This evening, we revealed the winners of this year’s Olivier Awards with Mastercard at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Beverley Knight and Billy Porter.
With three wins each, the ceremony’s most awarded shows were The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Fiddler On The Roof and Giant. Other productions with multiple wins were Oedipus (Wyndham’s Theatre), Titanique, The Years, and The Royal Opera’s Festen, each with two wins apiece.
The ceremony opened with a stunning performance of ‘Luck Be A Lady’ from Guys & Dolls by hosts Beverley Knight and Billy Porter, accompanied by the House Gospel Choir. Additional performances throughout the evening included Mastercard Best New Musical nominees The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, MJ The Musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812 and Why Am I So Single?, Piper-Heidsieck Award for Best Musical Revival nominees Fiddler On The Roof, Oliver! and Starlight Express, and a special 40th anniversary performance from Les Misérables.
Mastercard Best New Musical was won by The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, with music & lyrics by Darren Clark, and book & lyrics by Jethro Compton. John Dagleish took home the Best Actor in a Musical award for his performance as the title character, 10 years after his first win for Sunny Afternoon in 2015. The musical’s trio of wins was completed by Darren Clark & Mark Aspinall, securing the award for Outstanding Musical Contribution.
This year’s most-nominated show, Regents Park Open Air Theatre’s Fiddler On The Roof (tying with Hamilton’s 2018 record of 13 nominations), won the Piper-Heidsieck Award for Best Musical Revival, with wins for the Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design for Tom Scutt, and the d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design for Nick Lidster (his second Olivier Award win). The musical returns in May to the Barbican Theatre.
The Royal Court’s Giant by Mark Rosenblatt received The Londoner Award for Best New Play, with John Lithgow taking home the hotly contested Best Actor accolade for his role as Roald Dahl, his first Olivier Award win. Elliot Levey picks up his second Olivier Award, securing Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The production returns to play at the Harold Pinter Theatre later this month.
The coveted Best Actress award went to Lesley Manville, her second Olivier Award, for Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre, which also scored the win for Cunard Best Revival. Romola Garai won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Years, having been double-nominated in her category for her performances in both Giant and The Years. A second win for The Years went to Eline Arbo, who collected the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director, becoming the sixth woman ever to do so alongside the likes of double-winner Marianne Elliott, and Cabaret’s Rebecca Frecknall. The Years plays at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 19 April.
Imelda Staunton received her fifth Olivier Award, and her fourth in the same category, winning Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!. The award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical went to Maimuna Memon for her role in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812, following her second nomination.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical was awarded to first-time nominee Layton Williams for his role in Titanique by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle & Constantine Rousouli, which also secured the Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. Titanique is currently playing at the Criterion Theatre.
In other success for musicals: Christopher Wheeldon took home the Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for MJ The Musical (currently at the Prince Edward Theatre); Paule Constable, who is the most-lauded individual in Olivier Awards history with 17 nominations, won her sixth Olivier Award, winning the White Light Award for Best Lighting Design alongside Ben Jacobs for Oliver! (playing at the Gielgud Theatre); Gabriella Slade won Best Costume Design for Starlight Express (currently at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre).
Soho Theatre’s Boys On The Verge Of Tears by Sam Grabiner won Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre, and Best Family Show went to Brainiac Live at Marylebone Theatre. The Royal Opera’s Festen secured both opera awards, winning the TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production, with Allan Clayton receiving Outstanding Achievement in Opera for his performance in the production. Best New Dance Production went to Assembly Hall by Kidd Pivot, Crystal Pite & Jonathon Young at Sadler’s Wells, and Outstanding Achievement in Dance to Eva Yerbabuena for her performance in Yerbagüena, also at Sadler’s Wells.
A video tribute was made during the ceremony to celebrate Special Award recipient Rufus Norris, rounding off his 10-year tenure as Director of the National Theatre. Industry Recognition Award recipients Rupert Bielby, Bryan Raven and Sue Uings also received a special acknowledgement during the ceremony, honouring their significant contributions to the theatre industry. The evening’s In Memoriam paid tribute to some of the industry titans we have lost this year from both on and off stage, including the much beloved Dame Joan Plowright, wife of Sir Laurence Olivier after whom the awards are named.
Kash Bennett, President of the Society of London Theatre, said: “The Olivier Awards have once again been a spectacular celebration of the very best of British theatre, showcasing the incredible talent of our performers and creatives. Huge congratulations to all the brilliant winners and nominees, who embody the creativity, passion, and magic that make our industry so extraordinary.”
The Olivier Awards continued their partnership with Mastercard as headline sponsor for the 15th year. Mastercard cardholders were offered exclusive access to tickets and VIP experiences for the biggest night in theatre. More once-in-a-lifetime theatre experiences can be found on priceless.com.
Charlie Carrington, Senior Vice President Marketing & Communications at Mastercard, said: “The Olivier Awards celebrates the best that London theatre has to offer. The West End’s iconic stages have brought us some of the world’s finest performances and Mastercard is proud to support the awards and the creative industries more broadly, championing all those performing both on stage and behind the scenes. Congratulations to all of tonight’s winners.”
The Olivier Awards are grateful to additional category sponsors Blue-I Theatre Technology, Cunard, d&b audiotechnik, The Londoner, The Lynne & Land Foundation, The Noël Coward Foundation, Piper-Heidsieck and TAIT, as well as official car partner Addison Lee, mobile entertainment platform partner TikTok, production partners Unusual Rigging and White Light, and additional partners AKT London, Fujifilm, Global, Heart of London Business Alliance, Newman Displays, See Tickets and Tysers in association with Ecclesiastical for their ongoing support.
Highlights from the event will air at 10.15pm this evening on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player, available on catch-up after broadcast. Magic Radio have been broadcasting coverage and highlights from 8pm this evening. For viewers outside the UK, the ceremony was broadcast live on the Official London Theatre YouTube channel and is now available there for catch-up.