Half a century on, the Olivier Awards honour the very best of London theatre, with stars vying for Olivier’s bronze bust, Sam Rogg reveals.
The Olivier Awards turn 50 this month (12 Apr), marking half a century of celebrating the very best of London theatre. First launched in 1976 as the Society of West End Theatre Awards, the ceremony was renamed in 1984 in honour of Laurence Olivier. Today, it’s British theatre’s biggest night – a glittering celebration held at the Royal Albert Hall.
While we obviously don’t know this year’s winners at the time of writing, the good news is you can still catch several Olivier-honoured shows lighting up the West End. At the Victoria Palace Theatre, Hamilton continues to pack a revolutionary punch. In 2018 it became the most nominated production in Olivier history with 13 nods, winning seven awards including Best New Musical.
Over at the Cambridge Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda the Musical is another seven-time Olivier winner. Back in 2012, four young actresses shared the Best Actress in a Musical award – including 10-year-old Eleanor Worthington-Cox, who became the youngest-ever Olivier winner.
For a more decadent night out, head to the Playhouse Theatre, transformed into the immersive Kit Kat Club for Cabaret. The 2022 revival matched that magic number of seven wins, sweeping the musical categories and taking home trophies for Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley. This spring, West End star Katie Hall and Busted’s Matt Willis take on the iconic lead roles. Arrive early to explore the space and soak up the sultry pre-show atmosphere before stepping into 1930s Berlin.
Don’t miss the splash-hit Titaníque at the Criterion Theatre, which scooped Best Entertainment at last year’s awards. Meanwhile, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera continues its legendary run at His Majesty’s Theatre, having collected countless accolades since its 1986 premiere, including the very first Olivier Audience Award in 2002. At the Palace Theatre, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child holds the all-time Olivier record, winning a remarkable nine awards in 2017 – more than any other production in the ceremony’s history. And at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, six-time Olivier winner My Neighbour Totoro continues to delight audiences with its breathtaking puppetry and magical storytelling.
Fifty years on, the Oliviers aren’t just about trophies – they’re proof that London remains a leading theatre capital.
