The Olivier Awards are a highly anticipated annual event celebrating the best of London theatre, and are always filled with glamour. However, the Oliviers haven’t always been known by this name. Established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, they were renamed in honour of celebrated actor Laurence Olivier in 1984.

This year’s ceremony on Sunday 6 April 2025 will be held at the Royal Albert Hall and hosted by Beverley Knight (Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical,...

A guide to some of the biggest moments in Olivier Awards history 

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Read about some record-setting shows and notable firsts from the prestigious West End theatre awards, established in 1976.

The shortest month of the year has whizzed past us, and March is finally here. The sun shines a little brighter, the days are a little longer, and there’s plenty of exciting shows to look forward to. There’s dozens of new shows opening in the West End and across London in March 2025. Here’s our top picks for what to see in London in March.


Top theatre to see in London in March

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Jamie Lloyd’s bold new production of *Much Ado About Nothing* transforms Shakespeare’s sharp-tongued romcom into a pulsating, high-energy spectacle. Set against a 1990s clubland backdrop, the show reimagines Messina as a world of neon-lit hedonism, where Beatrice and Benedick’s famous
war of words crackles with fresh urgency. Lloyd, known for his radical interpretations of classic texts, has described the production as an experiment in fusing Shakespeare with the electrifying rhythms of nightlife. With a soundtrack of club anthems and a design steeped in Y2K aesthetics, this *Much Ado* promises to be anything but traditional.

Check back for *Much Ado About Nothing* tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Much Ado About Nothing

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Leave Greek tragedy expectations at the door in Daniel Fish’s (*Oklahoma!*) arresting take on the Sophocles classic. A shaven-headed, Bikini Kill T-shirt-wearing Brie Larson (*Room*) brings feminist rage to the stage as the titular daughter of Agamemnon, who is out to avenge her father’s death at the hands of her mother, Clytemnestra (a commanding Stockard Channing). In Canadian poet Anne Carson’s stripped-back translation, Larson half-sings, half-screams her emotional torment, enlisting her brother Orestes (Patrick Vaill) to commit matricide, with predictably bloody results.

Book [*Elektra* tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/42608-elektra) on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Elektra

Brian Watkins’s one-woman show picked up a Scotsman Fringe First Award when it ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year. “I’m your rise and shine” announces Stacey, the Californian weather girl who valiantly tries to maintain her rictus grin in the face of impending personal and environmental meltdown. Off-Broadway star Julia McDermott reprises her acclaimed Edinburgh performance in a dramedy that is both an engaging character study and rallying call for climate action.

Book [*Weather Girl* tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/43305-weather-girl) on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Weather Girl

Playwright Ryan Calais Cameron’s story of a young Sidney Poitier trying to pursue his Hollywood dream in the 1950s returns to London after an acclaimed season at the Kiln Theatre. Retrograde stars Ivanno Jeremiah as the screen legend himself, alongside Stanley Townsend and Oliver Johnstone. In this true story, at this height of censorship against minorities, Poitier faces dark temptations that challenge his sense of self.

Book [*Retrograde* tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/27673-retrograde) on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Retrograde

Nick Hytner’s production of Shakespeare’s history play illustrates the timelessness of its central battle between the “born to rule” Plantagenet monarch and his arguably more capable adversary (and cousin) Henry Bolingbroke (here styled Bullingbrook). Hytner recently told The Guardian that the play asks the basic question: “What do you do when a ruler is absolutely inadequate? How do you get rid of the rightful leader?” In a modern world of political volatility, the Bard’s themes feel increasingly prescient. The drama stars Jonathan Bailey (*Bridgerton*) who earnt his Shakespeare stripes in Hytner’s production of *Othello* in 2013 and Chichester Festival Theatre’s *King Lear* (opposite Ian McKellen) in 2017.

Book [*Richard II* tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/14375-richard-ii) on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Richard II

This “Bram-new comedy” by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen promises 90 minutes of gothic giggles. In a high-camp reimaging of the horror classic, Count Dracula is a Gen Z pansexual having an existential crisis. After receiving a visit from timid estate agent Jonathan Harker, the Count leaves his Transylvanian lair to get a taste of some English beauty – in the form of Jonathan’s fiancé! Dianne Pilkington (*The Wizard of Oz*) and Charlie Stemp (*Kiss Me, Kate*) are among the cast sinking their fangs into the vampy wordplay.

Book [*Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors* tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/43625-dracula-a-comedy-of-terrors) on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors

West End

Here's the top theatre picks you need to see in London in March 2023.

Top theatre to see in London in March | LondonTheatre.co.uk

From *Bridgerton* heartthrob Jonathan Bailey in *Richard II* to a candy crush explosion of fun in Jamie Lloyd's *Much Ado About Nothing*, here’s the top theatre picks in London this March.

Movie musicals make for true event cinema and bring the joys of the genre to audiences around the globe. Read our guide to the latest offerings, what you can look forward to soon (or in a couple of decades time, in the case of *Merrily We Roll Along*!) and what’s in development. What are you looking forward to most?  

# Out now or coming soon

## *Wicked Part 1* / *Wicked Part 2: For Good*

Audiences worldwide were dazzled by Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey in the first...

