The Olivier Awards have long been established as the pinnacle of celebratory theatre events. Having first taken on the name back in 1984, following a stint as the Society Of West End Theatre Awards, 2017 marks a giant leap into the mainstream. Hosted by Jason Manford at the stunning Royal Albert Hall, the ceremony will be broadcast across prime-time television for the very first time. The Awards celebrate the best and brightest from the West End, with a particular focus on the new. Its glitz and glamour, on par with major screen awards, attract the biggest stars from the world of theatre, adorning the event’s high-profile red carpet. The weekend’s glorious sunshine also adds that extra sparkle to proceedings. Guided by Manford, who other than an early tongue-in-cheek battle with an uncontrollable flashing light leads a perfectly smooth show, it’s a genuinely enthralling evening. As memories of the grand afterparty at the Rosewood Hotel begin to take shape, here are some of our highlights from the 2017 Olivier Awards.
Photo by Matt Humphrey
See more photos from the Olivier Awards here.
An evening of inspiration
Julian Bird, Chief Executive for the Society of London Theatre, launched this year’s ceremony with a nod to inspiration. The theme of the evening, he encouraged winners to consider their biggest influencers come their acceptance speech. And that they did.
What followed was an impassioned evening of celebration, but also awareness of painful cuts to culture and the arts. With young people in particular not being offered the same opportunities that have led many to tonight’s stage, it’s more important than ever for the nominees and attendees to look towards future generations.
With that, inspiration ran deep; from the guest appearance of the original “calendar girls” around Gary Barlow’s opening number of the same name (from The Girls), to Norma Dumezweni stunningly poignant acceptance speech for her Best Actress In A Supporting Role win. Playing Hermione in the widely victorious Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, she expressed her gratitude for being provided the opportunity following her arrival in the UK as a refugee at just three years old. Thanking her sister and mother, it was a moment filled with beautiful emotion.
The record-breaking Harry Potter
Dumezweni wasn’t the only member of the Harry Potter team to walk about with an award. In fact, the production now classes itself as a record-breaker, having totted up a total of nine awards to become the most decorated play or musical in Olivier history. It even surpassed previous records by Matilda the Musical and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Accepting his award for his portrayal of Scorpius Malfoy, Best Supporting Actor Anthony Boyle proceeded to enthusiastically single out everyone he knew in the audience, before screaming to his brother somewhere at the back of the auditorium.
Elsewhere the impressive victory saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child pick up awards for Best Sound Design, Best Costume, Best Set Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Actor for Jamie Parker.
It really was their night.
Photo by David Levene
Amber Riley is our dream girl
As successful as Harry Potter was, it wasn’t the only thing to write home about. Amber Riley, currently playing Effie White in the West End production of Dreamgirls, floored onlookers with a spectacular live performance. It was the only standing ovation of the evening, and whole-heartedly deserved.
“Anyone who sees a little bit of themselves in me and sees me standing on this stage, I hope that you are inspired, I hope that you know that you can do this if you really want to,” she offered in her acceptance speech for her Best Actress in a Musical win, in-keeping with tonight’s theme. Our future generations There are plenty of glimmers of hope in the future of art and culture, not least the young stars of the excellent School of Rock. As well as their electrifying live performance during the evening, their well-deserved win for Outstanding Achievement in Music was accompanied by a heart-melting speech.
Taking it in turns to accept the award, the young cast acknowledged the influence of the adults involved in the show, as well as those who could not be up on stage with them. The most important message was to other aspiring youngsters. Pick up instruments and keep practicing, they advised. It’ll all be worth it.
A day to relive
The most exciting news to have emerged out of this year’s Olivier Awards was the possibility of a return of Groundhog Day. Having performed a number from the production, composer and lyricist Tim Minchin appeared genuinely shocked to be accepting the prestigious award for Best New Musical. Having also picked up a nod for actor Andy Karl, it became clear that Groundhog Day’s life in the West End was far from done. Apparently a return will be on the cards in the next year or so.
