Jodie Comer will receive the first ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award at the UK Theatre Awards 2026

Jodie Comer has been named the first winner of the new «Outstanding Achievement in British Theatre» award, which will be presented to her at the UK Theatre Awards 2026 ceremony, as BroadwayWorld announces. The ceremony, sponsored by Encore, will be held on Monday, 12 October, at 8 Northumberland Avenue in London, hosted by the drag artist La Voix.

The award recognises Comer’s outstanding contribution to British theatre, especially for her return this year to the role of Tessa in Suzie Miller’s play «Prima Facie» — a role for which she won Olivier and Tony awards — with a major tour in Britain and Ireland, which took the well-known one-actress production beyond London, to new communities.

According to BroadwayWorld, «Prima Facie» has become a theatre phenomenon: Comer’s performance has reached more than 1.2 million spectators worldwide through the stage and National Theatre Live broadcasts, while the national tour has given audiences across the country the chance to experience the production live.

In her statement, Comer said she feels “extremely honoured” to receive the inaugural award, adding that the tour has been one of the most special experiences of her career: “There is something unique in sharing live theatre with audiences in different communities and in seeing the impact the story can have in each place.”

Comer, one of Britain’s most acclaimed actresses, with an Emmy, two BAFTAs, a Tony and an Olivier, stressed that the production’s journey across Britain and Ireland shows the importance of tours in making world-class theatre accessible to everyone.