The shortlist has been announced for this year’s Ian Charleson Award.

The annual award acknowledges the work of actors under 30 in ‘classical’ roles (defined as written before 1918). The award was created in memory of the actor Ian Charleson who died two months after his performances as HAMLET at the National Theatre.

Previous winners of the award include Tom Hollander, Dominic West, David Oyelowo, Ruth Negga, Cush Jumbo and Paapa Essiedu. This year’s winner will be announced in May.

The shortlist is as follows:

Daniel Burke
Diomed, TROILUS AND CRESSIDA
Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Gregory Doran

Bally Gill
Romeo, ROMEO AND JULIET
Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Erica Whyman

Heledd Gwynn
Katharine and Dauphin, HENRY V
Tobacco Factory on tour, directed by Elizabeth Freestone

Tyrone Huntley
Lysander, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Watermill, Newbury, directed Paul Hart

Martins Imhangbe
Bagot and Aumerle, RICHARD II
Almeida, London, directed Joe Hill-Gibbins

Toheeb Jimoh
Demetrius, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Crucible, Sheffield, directed by Robert Hastie

Hannah Morrish
Octavia, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
National Theatre, London, directed Simon Godwin

Luke Newberry
Malcolm, MACBETH
Royal Shakespeare Company, directed Polly Findlay

Aaron Pierre Cassio, OTHELLO
Shakespeare’s Globe, London, directed by Claire van Kampen

Ellora Torchia
Emilia, THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN
Shakespeare’s Globe, London, directed by Barrie Rutter

Helena Wilson
Mariana, MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Donmar Warehouse, London, directed by Josie Rourke