Olivier Awards 2017: Nominations

The Laurence Olivier Awards are taking place on April 9th at the Royal Albert Hall. The awards evening celebrates and recognises the very best of British Theatre. These sought after awards have been a mark of theatrical excellence since 1976 when they were known as Society of West End Theatre Awards. The society is now known as Society of London Theatre and the awards are named after the theatrical legend, Laurence Olivier.

There are 26 award categories and a special award which are handed out on the night. This years special award goes to Sir Kenneth Branagh. Branagh is an actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He’s starred in and directed a number of film adaptions of Shakespeare’s work. He starred in Harry Potter as Gilderoy Lockhart and has performed in countless other productions both on stage and film.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has made history by being nominated for 11 Olivier Awards, the most for any new play in Olivier history.  The musical Groundhog Day has received 8 nominations. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar has picked up 6 nominations, including best musical revival. Dreamgirls has received 5 nominations, including best actress for former Glee star Amber Riley.

Glenda Jackson has received her first Best Actress nomination in over 30 years following her return to stage in the title role of King Lear.  However, she will be competing against Cherry Jones, Billie Piper and Ruth Wilson to win the award. Meanwhile Ed Harris, Tom Hollander, Ian McKellen and Jamie Parker battle it out for Best Actor. This is Ian McKellen’s 10th nomination.

Sheridan Smith is nominated for Best Actress in a Musical, with Funny Girl being nominated for Best Musical Revival. Giselle has been nominated for Best New Dance Production. Reviews of both Funny Girl and Giselle can be found on the Mancunion website.

Nominations:

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Ian Bartholomew for Half a Sixpence at Noël Coward Theatre

Adam J Bernard for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre

Ben Hunter for The Girls at Phoenix Theatre

Andrew Langtree for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Haydn Gwynne for The Threepenny Opera at National Theatre — Olivier

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for Murder Ballad at Arts Theatre

Rebecca Trehearn for Show Boat at New London Theatre

Emma Williams for Half a Sixpence at Noël Coward Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Music

Dreamgirls — music by Henry Krieger at Savoy Theatre

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — composer and arranger Imogen Heap at Palace Theatre

Jesus Christ Superstar — The band and company creating the gig-like rock vibe of the original concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

School Of Rock the Musical — Three children’s bands who play instruments live every night at New London Theatre

Best New Dance Production

Betroffenheit by Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young at Sadler’s Wells

Blak Whyte Gray by Boy Blue Entertainment at Barbican Theatre

Giselle by Akram Khan and English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells

My Mother, My Dog And CLOWNS! by Michael Clark at Barbican Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for their London season at Sadler’s Wells

Luke Ahmet for The Creation by Rambert at Sadler’s Wells

English National Ballet for expanding the variety of their repertoire with Giselle and She Said at Sadler’s Wells

Best Entertainment and Family

Cinderella at London Palladium

David Baddiel — My Family: Not The Sitcom at Vaudeville Theatre

Peter Pan at National Theatre — Olivier

The Red Shoes at Sadler’s Wells

Best Theatre Choreographer

Matthew Bourne for The Red Shoes at Sadler’s Wells

Peter Darling and Ellen Kane for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Steven Hoggett for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Drew McOnie for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Musical Revival

Funny Girl at Savoy Theatre

Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Show Boat at New London Theatre

Sunset Boulevard at London Coliseum

Best Actor in a Musical

David Fynn for School Of Rock The Musical at New London Theatre

Tyrone Huntley for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Andy Karl for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Charlie Stemp for Half A Sixpence at Noël Coward Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical

Glenn Close for Sunset Boulevard at London Coliseum

“The Girls” — Debbie Chazen, Sophie-Louise Dann, Michele Dotrice, Claire Machin, Claire Moore and Joanna Riding — for The Girls at Phoenix Theatre

Amber Riley for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre

Sheridan Smith for Funny Girl at Savoy Theatre

Best Revival

The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre

This House at Garrick Theatre

Travesties at Apollo Theatre

Yerma at Young Vic

Best New Comedy

The Comedy about a Bank Robbery at Criterion Theatre

Nice Fish at Harold Pinter Theatre

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour at National Theatre — Dorfman

The Truth at Wyndham’s Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre

Cuttin’ It at The Maria, Young Vic

The Government Inspector at Theatre Royal Stratford East

The Invisible Hand at Tricycle Theatre

It is Easy to be Dead at Trafalgar Studios 2

Rotterdam at Trafalgar Studios 2

Best Lighting Design

Neil Austin for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Lee Curran for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Natasha Katz for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre

Hugh Vanstone for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Best Sound Design

Paul Arditti for Amadeus at National Theatre — Olivier

Adam Cork for Travesties at Apollo Theatre

Gareth Fry for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Nick Lidster for Autograph for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Costume Design

Gregg Barnes for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre

Hugh Durrant for Cinderella at London Palladium

Rob Howell for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Katrina Lindsay for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Best Set Design

Bob Crowley for Disney’s Aladdin at Prince Edward Theatre

Bob Crowley for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre

Rob Howell for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Christine Jones for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Anthony Boyle for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Freddie Fox for Travesties at Apollo Theatre

Brian J Smith for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre

Rafe Spall for Hedda Gabler at National Theatre — Lyttelton

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Melissa Allan, Caroline Deyga, Kirsty Findlay, Karen Fishwick, Kirsty MacLaren, Frances Mayli McCann, Joanne McGuinness and Dawn Sievewright for Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour at National Theatre — Dorfman

Noma Dumezweni for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Clare Foster for Travesties at Apollo Theatre

Kate O’Flynn for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre

Best New Opera Production

4.48 Psychosis at Lyric Hammersmith

Akhnaten at London Coliseum

Cosi Fan Tutte at Royal Opera House

Lulu at London Coliseum

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

Renee Fleming for her performance in Der Rosenkavalier at Royal Opera House

Stuart Skelton for his performance in Tristan and Isolde at London Coliseum

Mark Wigglesworth for his conducting of Don Giovanni and Lulu at London Coliseum

Best Actor

Ed Harris for Buried Child at Trafalgar Studios 1

Tom Hollander for Travesties at Apollo Theatre

Ian McKellen for No Man’s Land at Wyndham’s Theatre

Jamie Parker for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

Best Actress

Glenda Jackson for King Lear at The Old Vic

Cherry Jones for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre

Billie Piper for Yerma at Young Vic

Ruth Wilson for Hedda Gabler at National Theatre — Lyttelton

Best Director

Simon Stone for Yerma at Young Vic

John Tiffany for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

John Tiffany for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre

Matthew Warchus for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Best New Play

Elegy at Donmar Warehouse

The Flick at National Theatre — Dorfman

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

One Night In Miami… at Donmar Warehouse

Best New Musical

Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre

The Girls at Phoenix Theatre

Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

School of Rock the Musical at New London Theatre

Special Award

Sir Kenneth Branagh