Nominations have been announced for the Olivier Awards 2023 with Mastercard, British theatre’s most prestigious honours, which will take place on Sunday 2 April at the Royal Albert Hall.
This year’s most nominated production is My Neighbour Totoro, the new stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s beloved 1988 animated film. Brought to the stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company and legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, the production received a total of nine nominations, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, Best Director, Best Theatre Choreographer, Best Original Score and a Best Actress nod for Mei Mac.
Standing At The Sky’s Edge at the National Theatre received eight nominations, the most for a musical. The production, which is set in Sheffield and premiered in the city in 2019, has earned Richard Hawley his first Olivier Award nomination for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations. Other nominations include Best New Musical, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
Garnering seven nominations – including Best Musical Revival – was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Newly transferred to the West End following sell-out runs on Broadway and at the Young Vic, the production has also gained acting nominations for Arthur Darvill, Anoushka Lucas, Liza Sadovy and Marisha Wallace.
With six nominations apiece are A Streetcar Named Desire, with nods for actors Paul Mescal, Anjana Vasan and Patsy Ferran; The Band’s Visit, the musical adapted from the eponymous Israeli film; and To Kill A Mockingbird, Bartlett Sher’s staging of Harper Lee’s classic novel which has earnt Rafe Spall, Pamela Nomvete and David Moorst acting nominations.
Jodie Comer is nominated for Best Actress for her West End debut in Prima Facie, which received five nominations overall, including Best New Play and Best Director. Among the Best Actor nominees are David Tennant, for a new production of C.P. Taylor’s 1989 play Good– which is up for four awards including Best Revival – and Tom Hollander for Patriots, a new play by Peter Morgan set during the fall of the Soviet Union, which is nominated in three categories.
In the musical acting categories, Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells are both in contention for their roles in new musical Tammy Faye, which boasts a score by Elton John and the Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and tells the story of legendary televangelist Tammy Faye Messner. Beverley Knight is nominated for her role in The Old Vic’s new suffragette musical Sylvia, and Clive Rowe for his performance in Sister Act.
The National Theatre has had a strong year, boasting a total of 16 nominations across six of its productions; Standing At The Sky’s Edge, Blues For An Alabama Sky, The Crucible, Phaedra, The Corn Is Green and Jack Absolute Flies Again.
Some nominees are no stranger to the Olivier Awards. Actress Janet McTeer returns for her 6th nomination, having first been nominated in 1986 as Most Promising Newcomer in a Play. Costume designer Hugh Durrant, sound designers Max & Ben Ringham, and choreographer Crystal Pite all receive their 5th nominations this year, and actor Clive Rowe receives his 4th nomination.
This is also a big year for first-time actor nominations, with 27 people receiving their first nod – including Rose Ayling-Ellis, Jodie Comer, Paul Mescal, Caroline Quentin, Sharon Small and Anjana Vasan. Notable creative first-time nominees include fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier for his self-titled Fashion Freak Show at the Roundhouse.
For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy saw 6 actors gain nominations in a single category – the original cast, Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh and Kaine Lawrence, are all nominated for their West-End debut.
Commenting on the nominations, Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, co-CEOs of the Society of London Theatre and Executive Producers of the Olivier Awards, said: ‘We would like to congratulate all the nominees for the Olivier Awards with Mastercard 2023. It is incredible to see such a diverse range of people honoured for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
‘We have no doubt this year’s event will be the ultimate celebration of theatre and are anticipating showstopping performances and an electric atmosphere in the Royal Albert Hall come Sunday 2 April.’
The Olivier Awards will be hosted by Hannah Waddingham and broadcast via ITV and Magic Radio. Further details of the ceremony will be announced soon.
