The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday evening.
The Society of London Theatre have announced the winners of this year’s Olivier Awards with Mastercard in a star-studded ceremony last night, hosted by Hannah Waddingham.
Among the big winners on the evening was Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Boulevard, which picked up seven wins, including both Best Actor and Actress in a Musical for its leading duo Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger. Jamie Lloyd picked up the award for Best Director and the show also won Best Musical Revival. Jack Knowles took home the White Light Award for Best Lighting Design; Alan Williams won for the Outstanding Musical Contribution award for his musical supervision & musical direction and Adam Fisher won the d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design.
The ceremony was opened by Hannah Waddingham performing Anything Goes’ from the musical of the same name, accompanied by musician Joe Stilgoe and the London Community Gospel Choir. Also performing on the evening were Mastercard Best New Musical nominees: The Little Big Things, Next To Normal, Operation Mincemeat and A Strange Loop, alongside Best Musical Revival nominees Guys & Dolls and Hadestown and winner Sunset Boulevard, in addition to a special moment from Groundhog Day Australia.
Best New Musical was awarded to Operation Mincemeat, with music, lyrics & book by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson & Zoë Roberts at the Fortune Theatre. Cast member Jak Malone took home the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role In a Musical.
In the play categories, Best Actor and Best Actress went to Mark Gatiss for his role in The Motive And The Cue and Sarah Snook for her West End debut performance in The Picture Of Dorian Gray. The one woman show also won Best Costume Design which went to Marg Horwell.
Amy Trigg won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical award for her role as Agnes in The Little Big Things at @sohoplace and the Cunard Best Revival award went to Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Simon Stephens at the Duke Of York’s Theatre.
Arlene Phillips returned to the Olivier Awards, having received the Special Award last year, this year she was acknowledged for her work Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre which won best choreography alongside James Cousins.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry at the Phoenix Theatre won two awards: the Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play and the Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design went to Miriam Buether for set design & 59 Productions for video design.
The Bush Theatre’s Sleepova by Matilda Feyiṣayọ won the Unusual Rigging Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre and the TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production went to Innocence by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House. The Outstanding Achievement in Dance went to Isabela Coracy for her performance in NINA: By Whatever Means, part of Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black: Pioneers at the Barbican Theatre. The award for Best New Dance Production went to La Ruta by Gabriela Carrizo, part of Nederlands Dans Theater – NDT 1 at Sadler’s Wells. In his final year in the role, Antonio Pappano won the Outstanding Achievement in Opera award for his role as Music Director of the Royal Opera House.
The Best Family Show winner was Dinosaur World Live by Derek Bond at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
This year’s In Memoriam segment paid tribute to some of the industry titans we have lost this year from both on and off stage, including Haydn Gwynne, who was posthumously celebrated as she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for When Winston Went to War with The Wireless. Her children accepted the award in her honour and paid tribute to Gwynne as a formidable and revered artist as well as a much loved mother.
The ceremony was closed by The National Theatre, with a special performance celebrating the theatre’s 60th anniversary.
Written by James Graham with direction by Elin Schofield, the performance saw Joseph Fiennes reprise his role as Gareth Southgate in Dear England, which won The LondonerAward for Best New Play, to lead an ensemble cast including Janie Dee, Adrian Lester, Meera Syal, Callum Scott Howells and Fra Fee alongside a choir of 30 National Theatre alumni performers. Showcasing the scale of the National Theatre’s contribution to the arts, including a film marking the creation and development of the NT’s South Bank home voiced by Dame Helen Mirren, the performance culminated with a rousing rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from the musical Carousel.
Eleanor Lloyd, President of SOLT said: “The Olivier Awards have once again showcased the best of London theatre and the huge talent of this incredible sector. Congratulations to all of the worthy winners and every nominee for your immense and valued contribution.”