the first time, the Stephen Sondheim Society offered a third prize sponsored in memory of Jeremy Chapman by The Chapman Family, awarded to Rosie Sutton (University of Oxford) performing one of the few comic numbers, the fast-paced tongue twister Not Getting Married Today from Company, alongside her contemporary choice Colour in My Cheeks by Tim Connor from the musical The Heart of Winter. Second prize, provided by Tricia Sharp & Ray Barker, was awarded to final performer Taziva-Faye Katsande (BIRD Conservatoire), giving a confident performance of Last Midnight from Into the Woods and Peace in the Puzzle from Darren Clark’s Turing: A Musical, an astute choice.
Photo: Ian Bowkett
It’s always notable how song selection reflects West End trends in Sondheim’s music and this year’s competition offered far less from Follies and Company – both productions now retreating into the past – but several from Into the Woods following the critically acclaimed revival at the Bridge Theatre, and a couple from Sunday in the Park With George anticipating the announced production at the Barbican with Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey a year from now.
Some of the student performers who stood out selected alternative material, including a really excellent By the Sea delivered with romantic relish by Ruby Decent (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School) from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Samuel Louis Bennett (Italia Conti) bringing obsequious humour to the Waiter’s Song in Sondheim’s final musical Here We Are presented at the National Theatre last summer.
Into the Woods rather dominated proceedings, though, with Bella Brown, who played Rapunzel at the Bridge Theatre, stepping in at the last minute to replace host Oscar Conlon-Morrey, who was unable to perform. Judges Rachel Tucker and Melanie La Barrie were once co-stars, and Little Red Riding Hood was performed by Gracie McGonigal. The chance to be among these musical stars awaits Charlotte English as she embarks on a year of Student Performer of the Year duties, but one place she will definitely be this time next year is back on stage singing her winning song as a new champion is crowned.
Stephen Sondheim Society: Student Performer of the Year 2026 was awarded in a ceremony held on 7 June.
