There is Nothin’ Like a Dame: Arlene Phillips wins her first Olivier Award

‘It’s hysterical! I’m 80 years old and I’ve just won my first Olivier Award!’

With these words from Dame Arlene Phillips – recipient (along with James Cousins) of the Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for Guys & Dolls – the entire Royal Albert Hall audience leapt to its feet. It was just one of several heartfelt moments during the Olivier Awards 2024 with Mastercard, which saw Sunset Boulevard as the big winner of the night.

Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Musical Jak Malone and Amy Trigg (Credit: Joanne Davidson)

Other memorable highlights included Haydn Gwynne’s sons collecting their mother’s posthumous award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and a breathtaking finale celebrating 60 years of the National Theatre, which saw Joanna Riding and Janie Dee lead a rousing rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel in a nod to their Olivier-winning performances in Nicholas Hytner’s 1992 production at the National. When host Hannah Waddingham led a full-size War Horse puppet to the front of the stage, and outgoing artistic director Rufus Norris handed over the baton to successor Indhu Rubasingham, there was barely a dry eye in the house.

The 2024 ceremony kicked off with returning 2023 host Hannah Waddingham performing a witty reworking of Cole Porter’s ‘Anything Goes’ by Musicals’ very own columnist Joe Stilgoe, who accompanied Waddingham on piano and conducted the London Community Gospel Choir alongside Gareth Valentine conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra. It was a high-energy start to an evening peppered with standout musical performances from the companies of shows such as Operation Mincemeat, Hadestown, The Little Big Things and A Strange Loop. Marisha Wallace made a welcome return as Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls, performing ‘Take Back Your Mink’ with customary gusto, and Caissie Levy, Eleanor Worthington-Cox and Jack Wolfe were vocally outstanding in a medley from Next To Normal.

Marisha Wallace returns to the Hot Box as Miss Adelaide to raise the roof once more

The speeches, meanwhile, reminded us of the fundamental role of theatre in contributing to an empathetic, creative and progressive society. Time and time again, award winners spoke of their gratitude to visionary drama teachers and family members who had introduced them to theatre at a young age, and of the importance of nurturing the next generation. The tone was set early on with an opening speech from Eleanor Lloyd, President of the Society of London Theatre, who, after underlining the monetary contribution of theatre – ‘Thriving theatres are essential to thriving local economies’ – went on to remind us that theatre ‘doesn’t just make money – it makes magic’. She concluded with a quote from Melvin Bragg: ‘The arts are not the cherry on the cake, they are the cake.’

Best Actor and Actress in a Musical Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger (Credit: Joanne Davidson)

Few were surprised at the success enjoyed by Sunset Boulevard, which took away seven wins in total. Jamie Lloyd’s radical reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s musical, created for Nicole Scherzinger in the role of Norma Desmond, saw Scherzinger take the gong for Best Actress, and, perhaps more surprisingly, Tom Francis win Best Actor. Francis had earlier wowed the audience with a re-creation of his iconic Strand-filmed title number from the show, which had opened the second act at the Savoy Theatre and this time began on the steps leading up from Prince Consort Road and concluded with a thrilling entrance into the upper stalls of the Royal Albert Hall.

The production’s other awards included Best Director for Lloyd, Outstanding Musical Contribution, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design and Best Musical Revival. For the latter, Lloyd was joined onstage by Don Black and Christopher Hampton; after Black joked that Andrew Lloyd Webber had helped him to buy a house, Hampton paid tribute to Lloyd’s vision for the 30-year-old show which had been ‘a rejuvenation for us all’.

Tom Francis takes us to Sunset Boulevard once again, via the steps leading up to the RAH

There were a few surprises along the way. Sunset’s Grace Hodgett Young lost out to The Little Big Things’ Amy Trigg in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical category, and Operation Mincemeat’s Jak Malone beat Cedric Neal, David Thaxton and Jack Wolfe to take home best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Malone, who features as Musicals’ Backstage With interviewee this issue, was visibly emotional as he thanked his late grandmother for always believing in him. The emotions continued as his fellow cast members took to the stage to accept the final award of the night for Best New Musical, beating off stiff competition from The Little Big Things, Next To Normal and A Strange Loop. A beaming Zoë Roberts gave a shout-out to all grassroots Musical Theatre, reminding us that ‘Fringe musicals’ can go on to achieve great things.

