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Laurence Olivier Awards



 
 
The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre, and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre.

only referred to simply as the Olivier Awards, awards are presented annually across a range of categories covering plays, musicals, dance, opera and affiliate theatre. The majority of the awards are presented for the high profile commercial productions seen in the large theatres of London's West End
West End theatre

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland". Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English language world....
, which is commonly known as Theatreland.

The awards were first established in 1976 as the The Society of West End Theatre Awards, however in 1984, the renowned British actor Sir Laurence Olivier gave consent for the awards to be renamed in his honour and they became known as the Laurence Olivier Awards.






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The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre, and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre.

History

Commonly referred to simply as the Olivier Awards, awards are presented annually across a range of categories covering plays, musicals, dance, opera and affiliate theatre. The majority of the awards are presented for the high profile commercial productions seen in the large theatres of London's West End
West End theatre

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland". Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English language world....
, which is commonly known as Theatreland.

The awards were first established in 1976 as the The Society of West End Theatre Awards, however in 1984, the renowned British actor Sir Laurence Olivier gave consent for the awards to be renamed in his honour and they became known as the Laurence Olivier Awards. The awards are managed and financed by The Society of London Theatre and the awards ceremony is produced by West End
West End theatre

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland". Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English language world....
 producer Adam Spiegel.

In Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City....
, the equivalent of the Olivier Award is the Tony Award
Tony Award

The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live United States theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City....
 and a number of the world's longest-running and most successful shows have received award nominations for both West End theatre and Broadway productions, with a number of leading actors, directors, choreographers and designers receiving award nominations on both sides of the Atlantic.

Judging

The Awards are judged by four separate panels for theatre, opera, dance, and Affiliate.

The majority of the Olivier Awards are presented in the theatre categories, which cover plays and musical. The theatre categories are judged by the theatre panel, which consists of five specialist members who are chosen for their specialist knowledge and professional experience. The panel also consists of 8 members of the theatre going public, four who judge plays and four who judge musicals.

The Opera, Dance and Affiliate panels each consist of three professional members, each judging their specialist area of expertise. Each panel also includes two members of the theatre going public. The Affiliate Panel judges productions in theatres represented by Affiliate members of the Society of London Theatre. Affiliate theatres are typically recognised as being theatres outside of the London "Theatreland" district and includes repertory theatres such as the Old Vic
Old Vic

The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road, London. It became a Grade II* listed building in 1951....
, Young Vic and Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre is a West End Theatre#London's non-commercial theatres theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea....
s.

Any new production that opens between January 1 and December 31 in a theatre represented in membership of the Society of London Theatre is eligible for entry for the Olivier Awards if it has run for a minimum of 30 performances. After a nomination has been received, it then has to be seconded by members of the Society and if it is successful, it is then seen by the relevant judging panel.

For awards in the Theatre categories, nominations are decided by a postal ballor of all members of the Theatre Panel and al members of the Society of London Theatre. For Affiliate, Opera and Dance categories, the nominations are decided only by members of the relevant panel, by way of a secret ballot.

Award categories


Drama

  • Best Actor
  • Best Actress
  • Best Performance in a Supporting Role
  • Best Newcomer in a Play
  • Best New Play
  • Best New Comedy
  • Best Revival


Musical

  • Best Actor in a Musical
  • Best Actress in a Musical
  • Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
  • Best New Musical
  • Best Musical Revival


Production

  • Best Director
  • Best Theatre Choreographer
  • Best Costume Design
  • Best Set Design
  • Best Lighting Design
  • Best Sound Design

Dance/Opera

  • Best New Dance Production
  • Outstanding Achievement in Dance
  • Best New Opera Production
  • Outstanding Achievement in Opera


Other

  • Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre
  • Society of London Theatre Special Award
    Society of London Theatre Special Award

    The Society of London Theatre Special Award is an annual award presented by the The Society of London Theatre at the annual Laurence Olivier Award ceremonies in recognition of achievements in commercial British theatre....
  • Most Promising Performer
    Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Performer

    See Olivier Awards for more information about the awards and a full list of categories and winners.The Laurence Olivier Awards are a series of awards presented annually by The Society of London Theatre....
  • Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment
  • Best Company Performance


Retired

  • Actor of the Year in a New Play
  • Actor of the Year in a Revival
    Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival

    See Olivier Awards for more information about the awards and a full list of categories and winners.The Laurence Olivier Awards are a series of awards presented annually by The Society of London Theatre....
  • Actress of the Year in a New Play
  • Actress of the Year in a Revival
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role
  • Director of a Play
    Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Play

    The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Play was introduced in 1991 and later withdrawn in 1995....
  • Director of a Musical
    Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Musical

    The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Musical was introduced in 1991 and later withdrawn in 1995....
  • Best Performance in a Musical
  • Best Comedy Performance
    Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance

    See Olivier Awards for more information about the awards and a full list of categories and winners.The Laurence Olivier Awards are a series of awards presented annually by The Society of London Theatre....
  • Best Set Designer
  • Audience Award for Most Popular Show
    Audience Award for Most Popular Show

    See Olivier Awards for more information about the awards and a full list of categories and winners.The Laurence Olivier Awards are a series of awards presented annually by The Society of London Theatre....


Award record winners

  • Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, 7
  • Dame Judi Dench
    Judi Dench

    Dame Judith Olivia Dench, Order of the Companions of Honour, Order of the British Empire, Royal Society of Arts is an England actress. She has won nine BAFTAs, seven Laurence Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards's and a Tony Award....
    , 7


See also

  • West End theatre
    West End theatre

    West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland". Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English language world....
  • Evening Standard Award
  • Critics' Circle Theatre Award
  • Tony Award
    Tony Award

    The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live United States theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City....
  • Drama Desk Award
    Drama Desk Award

    The Drama Desk Award, created in 1955, is an award which recognizes theatres produced on Broadway theatre, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, and for legitimate not-for-profit theaters....
  • List of Tony Award and Olivier Award winning musicals


External links