Everything you need to know about the Olivier Awards 2025

The 2025 Olivier Awards will be presented on Sunday 6 April, with Fiddler on the Roof in the lead with 13 nominations.

Julia Rank24 March, 2025, 00:00

London's West End theatres showcase world-class plays, musicals, opera, dance, and other entertainment year-round. With the Olivier Awards, the Society of London Theatre celebrates the very best of these productions.

Founded as Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, the awards were renamed in honour of the legendary actor Sir Laurence Olivier in 1984. Ahead of the 2025 Olivier Awards, learn more about this year's ceremony, the nominated productions, and fun facts about this year's shortlist.

Fiddler on the Roof - LT - 1200

What are the Olivier Awards?

The Olivier Awards are presented by the Society of London Theatre on an annual basis to celebrate excellence in London theatre. They are considered the highest honour in British theatre and are the equivalent of New York's Tony Awards, which celebrate the best of Broadway theatre. Originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards on their inception in 1976, they were renamed in honour of actor Laurence Olivier in 1984.

Who are the nominees for the 2025 Olivier Awards?

The full list of nominees for the 2025 Olivier Awards can be found here on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Leading the nominations is Fiddler on the Roof, with 13 nods including all four actor categories for Liv Andrusier, Beverley Klein, Raphael Papo, Adam Dannheisser, and Lara Pulver. Lesley Manville and Indira Varma will go head-to-head with their interpretations of Jocasta in the Robert Icke and Old Vic productions of Oedipus, respectively. Romola Garai has been nominated twice in the same category for her roles in The Years and Giant, and Layton Williams has finally received his very first — and long overdue — nomination for Titanique.

When are the Olivier Awards?

The Olivier Awards are usually presented in April and, this year, the ceremony takes place on Sunday 6 April 2025.

Where are the Olivier Awards taking place?

The 2025 Olivier Awards will take place at the Royal Albert Hall. The Royal Albert Hall has hosted all the in-person Olivier Awards ceremonies since 2017 (except for 2020, when the ceremony was postponed to September due to Covid and took place at a socially distanced London Palladium). The first-ever ceremony took place at the former Café Royale in Piccadilly and other venues over the years have included the Royal Opera House, the National Theatre, and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

The Royal Albert Hall is perhaps best known for holding the BBC Proms concerts each summer. Over 1.7 million people visit the beautiful and historical venue each year.

How can I watch the Olivier Awards?

Highlights from the ceremony will be broadcast on ITV1 and aired on Magic Radio on Sunday 6 April, and you’ll be able to rewatch or catch up on ITVX. Information on how to watch the 2025 ceremony if you’re outside the UK will be announced soon.

Who are the hosts of the 2025 Olivier Awards?

The 2025 ceremony will be hosted by Beverley Knight and Billy Porter. Soul singer and musical theatre star Knight won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia (2023) and she was also nominated for Memphis and The Drifters Girl. Versatile entertainer and Tony winner (Kinky Boots) Porter is currently starring as the Emcee in Cabaret. They ought to be a stupendous pairing!

Who are the creatives in charge of this year’s ceremony?

Anthony Van Laast (Kiss Me, Kate) is the creative director for this year’s ceremony, with Gareth Valentine as conductor and arranger, Mark Cumberland as orchestrator, and Ben Cracknell as lighting designer.

Which shows are performing at this year’s ceremony?

The programme is to be confirmed but it’s likely that many of the nominated new musicals and revivals will be strutting their stuff!

What does an Olivier Award look like?

An Olivier Award takes the form of a bronze statue portraying Laurence Olivier as Henry V at the Old Vic in 1937. It is designed by the sculptor Harry Franchetti and weighs 1.6kg – be sure to handle with care.

Giant - LT - 1200

What Olivier Award-nominated shows are playing in London now?

Many 2025 Olivier Award-nominated shows are currently running in London. Book your tickets now to the most critically acclaimed productions.

Fiddler on the Roof

Leading the pack with 13 nominations, including Best Musical Revival and Best Director (Jordan Fein), Fiddler on the Roof returns to London from 24 May to 19 July, this time playing at the Barbican Theatre. Nominees Adam Dannheisser, Lara Pulver, and Beverley Klein have been confirmed to reprise their performances as Tevye, Golde, and Yente.

Book Fiddler on the Roof tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Giant

Five nominations including Best New Play, Best Director (Nicholas Hytner), and Best Actor (John Lithgow).

Check back for Giant tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

The Years

Four nominations, including Best New Play and Best Director.

Book The Years tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Four nominations, including Best New Musical.

Book The Curious Case of Benjamin Button tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Oliver!

Four nominations, including Best Musical Revival and Best Theatre Choreographer (Matthew Bourne).

Book Oliver! tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

MJ the Musical

Three nominations, including Best New Musical and Best Theatre Choreographer (Christopher Wheeldon).

Book MJ the Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Titanique

Three nominations, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.

Book Titanique tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Ballet Shoes

Three nominations, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. The production will return to the National Theatre for Christmas 2025.

Check back for Ballet Shoes tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Kyoto

Two nominations, including Best New Play.

Book Kyoto tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Starlight Express

Two nominations, including Best Musical Revival.

Book Starlight Express tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

The Devil Wears Prada

One nomination, for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Amy Di Bartolomeo).

Book The Devil Wears Prada tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Mean Girls

One nomination, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Tom Xander).

Book Mean Girls tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Which previous Olivier Award-winning shows can I book now?

