Voting for UNDERSTUDY OF THE YEAR has now closed. Click here to find out who won!
If it wasn't for understudies the West End wouldn't be able to function. This is why we introduced West End Frame's Understudy of the Year Award in 2012 as we thought it was about time understudies received the recognition they deserve.
If it wasn't for understudies the West End wouldn't be able to function. This is why we introduced West End Frame's Understudy of the Year Award in 2012 as we thought it was about time understudies received the recognition they deserve.
Voting has now opened for West End Frame's Understudy of the Year 2013 which is returning as part of the 2013 West End Frame Awards. Unlike other theatre awards we only open voting for one category at a time.
Eighteen understudies, standby's and alternates have been nominated. Last year’s Understudy of the Year was won by Katy Treharne who alternated the role of Christine DaaĆ© in Phantom of the Opera.
Voting opened on Thursday 16th May and closes at 3pm on Wednesday 26th June. The result can be previewed until Thursday 6th June. 'Follow' us on Twitter and 'Like' us on Facebook for exclusive updates during the voting period and to be the first to find out when the result is announced on Friday 28th June.

Just voted Johnny Gibbon - Alternate Christopher Boone - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime - fingers crossed for him!
ReplyDeleteJohnny Gibbon definately deserves to win
DeleteFingers crossed for Johnny! CuriousIncident is such a wonderful play!
DeleteGo phantom phans !!
ReplyDeleteThis is the hardest decision ever!!!
ReplyDeleteVOTE GLORIA.
ReplyDeleteVote Jon Tsouras. The most amazing understudy.
ReplyDeleteJon Tsouras all the way!
ReplyDeletegood luck Garry Watson.
ReplyDeleteGloria Onitiri. Shes on all the time and she is lovely in this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2M92mL5edo
ReplyDeleteChris Holland is an amazing JVJ. Went to see Les Miserables last week and his performance was superb.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's Chris Holland. He's one of the very best Valjeans I've had in my 9 visits thus far to Mis, and I've had 6. Made the trip especially to see him in the part in May and positive it'll remain among my favourite matinees!
ReplyDeleteGood luck Gary Watson - you are amazing! xxx
ReplyDeleteAll the ones in the list I know are excellent, but without Georgie Ashford, who's covering FIVE of the lead female roles in A Chorus Line (brilliantly I may add) I don't think i'll bother!
ReplyDeleteAgreed ;)
Deleteabsolutely!
DeleteOh my gosh! YES! I'm SO happy someone agrees! She's incredible I've seen her as Diana twice and you'd NEVER think she didn't play that part every single night! She should definitely been nominated!
DeleteVote for Anna O'byrne!!She's PERFECT!!
DeleteVoted for Anna O'Byrne - Alternate Christine DaaƩ - Phantom of the Opera, she is wonderful and I am happy she is part of show. Its wonderful to know her Christine in Phantom and Love Never Dies.
ReplyDeleteJust voted for Alan Burkitt, he's the only understudy anyone's ever recommended to go see!!
ReplyDeleteTim driesen ROCK OF AGES \m/
ReplyDeleteSo true Anonymous about Georgie Ashford and Chorus Line ;)
ReplyDeleteYay! Usually everyone is fussing about leading lady's and leading men and so on... so amazing to see these peoples names in the spotlight!!! Lots of debate and so on - all 18 do fab jobs!!!
ReplyDeleteJon Tsouras = simply awesome.
ReplyDeleteThere would be no The Bodyguard musical without Gloria Onitiri as she does most of the shows.
ReplyDeleteChris Holland plays Jean Valjean, body and soul. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteVoted for Anna O'Byrne. She's an amazing actress and singer, and her Christine is just brilliant.
ReplyDeleteYOU GO JON T.
ReplyDeleteKatie Paine is unbelievably awesome as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You - definitely deserves to win!
ReplyDeleteJon Tsouras is truly mesmerising to watch, amazing dancer! Vote Jon!
ReplyDeleteKatie Paine will rock
ReplyDeleteKatie Paine
ReplyDeleteKatie Paine (Doreen Elwell)
ReplyDeleteHas to be Ben Jennings! Best understudy in the west end. Amazing Frankie!!
ReplyDeleteAgree! 100 per cent! Ben is a great talent in the west end right now! You have to see him as Frankie Valli! Outstanding!!
DeleteAnna O'Byrne!
ReplyDeleteNothing can be as difficult as playing Christopher Boone twice a week. Vote for JOHNNY.
ReplyDeleteVote JON TSOURAS!!! He is incredible at what he does!