Photo by David Levene
Here are all those Olivier Awards winners in full:
Best actor in a supporting role in a musical
WINNER: Adam J Bernard for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre Ian Bartholomew for Half a Sixpence at Noël Coward 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
WINNER: Rebecca Trehearn for Show Boat at New London Theatre Haydn Gwynne for The Threepenny Opera at National Theatre – Olivier Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for Murder Ballad at Arts Theatre Emma Williams for Half a Sixpence at Noël Coward Theatre
Outstanding achievement in music
WINNER: School Of Rock the Musical – Three children’s bands who play instruments live every night at New London Theatre 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
Best new dance production
WINNER: 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
WINNER: English National Ballet for expanding the variety of their repertoire with Giselle and She Said at Sadler’s Wells Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for their London season at Sadler’s Wells Luke Ahmet for The Creation by Rambert at Sadler’s Wells
Best entertainment and family
WINNER: The Red Shoes at Sadler’s Wells Cinderella at London Palladium David Baddiel – My Family: Not The Sitcom at Vaudeville Theatre Peter Pan at National Theatre – Olivier Best theatre choreographer WINNER: 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
WINNER: Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Funny Girl at Savoy Theatre Show Boat at New London Theatre Sunset Boulevard at London Coliseum
Best actor in a musical
WINNER: Andy Karl for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic 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 Charlie Stemp for Half A Sixpence at Noël Coward Theatre
Best actress in a musical
WINNER: Amber Riley for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre 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 Sheridan Smith for Funny Girl at Savoy Theatre
Best revival
WINNER: Yerma at Young Vic The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre This House at Garrick Theatre Travesties at Apollo Theatre
Best new comedy
WINNER: Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour at National Theatre – Dorfman The Comedy about a Bank Robbery at Criterion Theatre Nice Fish at Harold Pinter Theatre The Truth at Wyndham’s Theatre
Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre
WINNER: Rotterdam at Trafalgar Studios 2 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
Best lighting design
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Gareth Fry for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre Paul Arditti for Amadeus at National Theatre – Olivier Adam Cork for Travesties at Apollo Theatre Nick Lidster for Autograph for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Best costume design
WINNER: Katrina Lindsay for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre Gregg Barnes for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre Hugh Durrant for Cinderella at London Palladium Rob Howell for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic
Best set design
WINNER: Christine Jones for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre 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
Best actor in a supporting role
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Noma Dumezweni for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre 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 Clare Foster for Travesties at Apollo Theatre Kate O’Flynn for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre
Best new opera production
WINNER: Akhnaten at London Coliseum 4.48 Psychosis at Lyric Hammersmith Cosi Fan Tutte at Royal Opera House Lulu at London Coliseum
Outstanding achievement in opera
WINNER: Mark Wigglesworth for his conducting of Don Giovanni and Lulu at London Coliseum Renee Fleming for her performance in Der Rosenkavalier at Royal Opera House Stuart Skelton for his performance in Tristan and Isolde at London Coliseum
Best actor
WINNER: Jamie Parker for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre 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
Best actress
WINNER: Billie Piper for Yerma at Young Vic Glenda Jackson for King Lear at The Old Vic Cherry Jones for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre Ruth Wilson for Hedda Gabler at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Best director
WINNER: John Tiffany for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre Simon Stone for Yerma at Young Vic John Tiffany for The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre Matthew Warchus for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic
Best new play
WINNER: Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at Palace Theatre Elegy at Donmar Warehouse The Flick at National Theatre – Dorfman One Night In Miami… at Donmar Warehouse
Best new musical
WINNER: Groundhog Day at The Old Vic Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre The Girls at Phoenix Theatre School of Rock the Musical at New London Theatre
Special award
WINNER: Sir Kenneth Branagh
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Story by Ben Tipple