While not all shows, however highly feted, are destined to be long-running commercial hits, the prestige of Olivier-winning status can help to boost a show’s longevity. Of course, it isn’t the be all and end all – Wicked and SIX, for example, didn’t win any Oliviers and it hasn’t done them any harm! A selection of previous Olivier-winning shows currently playing include:

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Nine-time winner in 2017, including Best New Play and Best Director.

Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Cabaret

Eight-time winner in 2022, including Best Musical Revival and Best Director.

Book Cabaret tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Hamilton

Seven-time winner in 2018, including Best New Musical.

Book Hamilton tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Matilda

Seven-time winner in 2012, including Best New Musical and Best Director.

Book Matilda tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

My Neighbour Totoro

Six-time winner in 2023, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Director.

Book My Neighbour Totoro tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Back to the Future

Best New Musical winner in 2022.

Book Back to the Future tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

the years 1200 LT credit helen murray 3

How many categories are there in the Olivier Awards?

There are 26 competitive categories in the 2025 Olivier Awards. 21 awards are for theatre productions, with a further two awards for opera, two awards for dance, and one for productions in affiliate theatres. The Special Award is also given each year to an actor or creative with an exemplary body of work. The Olivier Award categories are as follows:

Olivier Awards for Productions

Best New Play
Best Revival
Best New Comedy
Best New Musical
Best Musical Revival

Olivier Awards for Performers

Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Performance in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Musical
Best Actress in a Musical
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Olivier Awards for Creatives

Outstanding Achievement in Music Production
Best Director
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
Best Set Design
Best Costume Design
Best Lighting Design
Best Sound Design

Olivier Awards for Dance

Best New Dance Production
Outstanding Achievement in Dance

Olivier Awards for Opera

Best New Opera Production
Outstanding Achievement in Opera

Additional Olivier Awards

Best Entertainment and Family
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre
Special Award

What theatres are eligible in the Olivier Awards?

The Olivier Awards recognises the best theatre performances across the West End and select Off-West End theatres in London. However, not all London productions qualify for Olivier Award eligibility. All shows at the following venues are eligible for the main Olivier Awards categories:

Almeida Theatre
Apollo Theatre
Apollo Victoria Theatre
Arts Theatre
Barbican
Cambridge Theatre
Criterion Theatre
Dominion Theatre
Donmar Warehouse
Duchess Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre
Fortune Theatre
Garrick Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
Gillian Lynne Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Harold Pinter Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
London Coliseum
London Palladium
Lyric Theatre
National Theatre
Noël Coward Theatre
Novello Theatre
Palace Theatre
Phoenix Theatre
Piccadilly Theatre
Playhouse Theatre
Prince Edward Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Riverside Studios
Royal Court (Jerwood Theatre Downstairs)
Royal Opera House
Sadler's Wells
Savoy Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
Shakespeare's Globe
Sondheim Theatre
St Martin's Theatre
Trafalgar Theatre
The Old Vic
The Other Palace
The Young Vic
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Theatre Royal Haymarket
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre

What are affiliate venues in the Olivier Awards?

As well as the venues that can house Olivier-eligible productions, some venues can submit productions as an "affiliate" venues. Affiliate venues are organisational members of the UK Theatre Association, but do not pay a performance levy in order to qualify. Affiliate theatres include:

Arcola Theatre
Bloomsbury Theatre
Bush Theatre
Cadogan Hall
Charing Cross Theatre
Greenwich Theatre
Hackney Empire
Hampstead (Downstairs)
Kiln Theatre
Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Menier Chocolate Factory
New Wimbledon Theatre
Park Theatre
Peacock Theatre
Polka Theatre
Rose Theatre Kingston
Royal Court (Jerwood Theatre Upstairs)
Soho Theatre
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Unicorn Clore Theatre
Young Vic Maria and Clare studios

What are some fun facts about this year's Olivier nominations?

Fiddler on the Roof, which takes the lead in terms of nominations by a significant margin, was first performed in the West End in 1967, nine years before the Olivier Awards were established. Lindsay Posner’s revival was nominated for two Oliviers in 2008 (in which Beverley Klein, currently nominated for her performance as Yente, played Golde). And, only five years ago in 2020, Trevor Nunn’s production starring Andy Nyman (nominated this year for his turn in Hello, Dolly!) won Best Musical Revival and received six further nominations.
Giant is the second most nominated production with five nods. Writer Mark Rosenblatt has been a director since 1998 and this, impressively, is his playwrighting debut.
Romola Garai is nominated twice in the Best Supporting Actress in a Play category (for Giant and The Years) – a double nomination in the same category. It’s an amazing achievement, if possibly a mixed blessing when it comes to her chances of winning.
If Adrien Brody wins Best Actor in a Play for Fear of 13, he will have achieved the unique feat of winning an Oscar (his second, for The Brutalist) and an Olivier in the same year.
In the acting categories, Imelda Staunton, Lara Pulver, Sharon D Clarke, Lesley Manville, Indira Varma, John Dagleish, Mark Strong, and Elliot Levey are all previous Olivier winners. Tom Edden, Andy Nyman, Gina McKee, and Maimuna Memon have previously been nominated.
There are no nominations for productions of Shakespeare plays (though the Shakespeare-inspired Rough Magic is nominated for Best Family show). Could this be a first? Or at least a very rare occurrence!

What else should I know about the Olivier Awards?

Photo credit: Olivier Awards (Photo courtesy of Society of London Theatre) / production images courtesy of Fiddler on the Roof, Giant, and The Years

Originally published on Mar 8, 202212:10