The Olivier Awards 2023 Nominations in Full
Noël Coward Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium
My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre & Ambassadors Theatre
One Woman Show at Ambassadors Theatre
Best Family Show
Blippi The Musical at Apollo Theatre
Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show at Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre
Midsummer Mechanicals at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe
The Smartest Giant In Town at St Martin’s Theatre
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
Matt Cole for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Lynne Page for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Kate Prince for Sylvia at The Old Vic
Basil Twist for Puppetry Direction for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Costume Design
Frankie Bradshaw for Blues For An Alabama Sky at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Hugh Durrant for Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium
Jean Paul Gaultier for Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show at Roundhouse
Kimie Nakano for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Cunard Best Revival
The Crucible at National Theatre – Olivier
Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Jerusalem at Apollo Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Magic Radio Best Musical Revival
My Fair Lady at London Coliseum
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Sister Act at Eventim Apollo
South Pacific at Sadler’s Wells
d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design
Bobby Aitken for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Tony Gayle for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Drew Levy for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Ben & Max Ringham for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Best Original Score or New Orchestrations
David Yazbek, Jamshied Sharifi & Andrea Grody – Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek, Orchestrations by Jamshied Sharifi & Additional Arrangements by Andrea Grody – The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Joe Hisaishi & Will Stuart – Music by Joe Hisaishi & Orchestrations and Arrangements by Will Stuart – My Neighbour Totoro for Barbican Theatre
Daniel Kluger & Nathan Koci – Orchestrations and Arrangements by Daniel Kluger & Additional Vocal Arrangements by Nathan Koci – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Young Vic
Richard Hawley & Tom Deering – Music and Lyrics by Richard Hawley & Orchestrations by Tom Deering – Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh & Kaine Lawrence for For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at The Royal Court Theatre
Will Keen for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Elliot Levey for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
David Moorst for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Sule Rimi for Blues For An Alabama Sky at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Rose Ayling-Ellis for As You Like It at @sohoplace
Pamela Nomvete for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Caroline Quentin for Jack Absolute Flies Again at National Theatre – Olivier
Sharon Small for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Anjana Vasan for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design
Miriam Buether for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Tom Pye for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Ben Stones for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Mark Walters for Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
Natasha Chivers for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Lee Curran for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Jessica Hung Han Yun for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Tim Lutkin for The Crucible at National Theatre – Olivier
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Beverley Knight for Sylvia The Old Vic
Maimuna Memon for Standing At The Sky’s Edge National Theatre – Olivier
Liza Sadovy for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Marisha Wallace for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Sharif Afifi for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Peter Polycarpou for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Clive Rowe for Sister Act at Eventim Apollo
Zubin Varla for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production
Alcina by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Least Like The Other by Irish National Opera and Royal Opera at Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre
Peter Grimes by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Sibyl at Barbican Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Sinéad Campbell-Wallace for her performance in Tosca by English National Opera at London Coliseum
William Kentridge for his conception and direction of Sibyl at Barbican Theatre
Antony McDonald for his design of Alcina at Royal Opera House
Best Actor in a Musical
Alon Moni Aboutboul for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Arthur Darvill for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Julian Ovenden for South Pacific at Sadler’s Wells
Andrew Rannells for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical
Katie Brayben for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Anoushka Lucas for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Miri Mesika for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Faith Omole for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Best New Dance Production
Light Of Passage by Crystal Pite at Royal Opera House
Pasionaria by La Veronal at Sadler’s Wells
Traplord by Ivan Michael Blackstock at 180 Studios (The Strand)
Triptych (The Missing Door, The Lost Room, And The Hidden Floor) by Peeping Tom at Barbican Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Manuel Liñán for his choreography of ¡VIVA! at Sadler’s Wells
Dickson Mbi for his choreography of Enowate at Sadler’s Wells
Raquel Meseguer Zafe for her dramaturgy of Ruination by Lost Dog at Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre
Catrina Nisbett for her performance in Family Honour by Spoken Movement at Sadler’s Wells
Unusual Rigging Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre
Age Is A Feeling at Soho Theatre
Blackout Songs at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs
The P Word at Bush Theatre
Paradise Now! at Bush Theatre
Two Palestinians Go Dogging at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court Theatre
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director
Rebecca Frecknall for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Robert Hastie for Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Justin Martin for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Phelim McDermott for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Bartlett Sher for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Best Actress
Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Patsy Ferran for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Mei Mac for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Janet McTeer for Phaedra at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Nicola Walker for The Corn Is Green at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Best Actor
Tom Hollander for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Rafe Spall for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
David Tennant for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Giles Terera for Blues For An Alabama Sky at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Delta Air Lines Best New Play
For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at The Royal Court Theatre
Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Mastercard Best New Musical
The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Standing At The Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier
Sylvia at The Old Vic
Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
