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Inside this year’s Olivier Award nominations with David Muscat

08 Mar Inside this year’s Olivier Award nominations with David Muscat

By David Muscat

This year’s Olivier Awards are set to be the biggest yet, as they make their debut at the incredible Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 9 April.

The nominations released on Monday the 6th of March are as follows:

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

And yes the breaking news of the nominations award nominations was that Acclaimed actor and director Kenneth Branagh will be presented with the Special Award at the Olivier Awards. The award will be presented in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British theatre.

Theatre heavyweight and TV presenter of theatre chat show Stagey Live David Muscat commented on the nominations saying:

 “Looking at the list of nominations for this year’s Olivier Awards there doesn’t seem to be too many surprises. On the musical side it seems to be a battle between ‘Half A Sixpence’ and ‘Dreamgirls’ whilst on the play side ‘Harry Potter’ deservedly appears across the nominations. 

Whilst only one person/production can win each award the Olivier’s will no doubt be a glorious celebration of all the hard work & efforts every single person working in the industry has put in over the last year. 
Some of my tips;

• Peter Darling (Best Choreography)

• Showboat (Best Revival)

• Charlie Stemp (Best Actor in a Musical)

• Amber Riley (Best Actress in a Musical)

• Dreamgirls (Best Production)

• Harry Potter play to win 9 of the 11 nominations.