This evening (Sunday 14th April), the Society of London Theatre has revealed the winners of this year’s Olivier Awards with Mastercard. The winners were announced at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Hannah Waddingham. A highlights package from the event will be broadcast at 10.10pm this evening on ITV1, and will be available to stream via BritBox in North America, Canada and Australia.
The biggest winner of the night was Sunset Boulevard with seven wins, including both Best Actor and Actress in a Musical for its leading duo Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger. Jamie Lloyd won the Sir Peter Hall 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.
Host Hannah Waddingham opened the ceremony with a stunning performance of ‘Anything Goes’ from the musical of the same name, accompanied by musician Joe Stilgoe and the London Community Gospel Choir. Additional performances throughout the evening included 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.
Mastercard 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. It was a fiercely competitive category this year – a testament to the strength and creativity of London’s ever-evolving musical theatre scene. Playing Hester in Operation Mincemeat, Jak Malone took home the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role In a Musical.
The coveted Olivier Awards for 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.
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.
Last year’s Special Award winner, Arlene Phillips returned to accept the Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer alongside James Cousins for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre.
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 gave a touching tribute to Gwynne as a formidable and revered artist as well as a much loved mother.
The National Theatre closed the awards ceremony with a special performance to mark its 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 Londoner Award 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.”
The Olivier Awards continued their partnership with Mastercard as headline sponsor for its 14th year.
The 2024 Olivier Awards with Mastercard Winners in Full
Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
WINNER: Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry at the Phoenix Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, adapted by Liv Hennessy at the Ambassadors Theatre
Best Family Show
WINNER: Dinosaur World Live by Derek Bond at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
NOMINATED:
Bluey’s Big Play by Joe Brumm at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
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
WINNER: Arlene Phillips with James Cousins for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
NOMINATED:
Fabian Aloise for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Ellen Kane & Hannes Langolf for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward 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
WINNER: Marg Horwell for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
NOMINATED:
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
Cunard Best Revival
WINNER: Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Simon Stephens at the Duke Of York’s Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
Best Musical Revival
WINNER: Sunset Boulevard, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics & book by Don Black & Christopher Hampton at the Savoy Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design
WINNER: Adam Fisher for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
NOMINATED:
Paul Arditti for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre
Dan Balfour & Tom Gibbons for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
Gareth Fry for Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse
Outstanding Musical Contribution
WINNER: Alan Williams for Musical Supervision & Musical Direction for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
WINNER: Will Close for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
WINNER: Haydn Gwynne for When Winston Went To War With The Wireless at the Donmar Warehouse
NOMINATED:
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
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
NOMINATED:
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
WINNER: Jack Knowles for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical
WINNER: Amy Trigg for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace
NOMINATED:
Grace Hodgett Young for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
Zoë Roberts for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre
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
NOMINATED:
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
WINNER: Innocence by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House
NOMINATED:
Blue by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum
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
NOMINATED:
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
WINNER: Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
NOMINATED:
David Cumming for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune 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
WINNER: Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
NOMINATED:
Natasha Hodgson for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre
Caissie Levy for Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse
Marisha Wallace for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
Best New Dance Production
WINNER: La Ruta by Gabriela Carrizo, part of Nederlands Dans Theater – NDT 1 at Sadler’s Wells
NOMINATED:
Broken Chord by Gregory Maqoma & Thuthuka Sibisi at Sadler’s Wells
The Rite Of Spring by Seeta Patel 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
NOMINATED:
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
WINNER: Sleepova by Matilda Feyişayo at the Bush Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
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
WINNER: Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
Sam Mendes for The Motive And The Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actress
WINNER: Sarah Snook for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
NOMINATED:
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
Best Actor
WINNER: Mark Gatiss for The Motive And The Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre
NOMINATED:
Joseph Fiennes for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward 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
NOMINATED:
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
WINNER: Operation Mincemeat, music, lyrics & book by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson & Zoë Roberts at the Fortune Theatre
NOMINATED:
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
A Strange Loop, music, lyrics & book by Michael R. Jackson at the Barbican Theatre
