The Olivier Awards are rewarding the best in British theatre! On Sunday night, the annual awards show was hosted by the three-time nominee and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham.
This year, the Olivier Awards were held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The awards were indeed a star-studded affair. Read on to learn the names of the celebrities who were honored for their work on April 2, 2023.
Where were the 2023 Olivier Awards organized?
The 2023 Olivier Awards took place on April 2, 2023, Sunday night at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Every year, these awards are presented to stars for their remarkable work in West End productions.
My Neighbour Totoro led the pack this year with nine nominations. Other nominees included Standing at the Sky’s Edge with eight nods and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! and Good with six nominations.
For those of you who are unaware, let us share with you, the Laurence Olivier Awards are popularly known as Olivier Awards. They were formerly known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards but they were renamed in the year 1984 in honor of the British actor of the same name.
Who were the big winners at the 2023 Olivier Awards?
Paul Mescal and Jodie Comer won the top honors at the 2023 Olivier Awards. Both of them are first-time Olivier Award winners. Irish actor Mescal picked up the trophy for best actor for playing the role of Stanley Kowalski in Rebecca Frecknall’s buzzy adaptation of the classic Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire.
The play A Streetcar Named Desire which opened at the Almeida Theatre in North London but since then it has transferred to the West End nabbed three awards on Sunday.
In his acceptance speech, Paul paid a heartfelt tribute to Frecknall and he referred to the British director as his ‘favorite director’ and said, “You led us from the start and provoked us to make this play our own but it is entirely yours. It’s born out of your extreme talent.” He also thanked his co-stars and mom and dad.
Jodie landed the best actress award for her West End debut in the critically acclaimed legal thriller named Prima Facie, which was nominated in a total of five categories including best director and best new play.
After winning, the Liverpool-born actress gave a shoutout “to any kids who haven’t been to drama school, who can’t afford to go to drama school, who has been rejected from drama school — don’t let anyone tell you that it isn’t possible.”
Australian-British writer Suzie Miller wrote the play Prima Facie. The play was a double winner at the 2023 Olivier Awards as it bagged the award for Comer’s win as well as the best new play.
Anjana Vasan nabbed the award for best supporting actress
On Sunday night, Singaporean actress Anjana Vasan was named the best supporting actress award for playing the role of Stella in Tennessee Williams’ scorching drama A Streetcar Named Desire, while the play won the award for best revival.
On the other hand, Will Keen picked up the gong for best actor in a supporting role for his performance in Patriots which premiered at the Almeida Theatre in London. The play was penned by Peter Morgan.
The play Patriots revolves around a billionaire businessman Boris Berezovsky and his role in the president’s inner circle to public enemy number one. The production will transfer to the West End from May 26, 2023.
Phelim McDermot won the Olivier Award for best director
Phelim McDermott secured the Olivier Award for best director at the 2023 Olivier Awards for My Neighbour Totoro, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s cult 1988 animated film.
My Neighbour Totoro was the most nominated production of this year with nine nods including best director, best original score, best theatre choreographer, best entertainment or comedy play, and a best actress nomination for Mei Mac. The play won six out of nine awards.
Following closely behind was Standing At The Sky’s Edge, which is a National Theatre production, with eight nominations, the most for a musical. This production which is set up in Sheffield, England, saw the light of day in 2019 and took home 2 awards.
Hannah Waddingham kicked off the awards show at Royal Albert Hall in London with a musical number. The 2023 Olivier Awards were full of memorable moments. This year, the Lifetime Achievement Award was handed out to Sir Derek Jacobi.
Take a look at the full list of 2023 Olivier Awards winners
Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium
My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre–WINNER
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-WINNER
Midsummer Mechanicals at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe
The Smartest Giant In Town at St Martin’s Theatre
Best Theatre Choreographer
Matt Cole for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre-WINNER
Lynne Page for Standing at the Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
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 theatre
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-WINNER
Best Revival
The Crucible at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Jerusalem at Apollo Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre-WINNER
Best Musical Revival
My Fair Lady at London Coliseum
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic-WINNER
Sister Act at Eventim Apollo
South Pacific at Sadler’s Wells
Best Sound Design
Bobby Aitken for Standing at the Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
Tony Gayle for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre-WINNER
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 at Barbican Theatre
Daniel Kluger & Nathan Koci – Orchestrations and Arrangements by Daniel Kluger & Additional Vocal Arrangements by Nathan Koci – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at 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 theatre- WINNER
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-WINNER
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 theatre
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 JackAbsoluteFliesAgain at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
Sharon Small for Good at Harold Pinter Theatre
Anjana Vasan for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre-WINNER
Best Set Design
Miriam Buether for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Tom Pye for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre-WINNER
Ben Stones for Standing at the Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
Mark Walters for Jack And The Beanstalk at The London Palladium
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-WINNER
Tim Lutkin for The Crucible at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Beverley Knight for Sylvia at The Old Vic-WINNER
Maimuna Memon for Standing at the Sky’s at Edge National Theatre – Olivier theatre
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-WINNER
Best New Opera Production
Alcina by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House-WINNER
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–WINNER
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-WINNER
Julian Ovenden for South Pacific at Sadler’s Wells
Andrew Rannells for Tammy Faye at Almeida TheatreArthurt Darvill won an Olivier Awa for ‘Oklahoma!’
Best Actress in a Musical
Katie Brayben for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre-WINNER
Anoushka Lucas for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Miri Mesika for The Band’s Visit at Donmar Wareho
Faith Omole for Standing at the Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
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)-WINNER
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-WINNER
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
Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre
Age Is A Feeling at Soho Theatre
Blackout Songs at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs
The P Word at Bush Theatre–WINNER
Paradise Now! at Bush Theatre
Two Palestinians Go Dogging at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court Theatre
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 theatre
Justin Martin for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Phelim McDermott for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre-WINNER
Bartlett Sher for To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Best Actress
Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre-WINNER
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 theatre
Nicola Walker for The Corn Is Green at National Theatre – Lyttelton theatre
Best Actor
Tom Hollander for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre-WINNER
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 theatre
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-WINNER
To Kill A Mockingbird at Gielgud Theatre
Best New Musical
The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse
Standing at the Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier theatre-WINNER
Sylvia at The Old Vic
Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Sending big congratulations to all the 2023 Olivier Awards winners. Wishing all of them the very best for their future projects. Don’t forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from the world of entertainment.
