This evening, we revealed the winners of this year’s Olivier Awards with Cunard at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Nick Mohammed.
This year’s biggest winner is Paddington The Musicalwith seven awards including Cunard Best New Musical. Musicals Evita and Into The Woods, and plays All My Sons, Kenrex, and Punch each received two awards.
The star-studded ceremony included a special performance marking 40 years of Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom Of The Operaand a dazzling finale celebrating 20 years of Wicked in the West End. Additional performances throughout the evening included Cunard Best New Musical nominees Paddington The Musical, Shuckedand The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fryand Best Musical Revival nominees Evita, Into The Woods and The Producers.
Paddington The Musical’s seven wins included the coveted Cunard Best New Musical award for writers Tom Fletcher & Jessica Swale. James Hameed & Meaning of Shah took home the Best Actor in a Musical award for their joint portrayal of the musical’s title character, whilst Victoria Hamilton-Barritt received the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical award, and Tom Edden the Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical award. The show’s creatives triumphed, with Luke Sheppard receiving the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director, Tom Pye (Set Design) & Ash J Woodward (Video Design) taking home the award for Best Set Design supported by Blue-i Theatre Technology, and Gabriella Slade (Costume Design) & Tahra Zafar (Paddington Design) winning Best Costume Designa second win in a row for Gabriella Slade, who won the same award for her work on Starlight Express last year.
Jamie Lloyd’s bold adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Evita received two awards: Rachel Zegler’s performance as Eva Peron – which made headlines last summer for its scene performed from the balcony of The London Palladium – earned her the Best Actress in a Musical award, whilst Fabian Aloise received the Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. Bridge Theatre’s take on Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairytale misadventure Into The Woods won Best Musical Revival supported by Piper-Heidsieck, and Aideen Malone (Lighting Design) & Roland Horvath (Video Design) received the award for Best Lighting Design.
Three plays – All My Sons, Kenrexand Punch – received two awards each. All My Sons – a new production of Arthur Miller’s visionary first play – was awarded Best Revivalwith Especially Essiedu taking home the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award. Jack Holden received the highly competitive Best Actor award for his performance in Kenrex (following his UK Theatre Award win last year), whilst Giles Thomas won Best Sound Design supported by d&b audiotechnik for his work on the play, which transferred to London from Sheffield Theatres. Another successful out-of-London transfer and previous UK Theatre Award winner, James Graham’s Punchwhich originated at Nottingham Playhouse, received the award for Best New Play supported by The Londoner, with Julie Hesmondhalgh receiving the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
The coveted Best Actress award was won by Rosamund Pikefor her tour de force performance in Suzie Miller’s Among other things at the National Theatre, following the opening of the West End transfer earlier this week at Wyndham’s Theatre. Elsewhere, the Barbican Theatre’s Good Night, Oscar received the award for Outstanding Musical Contribution for Chris Fenwick (Musical Supervision & Arrangements) & Sean Hayes (Live Piano Performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue).
Other new productions receiving accolades at the ceremony were Cole Escola’s Broadway hit Oh, Mary!, receiving the Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play, Rose Theatre’s The Boy At The Back Of The Classwhich received Best Family Showand The Yard Theatre’s The Glass Menageriewinning Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre.
Into The Hairy by Sharon Eyal for S-E-D at Sadler’s Wells won Best New Dance Productionand English National Opera’s Dead Man Walking won Best New Opera Production supported by TAIT, which were presented by this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Dance recipient Sir Wayne McGregor, and Outstanding Contribution to Opera recipient Danielle de Niesewho received their own awards at the Olivier Awards with Cunard Tea Party at The Londoner Hotel last month.
Special Award recipient Dame Elaine Paige was honoured at the ceremony with a special video tribute, before being presented with her statuette by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who also read a celebratory message from Her Majesty The Queen. Industry Recognition Award recipients Betty Laine OBE, Linda Tolhurst and David Wood OBE also received a special acknowledgement during the ceremony, honouring their significant contributions to the theatre industry.
Society of London Theatre (SOLT) & UK Theatre Co-CEOs Claire Walker and Hannah Essex said:
“This year’s Olivier Awards with Cunard were a showstopping celebration of the best of British theatre and we are thrilled to have been able to mark the awards’ 50th anniversary in such style. Massive congratulation to all of our phenomenal winners and nominees. Their creativity and talent is the reason why the UK is the best place in the world to make and see theatre.”
This year, the Olivier Awards welcomed Cunard as Headline Partner, further strengthening Cunard’s long-standing connection with world-class theatre and commitment to supporting the arts, prevalent both on board their ships and ashore. Additionally, Cunard gives its name to the Cunard Best New Musical award.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said:
“Cunard’s connection to theatre, arts and culture has been part of our rich history for 185 years. It’s a privilege to be the headline partner of the Olivier Awards in its 50th year as these awards truly celebrate the very best of British theatre and its global impact, from the talent on stage to the creativity behind the scenes.”
The Olivier Awards with Cunard are grateful to all of our award supporting partners: Blue-i Theatre Technology, Cunard, d&b audiotechnik, Piper-Heidsieck, TAIT and The Londoner. We also extend our thanks to our official car partner, Audi. In addition, we would like to recognise the support of Perrin family, Fortnum and Mason, Grass & Co., Island Chocolate, Mahou, Ovation Rights, See Tickets and The Observer.
The Olivier Awards was broadcast at 7pm on BBC Two on this evening and is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer. A special BBC Radio 2 show hosted by Jo Whiley, featuring performances from some of the night’s biggest shows and exclusive interviews with a dazzling line-up of stars, was broadcast between 8-10pm and is available to listen to on BBC Sounds. Ex-UK viewers can tune into Official London Theatre’s YouTube channel to watch the highlights programme.
