The Linbury Prize Exhibition showcasing the fresh creative voices shaping the future of stage design is now open to the public until June 2026.
Found in the Lyttelton Lounge at the National Theatre, the free exhibition features the work of the twelve recipients of the 2025 Linbury Prize for Stage Design. The exhibition includes model boxes, costumes and design sketches, providing a platform for these emerging stage designers to showcase their work before the public and industry-wide professionals.
The free exhibition also uses NaviLens codes to help create an accessible and inclusive experience for all viewers, offering audio description through scannable codes throughout the exhibition.
The twelve recipients featured in the exhibition are 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.
In addition to having their work on display before the public and industry professionals, the recipients will also receive a bursary of £6,000 and a placement with an established designer. Previous designers recognised by the Linbury Prize include Es Devlin (Dear England), Jon Bausor (Paralympics Opening Ceremony), and Vicki Mortimer (Follies).
Presented by the National Theatre and supported by The Linbury Trust, the Linbury Prize is committed to supporting new talent starting out in the industry and addressing urgent sector-wide skills shortages. As the only nationwide prize for stage design, the Linbury Prize is a vital launchpad into the world of professional theatre, having launched the careers of over 250 young talented stage designers since its founding in 1987.
For more information about this year’s recipients, please visit the Linbury Prize website.