The secret's out! The success of Operation Mincemeat has been heartening and inspiring

 

The winners in full – Olivier Awards 2024 with Mastercard

 

Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play

WINNER: Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry at the Phoenix Theatre

NOMINATED:

Accidental Death Of An Anarchist by Dario Fo & Franca Rame, adapted by Tom Basden at the Lyric Hammersmith & Theatre Royal Haymarket

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim at the Gielgud Theatre

Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, adapted by Liv Hennessy at the Ambassadors Theatre

 

Best Family Show

WINNER: Dinosaur World Live by Derek Bond at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

NOMINATED:

Bluey’s Big Play by Joe Brumm at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall

The House With Chicken Legs, book by Sophie Anderson, adapted by Oliver Lansley at

Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall

The Smeds And The Smoos, book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, adapted by Tall

Stories at the Lyric Theatre

 

Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer

WINNER: Arlene Phillips with James Cousins for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

NOMINATED:

Fabian Aloise for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

Ellen Kane & Hannes Langolf for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

Mark Smith for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace

Susan Stroman for Crazy For You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

 

Mithridate Award for Best Costume Design

WINNER: Marg Horwell for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

NOMINATED:

Bunny Christie & Deborah Andrews for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Ryan Dawson Laight for La Cage Aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Hugh Durrant for Peter Pan at The London Palladium

 

Cunard Best Revival

WINNER: Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Simon Stephens at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

NOMINATED:

The Effect by Lucy Prebble at the National Theatre – Lyttelton

Macbeth by William Shakespeare at the Donmar Warehouse

Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

 

Best Musical Revival

WINNER: Sunset Boulevard, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics & book by Don Black & Christopher Hampton at the Savoy Theatre

NOMINATED:

Groundhog Day, music & lyrics by Tim Minchin, book by Danny Rubin at The Old Vic

Guys & Dolls, music & lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows at the Bridge Theatre

Hadestown, music, lyrics & book by Anaïs Mitchell at the Lyric Theatre

 

d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design

WINNER: Adam Fisher for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

NOMINATED:

Paul Arditti for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre

Dan Balfour & Tom Gibbons for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

Gareth Fry for Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse

 

Outstanding Musical Contribution

WINNER: Alan Williams for Musical Supervision & Musical Direction for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

NOMINATED:

Tom Brady for Musical Supervision & Arrangements and Charlie Rosen for Orchestrations for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Matt Brind for Musical Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations for Just For One Day at The Old Vic

Steve Sidwell for Orchestrations & Joe Bunker for Musical Direction for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre

 

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

WINNER: Will Close for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

NOMINATED:

Paul Hilton for An Enemy Of The People at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

Giles Terera for Clyde’s at the Donmar Warehouse

Luke Thompson for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre & Savoy Theatre

Zubin Varla for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre & Savoy Theatre

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

WINNER: Haydn Gwynne for When Winston Went To War With The Wireless at the Donmar Warehouse

NOMINATED:

Lorraine Ashbourne for Till The Stars Come Down at the National Theatre – Dorfman

Priyanga Burford for An Enemy Of The People at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

Gina McKee for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier

Tanya Reynolds for A Mirror at the Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Theatre

 

Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design

WINNER: Miriam Buether for Set Design & 59 Productions for Video Design for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre

NOMINATED:

Bunny Christie for Set Design for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Es Devlin for Set Design & Ash J Woodward for Video Design for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

Soutra Gilmour for Set Design and Nathan Amzi & Joe Ransom for Video Design for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

 

White Light Award for Best Lighting Design

WINNER: Jack Knowles for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

NOMINATED:

Jon Clark for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

Jon Clark for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre

Paule Constable for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical

WINNER: Amy Trigg for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace

NOMINATED:

Grace Hodgett Young for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

Zoë Roberts for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre

Eleanor Worthington-Cox for Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role In a Musical

WINNER: Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre

NOMINATED:

Cedric Neal for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

David Thaxton for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

Jack Wolfe for Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse

 

TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production

WINNER: Innocence by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House

NOMINATED:

Blue by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum

Picture A Day Like This by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre

The Rhinegold by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum

 

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

WINNER: Antonio Pappano for his role as Musical Director of the Royal Opera House

NOMINATED:

Belarus Free Theatre Company for King Stakh’s Wild Hunt at the Barbican Theatre

Marina Abramović for her concept and design of 7 Deaths Of Maria Callas at the London Coliseum

 

Best Actor in a Musical

WINNER: Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

NOMINATED:

David Cumming for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre

Daniel Mays for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Charlie Stemp for Crazy For You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

 

Best Actress in a Musical

WINNER: Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

NOMINATED:

Natasha Hodgson for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre

Caissie Levy for Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse

Marisha Wallace for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

 

Best New Dance Production

WINNER: La Ruta by Gabriela Carrizo, part of Nederlands Dans Theater - NDT 1 at Sadler’s Wells

NOMINATED:

Broken Chord by Gregory Maqoma & Thuthuka Sibisi at Sadler’s Wells

The Rite Of Spring by Seeta Patel at Sadler’s Wells

Time Spell by Michelle Dorrance, Jillian Meyers & Tiler Peck, part of Turn It Out With Tiler Peck & Friends at Sadler’s Wells

 

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

WINNER: Isabela Coracy for her performance in NINA: By Whatever Means, part of Ballet Black: Pioneers at the Barbican Theatre

NOMINATED:

Jonzi D for his artistic direction of Breakin’ Convention 2023 International Festival Of Hip Hop Dance Theatre at Sadler’s Wells

Rhiannon Faith for her community focussed conception of Lay Down Your Burdens at The Pit at Barbican

 

Unusual Rigging Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre

WINNER: Sleepova by Matilda Feyişayo at the Bush Theatre

NOMINATED:

Blue Mist by Mohamed-Zain Dada at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre

A Playlist For The Revolution by AJ Yi at the Bush Theatre

 

The Swell by Isley Lynn at the Orange Tree Theatre

The Time Machine: A Comedy by Steven Canny and John Nicholson at the Park Theatre

 

Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director

WINNER: Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

NOMINATED:

Stephen Daldry & Justin Martin for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre

Rupert Goold for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

Sam Mendes for The Motive And The Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre

 

Best Actress

WINNER: Sarah Snook for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

NOMINATED:

Laura Donnelly for The Hills Of California at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Sophie Okonedo for Medea at @sohoplace

Sarah Jessica Parker for Plaza Suite at the Savoy Theatre

Sheridan Smith for Shirley Valentine at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

 

Best Actor

WINNER: Mark Gatiss for The Motive And The Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre

NOMINATED:

Joseph Fiennes for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

James Norton for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre & Savoy Theatre

Andrew Scott for Vanya at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

David Tennant for Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse

 

The Londoner Award for Best New Play

WINNER: Dear England by James Graham at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

NOMINATED:

The Hills Of California by Jez Butterworth at the Harold Pinter Theatre

The Motive And The Cue by Jack Thorne at the National Theatre – Lyttelton & Noël Coward Theatre

Till The Stars Come Down by Beth Steel at the National Theatre – Dorfman

 

Mastercard Best New Musical

WINNER: Operation Mincemeat, music, lyrics & book by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson & Zoë Roberts at the Fortune Theatre

NOMINATED:

The Little Big Things, music by Nick Butcher, lyrics by Nick Butcher & Tom Ling, book by Joe White at @sohoplace

Next To Normal, music by Tom Kitt, book & lyrics by Brian Yorkey at the Donmar Warehouse

A Strange Loop, music, lyrics & book by Michael R Jackson at the Barbican Theatre