Performances Over the years, guest presenters and performers at the Launch Party have included Graham Norton, Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, Lesley Garrett, Ryan Molloy, James Earl Jones, Jools Holland, Patina Miller, Julian Clary, Jeremy Irons, Simon Russell Beale, Bertie Carvel and Meera Syal. West End stars who have performed at the Awards Concerts at the Prince of Wales have included Alfie Boe, Sally Ann Triplett, Ryan Molloy, Jodie Prenger, Hannah Waddingham, Leanne Jones, Jill Halfpenny, Hadley Fraser, Ramin Karimloo, Rosemary Ashe, Nancy Sullivan, Samantha Barks, Sarah Lark, Kim Criswell, Siobhan McCarthy, Julie Atherton, Suranne Jones, Elena Roger, Sean Palmer, Clare Foster, Hannah Waddingham, Dean Chisnall, Brian May, Kerry Ellis, Tim Minchin, Melanie C and Sam Tutty. Venues The inaugural Launch Party was held at The Venue, before moving to the Dominion Theatre in 2004, Planet Hollywood in 2005 and 2006, and Café de Paris, where it has been every year since with the exception of the 2009 Awards, when it was held at the London Hippodrome as part of their campaign to save the venue as a performance space. The first Awards Concert and ceremony was introduced for the 2008 Awards and was held at the 960-seat Lyric Theatre. The Concert moved to the 1,100-seat Prince of Wales Theatre for the 2009 Awards and was a sell-out for four straight years - 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The concert moved to the Palace Theatre for the 2013 awards but returned to the Prince of Wales Theatre for 2014. Award categories Performance categories Best Performer in a Musical Best Supporting Performer in a Musical Best Performer in a Play Best Supporting Performer in a Play Best Professional Debut Performance Best Takeover In A Role Production categories Best New Play Best New Comedy Best New Musical Best Play Revival Best Musical Revival Best Shakespearean Production Best Director Best Set Designer Best Lighting Designer Best Video Design Best Choreographer Best Original Music Special categories London Newcomer Of The Year Best Off-West End Production Best Regional Production Best West End Show Theatre Event Of The Year Defunct categories Best Actor in a Play Best Actress in a Play Best Supporting Actor in a Play Best Supporting Actress in a Play Best Actor in a Musical Best Actress in a Musical Best Supporting Actor In a Musical Best Supporting Actress In a Musical Best Solo Performance Best Ensemble Performance Recent winners 2008 Best Actress in