It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2025? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2025.

• Read on for the nominees for the monsta for the Best New Musical of 2025 Previous winners 2024 Why Am I So Single?; 2023 Two Strangers; 2022 Tammy Faye; 2021 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella; 2020: Sleepless: The musical; 2019: Vulvarine; 2018: Eugenius; 2017: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

1. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Ambassadors Review

2. Hot Mess: A new musical, Southwark Playhouse Review

3. Shucked!, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Review

4. Sing Street, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Review

5. Stereophonic, Duke Of York’s Theatre Review and Tickets

• Who should win? Tell us in the comments below, on social media or email us at neildurham3@gmail.com. Winner revealed on this site on 25/12/25
• Vote for best  podcast, best venue, best gig, best song, best album, best TV, best film, best tv/film actor, best tv/film actress, best new play, best revival, best performance of a song, best new musical, best theatre actor, best theatre actress, best theatre supporting actor and best theatre supporting actress
• Enjoyed this shortlist? Follow its author on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook