Olivier Awards: Everything you need to know about the iconic awards ceremony
It's the biggest night in London's theatrical calendar
Every year, the UK theatre community comes together to celebrate an incredible 12 months at the Olivier Awards
Join us as we tell you everything you need to know about the Oliver Awards!
Who is performing?
The Olivier Awards have confirmed Hannah Waddingham will open the event performing with singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe, performances from nominees including The Little Big Things, Next To Normal, Operation Mincemeat, A Strange Loop, Guys & Dolls and Hadestown, alongside a special moment from Groundhog Day Australia.
Awards will be presented by well known names including Freema Agyeman, Michael Ball, Cara Delevingne, Adrian Dunbar, Edward Enninful, Denise Gough, Lenny Henry, Ruth Jones, Beverley Knight, Anna Maxwell Martin, Michael Sheen, Anjana Vasan, Michelle Visage and Dominic West amongst others.
Who is nominated?
Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play:
Accidental Death Of An Anarchist by Dario Fo & Franca Rame, adapted by Tom Basden at the Lyric Hammersmith & Theatre Royal Haymarket
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim at the Gielgud Theatre
WINNER: Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry at the Phoenix Theatre
Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, adapted by Liv Hennessy at the Ambassadors Theatre
Best Family Show:
Bluey’s Big Play by Joe Brumm at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
WINNER: Dinosaur World Live by Derek Bond at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
The House With Chicken Legs, book by Sophie Anderson, adapted by Oliver Lansley at
Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Smeds And The Smoos, book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, adapted by Tall
Stories at the Lyric Theatre
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer:
Fabian Aloise for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Ellen Kane & Hannes Langolf for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
WINNER: Arlene Phillips with James Cousins for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Mark Smith for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace
Susan Stroman for Crazy For You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre
Mithridate Award for Best Costume Design:
Bunny Christie & Deborah Andrews for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Ryan Dawson Laight for La Cage Aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Hugh Durrant for Peter Pan at The London Palladium
WINNER: Marg Horwell for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Cunard Best Revival:
The Effect by Lucy Prebble at the National Theatre – Lyttelton
Macbeth by William Shakespeare at the Donmar Warehouse
Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell at the Duke Of York’s Theatre
WINNER:Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Simon Stephens at the Duke Of York’s Theatre
Best Musical Revival:
Groundhog Day, music & lyrics by Tim Minchin, book by Danny Rubin at The Old Vic
Guys & Dolls, music & lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows at the Bridge Theatre
Hadestown, music, lyrics & book by Anaïs Mitchell at the Lyric Theatre
WINNER: Sunset Boulevard, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics & book by Don Black & Christopher Hampton at the Savoy Theatre
d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design:
Paul Arditti for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre
Dan Balfour & Tom Gibbins for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
WINNER: Adam Fisher for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Gareth Fry for Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse
Outstanding Musical Contribution:
Tom Brady for Musical Supervision & Arrangements and Charlie Rosen for Orchestrations for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Matt Brind for Musical Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations for Just For One Day at The Old Vic
Steve Sidwell for Orchestrations & Joe Bunker for Musical Direction for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre
WINNER: Alan Williams for Musical Supervision & Musical Direction for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
WINNER: Will Close for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
Paul Hilton for An Enemy Of The People at the Duke Of York’s Theatre
Giles Terera for Clyde’s at the Donmar Warehouse
Luke Thompson for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre & Savoy Theatre
Zubin Varla for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre & Savoy Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Lorraine Ashbourne for Till The Stars Come Down at the National Theatre – Dorfman
Priyanga Burford for An Enemy Of The People at the Duke Of York’s Theatre
WINNER: Haydn Gwynne for When Winston Went To War With The Wireless at the Donmar Warehouse
Gina McKee for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier
Tanya Reynolds for A Mirror at the Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Theatre
Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design:
WINNER: Miriam Buether for Set Design & 59 Productions for Video Design for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre
Bunny Christie for Set Design for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Es Devlin for Set Design & Ash J Woodward for Video Design for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
Soutra Gilmour for Set Design and Nathan Amzi & Joe Ransom for Video Design for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design:
Jon Clark for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
Jon Clark for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre
Paule Constable for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
WINNER: Jack Knowles for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical:
Grace Hodgett Young for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Zoë Roberts for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre
WINNER: Amy Trigg for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace
Eleanor Worthington-Cox for Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse
Best Actor in a Supporting Role In a Musical:
WINNER: Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre
Cedric Neal for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
David Thaxton for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Jack Wolfe for Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse
TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production:
Blue by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum
WINNER: Innocence by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House
Picture A Day Like This by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre
The Rhinegold by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum
Outstanding Achievement in Opera:
WINNER: Antonio Pappano for his role as Musical Director of the Royal Opera House
Belarus Free Theatre Company for King Stakh’s Wild Hunt at the Barbican Theatre
Marina Abramović for her concept and design of 7 Deaths Of Maria Callas at the London Coliseum
Best Actor in a Musical:
David Cumming for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre
WINNER: Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Daniel Mays for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Charlie Stemp for Crazy For You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical:
Natasha Hodgson for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre
Caissie Levy for Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse
WINNER: Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Marisha Wallace for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Best New Dance Production:
Broken Chord by Gregory Maqoma & Thuthuka Sibisi at Sadler’s Wells
The Rite Of Spring by Seeta Patel at Sadler’s Wells
WINNER: La Ruta by Gabriela Carrizo, part of Nederlands Dans Theater - NDT 1 at Sadler’s Wells
Time Spell by Michelle Dorrance, Jillian Meyers & Tiler Peck, part of Turn It Out With Tiler Peck & Friends at Sadler’s Wells
Outstanding Achievement in Dance:
WINNER: Isabela Coracy for her performance in NINA: By Whatever Means, part of Ballet Black: Pioneers at the Barbican Theatre
Jonzi D for his artistic direction of Breakin’ Convention 2023 International Festival Of Hip Hop Dance Theatre at Sadler’s Wells
Rhiannon Faith for her community focussed conception of Lay Down Your Burdens at The Pit at Barbican
Unusual Rigging Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre:
Blue Mist by Mohamed-Zain Dada at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
A Playlist For The Revolution by AJ Yi at the Bush Theatre
WINNER: Sleepova by Matilda FeyiÅŸayo at the Bush Theatre
The Swell by Isley Lynn at the Orange Tree Theatre
The Time Machine: A Comedy by Steven Canny and John Nicholson at the Park Theatre
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director:
Stephen Daldry & Justin Martin for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre
Rupert Goold for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
WINNER: Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Sam Mendes for The Motive And The Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actress:
Laura Donnelly for The Hills Of California at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Sophie Okonedo for Medea at @sohoplace
Sarah Jessica Parker for Plaza Suite at the Savoy Theatre
Sheridan Smith for Shirley Valentine at the Duke Of York’s Theatre
WINNER: Sarah Snook for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Best Actor:
Joseph Fiennes for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
WINNER: Mark Gatiss for The Motive And The Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre
James Norton for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre & Savoy Theatre
Andrew Scott for Vanya at the Duke Of York’s Theatre
David Tennant for Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse
The Londoner Award for Best New Play:
WINNER: Dear England by James Graham at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
The Hills Of California by Jez Butterworth at the Harold Pinter Theatre
The Motive And The Cue by Jack Thorne at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre
Till The Stars Come Down by Beth Steel at the National Theatre – Dorfman
Mastercard Best New Musical:
The Little Big Things, music by Nick Butcher, lyrics by Nick Butcher & Tom Ling, book by Joe White at @sohoplace
Next To Normal, music by Tom Kitt, book & lyrics by Brian Yorkey at the Donmar Warehouse
WINNER: Operation Mincemeat, music, lyrics & book by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson & Zoë Roberts at the Fortune Theatre
A Strange Loop, music, lyrics & book by Michael R. Jackson at the Barbican Theatre
Who hosted the Olivier Awards?
Following on from last year the super star herself Hannah Waddingham was back on the stage!
Hannah has appeared on stage in productions such as A Little Night Music, Into the Woods and The Wizard of Oz. On screen she's appeared in Sex Education on Netflix and Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.
Previous hosts of the awards include Jason Manford, Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton, Clive Anderson, Gemma Arterton, Stephen Mangan, Hugh Bonneville, Sheridan Smith, Lenny Henry, and Catherine Tate.
When were the 2024 Olivier Awards?
The 2024 Olivier Awards will took place on Sunday 14th April 2024.
How to watch the Olivier Awards
Highlights from the ceremony will be broadcast on television following the event on ITV 1 and ITVX.
Who had the most wins in 2023?
The big winner in 2023 was the Royal Shakespeare Company's stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro that took home six out of their nine nominations. Other winners included Rebecca Frecknall's revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, Daniel Fish's revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, and Standing at the Sky's Edge.
Read the full list of 2023 winners.
Who had the most wins in 2022?
The most wins at the 2022 ceremony went to the revival of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre who managed to pick up seven awards.
The play with the most wins in 2022 was Life of Pi who won an impressive five awards out of their possible nine.
Read the Olivier Awards 2022 winners in full.
Where were the Olivier Awards?
The ceremony took place in London's iconic Royal Albert Hall which has hosted the in-person Olivier Awards since 2017.
When were the first Olivier Awards?
The first Olivier Awards took place back in 1976 back when it was named the Society of West End Theatre Awards, the winner of Best Musical that year was A Chorus Line. The ceremony's name was changed to honour Laurence Olivier in 1984.
Which musical has the most nominations?
The musical with the most nominations is Hamilton who got 13 nominations in 2018, they also hold the record for most nominations at the Tony Awards.
Which musical has the most wins?
This record is jointly held by the 2021 revival of Cabaret, Hamilton and Matilda the Musical who all won seven awards in 2022, 2018 and 2012 respectively.
Which play has the most wins?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child holds the record for most nominations and wins for a play with 11 nomination and nine wins.
Which actors have the most Oliviers
The actor with the most Oliviers is Dame Judi Dench who has seven awards plus the Special Olivier Award she received in 2004. After her, Sir Ian McKellen and Arthur Bennet have five each plus both of them have received the Special Olivier Award
Which individual has the most Olivier Awards
The most Olivier awards held by an individual is seven, a record held by Dame Judi Dench, designer William Dudley and choreographer Matthew Bourne.
How many awards does Andrew Lloyd Webber have?
Andrew Lloyd Webber has six competitive Olivier Awards, his winning shows include Evita, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
How many Oliviers does Stephen Sondheim have?
Stephen Sondheim has five wins which include Sweeney Todd, Follies and Sunday in the Park with George.
Who was Laurence Olivier?
Laurence Olivier was one of the theatrical heavyweights of the mid-20th century. He had several roles on stage and screen including several Shakespeare productions including Henry V, Hamlet and Richard III. As well as having the awards named after him, the National Theatre's largest auditorium is named after him.
Winners of the Magic Radio award for Best Musical Revival
1991 - Show Boat
The first ever winner in this category was the Opera North and Royal Shakespeare Company's co-production of Show Boat which ran at the London Palladium in 1990.
1992 - The Boys from Syracuse
The Boys From Syracuse is a Rogers and Hart musical based on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. This production ran at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in the summer of 1991 and was directed by none other than Dame Judi Dench.
1993 - Carousel
The National Theatre's first win in this category was their revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel which enjoyed a sellout limited run from December 1992 to March 1993. The revival then re-opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in September of that year.
1994 - Sweeney Todd
Alun Armstrong and Julia McKenzie starred in the first London revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd. The production ran at the Cottesloe Theatre (now named the Dorfman) from June 1993 before transferring to the Lyttleton Theatre December of that year.
1995 - She Loves Me
She Loves me was revived at the Savoy Theatre and was directed by Scott Ellis and choreographed by Rob Marshal, the pair had just done a Broadway revival of She Loves Me the year prior.
The West End revival starred John Gordon Sinclair and Ruthie Henshall with the pair both winning Best Actor and Actress in a Musical.
1997 - The Who's Tommy
This year the name of the award changed to Outstanding Musical Production, which lasted through until 2007.
This rock musical is based on the 1969 rock opera, Tommy by The Who.
1998 - Chicago
In 1997, the Broadway revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago transferred to the West End with Ute Lemper as Velma Ruthie Henshall as Roxie. The West End revival ran until 2012 and the Broadway revival is still running to this day!
1999 - Oklahoma!
The National Theatre revived Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma in 1998 with a cast that included Hugh Jackman as Curly, Maureen Lipman as Aunt Eller, Josefina Gabrielle as Laurey and Shuler Hensley as Jud Fry.
2000 - Candide
A second win in a row for the National Theatre with their 1999 production of Candide which includes music by West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein.
2001 - Singin' in the Rain
The West Yorkshire Playhouse's production of Singin' in the Rain directed by Jude Kelly quickly got a West End transfer and ran at the National's Olivier Theatre for a month in 2000.
2002 - My Fair Lady
The National continued their winning streak with their production of My Fair Lady which starred Martine McCutcheon as Eliza and Jonathan Pryce as Higgins. The production then transferred to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane after four months.
2003 - Anything Goes
The National Theatre got their fifth win in a row with their production of Anything Goes which starred Sally Ann Triplett, John Barrowman and Yao Chin. Like My Fair Lady, the production then transferred to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
2004 - Pacific Overtures
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Pacific Overtures transferred to the Donmar Warehouse where it ran for a short period in 2003.
2005 - Grand Hotel
A second win a row for the Donmar Warehouse with their revival of Grand Hotel starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
2006 - Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls was revived at the Piccadilly Theatre running between 2005 and 2007. The cast of this production originally included Ewan McGregor as Sky, Jenna Russell as Sarah, Jane Krakowski as Adelaide and Douglas Hodge as Nathan Detroit.
2007 - Sunday in the Park with George
The Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George transferred to the West End at the Wyndham's Theatre in 2006. The West End production starred Daniel Evans as George and Jenna Russell as Dot, both of whom won Olivier Awards for their respective roles.
2008 - The Magic Flute
After a run in Cape Town and at the Young Vic, The Magic Flute transferred to the West End with a run at the Duke of York's Theatre.
2009 - La Cage Aux Folles
Following the success of the Menier Chocolate Factory's scaled down production of La Cage Aux Folles, it got a West End transfer at the Playhouse Theatre with Douglas Hodge as Albin.
The success of the revival saw it get a Broadway transfer with Douglas reprising his role.
2010 - Hello Dolly!
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre started a streak of wins in this category with their revival of Hello Dolly! which starred Samantha Spiro in the titular role.
2011 - Into the Woods
The second win in this streak was for their revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods - which was very fitting for an open air theatre!
2012 - Crazy For You
Ira and George Gershwin's Crazy For You was Regent's Park's third win in a row for this category. This production got an extended life when it transferred to the Novello Theatre in October 2011.
2013 - Sweeney Todd
Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd broke an Olivier record this year when it became the first musical to win Best Musical Revival for a second time. This production began at the Chichester Festival Theatre and transferred to the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2012.
2014 - Merrily We Roll Along
Stephen Sondheim got a second win in a row for this category with the West End transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Merrily We Roll Along which ran at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
2015 - City of Angels
Cy Coleman, David Zippel, and Larry Gelbart's City of Angels was revived at the Donmar Warehouse in 2014 directed by Josie Rourke.
2016 - Gypsy
Another win for Sondheim (as a lyricist at least) with the West End transfer of the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Gypsy which starred Imelda Staunton in the iconic role of Mamma Rose.
2017 - Jesus Christ Superstar
The first Andrew Lloyd Webber revival to win this award was the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar. This production went on to get runs in the US as well as the Barbican Centre in London.
The production returned to Regent's Park as a socially distanced concert in the summer of 2020.
2018 - Follies
The winner in 2018 was the National Theatre's revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies which starred Peter Forbes as Buddy, Imelda Staunton as Sally, Janie Dee as Phyllis, Philip Quast as Ben and Tracie Bennett as Carlotta.
The production was filmed and screened in cinemas as well as making a return to the Olivier Theatre in 2019.
2019 - Company
A modern reimagining of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company saw the leading role gender-swapped and played by Rosalie Craig. Patti LuPone reprised the role of Joanne (which she played in the 2011 Broadway concert).
The production is now running on Broadway.
2020 - Fiddler on the Roof
The Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Fiddler on the Roof directed by Trevor Nunn got a West End transfer. The West End production opened at the Playhouse Theatre in March 2019.
2022 - Cabaret
London's Playhouse Theatre has been transformed into the Kit Kat Club for this brand new revival of Cabaret directed by Rebecca Frecknall. As well as winning Best Musical Revival the production won in all four acting categories and now joins Hamilton and Matilda as one of the most awarded musicals with a total of seven wins.
2023 - Oklahoma!
Following a Tony-winning run on Broadway, Daniel Fish's stripped down revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! transferred to the Young Vic in London. Since then it transferred to the West End at the Wyndham's Theatre.
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