ReplyDeleteVOTE KATIE PAINE! Utterly brilliant as Killer Queen - have seen her 9 times and each time she rocks the Dominion. VOTE KATIE PAINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI voted Chris Holland! Brilliant actor and singer, brings life to any role I've seen him in :)
ReplyDeleteJust voted Emma Hatton.... She is incredible. I haven’t seen Stuart Ward but I hear he’s also pretty damn good so he deserves a good vote as well.
ReplyDeleteSo so difficult, but my vote to Hayley.
ReplyDeleteTony P
Voted Anna O'Byrne. An amazing performer in an amazing show!
ReplyDeleteHas got to be the fantabulous Hayley Gallivan
ReplyDeleteOlivia Greene in The 39 Steps gets my vote. She is superb! 3 characters and fall-off-your-seat funny.
ReplyDeletewell it got to be Hayley gaillivan come on do us proud! x
ReplyDeleteVote Hayley Gallivan!!! She is the best standby ever and she is amazing!! :)
ReplyDeleteGo Hayley!!!! :) x
Hardest male vocal in the west end! So my vote can only go to Ben Jennings! Superb Talent! Go see for yourself!
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Ashley Day! Not only a good friend of mine but more importantly an AMZING understudy for Elder Price! VOTE ASHLEY!
ReplyDeleteAshley Day is a fantastic performer and a really lovely guy!
ReplyDeleteI voted for Olivia Greene!
ReplyDeleteGo ashley!!
ReplyDeleteVote Olivia Greene, The 39 Steps.
ReplyDeleteDifficult to choose, but playing Jean Valjean is tricky because it demands loads of stamina, emotional input and strong vocals. That's why Chris Holland gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteThe best Frankie Valli understudy for a long time!! So vote for BEN JENNINGS!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAlan Burkitt for me - a more sublime dancer in the West End you will not see!
ReplyDeleteVote Jon Tsouras... he's an amazing performer.
ReplyDeleteVOTE KATIE PAINE - Utterly brilliant as Killer Queen, she brings a whole new dimension to the role. KATIE PAINE - YOU ROCK !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJon Tsouras is a fantastic performer, always brilliant at what he does and a lovely lovely guy too :) xx
ReplyDeleteGO BEN JENNINGS!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteVOTE ALAN BURKITT!! A Beautiful and talented dancer that must be awarded.
ReplyDeleteHayley Gallivan is so inspiring and she has inspired me to become an actress.
ReplyDeleteHayley Gallivan for Standby of the Year 2013!
Woooooooo :) x
Gary Watson <3
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Hayley Gallivan! She's AMAZING and so lovely too! A deserving winner i think! xx
ReplyDeleteVote Alan Burkitt Dancer SUPREME should be Alan Astaire wonderful
ReplyDeletesuch grace
Has to be BEN JENNINGS!!!! so AMAZING as FRANKIE VALLI!!!! The best understudy I have seen in many years!!!! Such a hard vocal! Im sure not many performers can sing this so well!!! So just for sheer talent this guy gets my vote!!!
ReplyDeleteGo Alan Burkitt -a wonderful dancer!
ReplyDeleteHayley Gallivan, wonderful actress going to go far, well done so far :-)
ReplyDeleteJust voted for Johnny Gibbon. He gave an astonishing performance in what I understand is his first West End Role.
ReplyDeleteAnna O Byrne gets my vote. Why she is an understudy christine I'll never know. She is incredible and I actually prefer her to the main christine. However people like Jonny Purchase and Hayley Gallivan are amazing too. I have to stick to Anna though! But good luck to the others! Everyone here is mega talented!
ReplyDeleteAlan Burkitt. He is truly amazing. I would see him again and again. He should be the lead full time rather than the understudy.
ReplyDeletecome on guy! last few days to vote. BEN JENNINGS IS JUST AMAZING AS FRANKIE VALLI.!!!!! VOTE!!! Such a talent!!!!
ReplyDeletePhoebe Street (understudy Cosette in the Les Mis cast just gone) should be nominated. Her voice is angelic and her acting is incredible, if they hadn't announced at the start that she was the understudy I'd have honestly thought she was the lead.
ReplyDeleteWitnessed Alan Burkitt doing a workshop!!! such energy!!! he's a sublime dancer, he's got my vote!
ReplyDeleteNina Thompson
How come Lucy Jane Adcock is not up for understudy for Cassie in A Chorus Line
ReplyDeleteAlan Burkitt is a true inspiration. Saw him in Top Hat, and what a wonderful dancer and performer he is. Just goes to show that the 'big names' are actually not as good as the understudy sometimes...
ReplyDeleteGo Ashley Day!!!
ReplyDeleteVote for Anna!!
ReplyDeleteGary Watson all the way
ReplyDeleteVote Ashley Day !!!
ReplyDeleteJon Tsouras is amazing as both Greg and Bobby!!!
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Alan Burkitt. He was sublime in Top Hat.
ReplyDelete