It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

• Read on for the nominees for the monsta for Best New Musical of 2022 2021 winner Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella; 2020: Sleepless: The musical; 2019: Vulvarine; 2018: Eugenius; 2017: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

1. Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World (Theatre Royal Stratford East) Review Tickets

2. My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) (Garrick Theatre) Review

3. Tammy Faye (Almeida Theatre until 3 December 2022) Review Tickets

4. The Band’s Visit (Donmar Warehouse until 3 December 2022) Review Tickets

5. Unfortunate: the Untold Story Of Ursula The Sea Witch (Underbelly Festival, London) Review Tickets

• Who should win? Tell us in the comments below or email us at neildurham3@gmail.com. Want to know why we like this shortlist? Click on the tags to read our reviews. Winner revealed on this site on 30/12/22
• Vote for Best Podcast of 2022; Best Venue; Best Performance Of A Song; Best New Musical; Best Gig; Best New Play; Best Album; Best Supporting Actor; Best TV/Fim Actress; Best TV/Film Actor; Best TV; Best Film; Best Song; Best Theatre Actress ; Best Theatre Actor and Best Revival
• Enjoyed this shortlist? Follow its author on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook