Think about your favourite play. You remember the actors, sure, but the unsung hero? That’s the set design. It’s the silent main character that dictates the atmosphere and tells half the story, yet it rarely gets the credit it deserves.
That’s why the announcement of the twelve recipients of the Linbury Prize for Stage Design 2025 is fantastic news for the industry. This is the UK’s leading award for emerging designers, providing crucial support in a pivotal area that’s often underfunded and lacks established pathways. Since its founding in 1987, the Linbury Prize has successfully launched the careers of over 200 talented young stage designers, demonstrating its long-term commitment to boosting new talent and addressing the urgent, sector-wide skills shortage. Hosted by the National Theatre and backed by The Linbury Trust, finalists secure a generous bursary prize of £6,000 and a placement with an established designer.
The theatre world is facing a major skills crunch. The crisis isn't just about actors; it’s about the technical backbone. Areas such as lighting, sound, and stage design are in particular demand, especially for fresh voices. Worse, a major barrier to entry often revolves around the lack of paid support, with many having to do work for free or out of their own pocket in order to progress. This combination of a technical void and financial pressure is why it’s great to see awards such as the Linbury Prize not only shining a spotlight on these issues but stepping in to help rectify them.
This year’s 12 selected designers—Cal Owens, Emily Mahon, Haiyan Hester Xue 薛海燕, Isaac O'Brien, James Stibilj, Kathy Udaondo, Kezi Ferguson, Miriam Dheva-Aksorn, Willoughby Brow, Yi Gao, Yuhe Zhang, and Zidi Wu—are one such group looking to break the mould and bring fresh perspectives to the stage. Their selection is a thrilling acknowledgment of the bold, fresh, and often disruptive perspectives they bring. Designer Max Johns, who served as a juror, spoke to the entries' infectious energy, noting the "wealth of bold submissions" which clearly weren't holding back despite the challenging times for the arts. Talking to them on the night of the awards, it was refreshing to hear about their enthusiasm and excitement for what is to come, energetically showing off their work in the form of models and concept art that forms the basis of the exhibition on show at the National Theatre for members of the public to get up close and personal.
The celebratory exhibition, opening on 2 December 2025 at the National Theatre, is much more than an info dump. It brings to life many of the selected designer’s works through intricate model boxes, elaborate sketches, and stunning costume designs. There is also a brief bio of each selected winner, with this year being the first time someone from each of the four home nations has won the prize. The installation itself is also ambitious in that it endeavours to use sustainable materials where possible, with the display consisting mostly of Foamalux Eco boards, a material produced using up to 80% reclaimed post-production waste. It also champions digital accessibility by using NaviLens codes, which give patrons with visual impairments detailed audio descriptions of the work.
As Kate Varah, CEO of the National Theatre, put it, the prize is evolving into a crucial "skills incubator" that actively looks for talent coming through non-traditional routes. It is exciting to see what the future holds in store for this cohort. Ultimately, the Linbury Prize is far more than an award; it's the engine funding, validating, and guiding the next wave of visual storytellers, ensuring that British theatre remains diverse, sustainable, and creatively potent.
The 2025 Linbury Prize Exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday 2 December 2025 to June 2026 in the Lyttelton Lounge (located in the upstairs foyer by the Lyttelton Theatre). The Exhibition is free with no booking required. For more information about this year’s recipients, please visit the Linbury Prize website.
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Photo Credits: Rory Murphy