A guide to all the latest and upcoming movie musicals

Wicked movie 

From *Wicked Part 2: For Good* this autumn to the long wait for *Merrily We Roll Along*, we take a look at the musicals headed to the big screen.

Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis, who are currently starring in Jamie Lloyd's *Sunset Boulevard* on Broadway, will announce this year's Olivier Awards nominations next week.

The historic awards will be hosted by Beverley Knight and Billy Porter on 6 April at the Royal Albert Hall.

First established in 1976, the awards were renamed in 1984 in honour of the actor and director Laurence Olivier. Last year, *Sunset Boulevard* won seven Olivier Awards, including Best Actor and Actress in a Musical...

Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis to reveal Olivier Awards nominees

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Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis both won Olivier Awards for their turns as Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis in *Sunset Boulevard* in 2024. They are now performing in the show on Broadway.

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Hollywood is coming to the West End this spring as Ryan Calais Cameron’s riveting thriller *[Retrograde](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/43479-retrograde)* transfers to the Apollo Theatre. The play centres on the trailblazing African-American film actor Sidney Poitier as he reaches an important crossroads in his career, and has to balance his professional ambitions with his commitment to social activism.

Calais Cameron is also a trailblazer, having had an enormous success in the West End...

Get to know the history behind 'Retrograde'

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As the riveting drama about Sidney Poitier hits the West End, learn all about this trailblazing actor and the shocking events of the play.

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Equally adept at playing romantic leads, antiheroes, and Jedi masters, Scottish actor Ewan McGregor was born in Perth in 1971 to teacher parents. His uncle is the actor Denis Lawson and his aunt-by-marriage was the late actress Sheila Gish. McGregor began his career at the age of 16 as a stagehand at Perth Theatre prior to taking a drama foundation course at Kirkcaldy College of Technology. He moved to London to study drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Prior to his graduation...

Learn more about Ewan McGregor's career ahead of 'My Master Builder'

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Learn more about the *Trainspotting* and *Star Wars* actor ahead of his return to the London stage in a scintillating Ibsen reboot.

A new staging of *Into the Woods* and the return of an immersive production of *A Midsummer Night's Dream* will make up the Bridge Theatre's 2025 season of shows.

*A Midsummer Night's Dream*, directed by Bridge co-founder Nicholas Hytner, will begin previews on 31 May, running until 23 August. It was first produced at the venue in 2019, and the immersive format allowed 400 people to stand close to the action, with over 100,000 people attending the show.

The cast will include JJ Feild (*Little...

Bridge Theatre announces 'Into the Woods' revival and return of immersive 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

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The Bridge Theatre production will be the first outing of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical *Into the Woods* in London for almost a decade.

The new cast of [*The Choir of Man*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23760-the-choir-of-man-tickets) at the Arts Theatre has been revealed. After a period of closure for redevelopment, the venue reopens with the show from 12 March through 31 August.

The Olivier-nominated, West End show sees nine guys in a pub setting performing hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Adele, Guns & Roses, and Katy Perry.

The new cast includes Jason Brock (*Thriller Live*) as ‘Romantic’,...

New 'The Choir of Man' cast revealed as show returns to the West End

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The show first opened at the Arts Theatre in October 2021, and has welcomed over 280,000 audience members across 1,000 performances.

Born in Aldershot, Hampshire, in 1971, Martin Freeman trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. He has been a beloved presence since he played Tim Canterbury in *The Office* in 2001, and his career spans comedy, prestige television, independent films, blockbusters, and theatre.

Freeman made his earliest television appearances in episodes of *The Bill*, *This Life*, *Casualty*, and *Black Books*. He appeared on the sketch show *Bruiser* by David Mitchell and Robert Webb, on which Ricky...

Learn more about Martin Freeman's career ahead of 'The Fifth Step'

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The star of *The Office*, *Sherlock*, and *The Hobbit* returns to the West End in David Ireland's new play opposite Jack Lowden.

The Olivier Awards are probably the most prestigious in British theatre, honouring the best productions in the West End and leading non-commercial theatres in London. The awards were established in 1976 by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT)  as the Society of West End Theatre Awards and were renamed in 1984 in honour of the great actor Laurence Olivier. 

Who chooses the winners? There are four panels – theatre, opera, dance and afﬁliates – each supervised by SOLT. The professional panellists...

A guide to the categories in the Olivier Awards

Learn more about the awards given to productions, performers, and creatives ahead of this year's ceremony on 6 April 2025.

Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis, who are currently starring in Jamie Lloyd's *Sunset Boulevard* on Broadway, will announce this year's Olivier Awards nominations next week.

The historic awards will be hosted by Beverley Knight and Billy Porter on 6 April at the Royal Albert Hall.

First established in 1976, the awards were renamed in 1984 in honour of the actor and director Laurence Olivier. Last year, *Sunset Boulevard* won seven Olivier Awards, including Best Actor and Actress in a Musical for Francis and Scherzinger.

Nominees for the awards will be revealed via the Official London Theatre YouTube channel by Scherzinger and Francis on 4 March at 12pm.

[Find out who else won in the 2024 Olivier Awards on LondonTheatre.co.uk](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/2024-olivier-awards-full-list-of-winners)

*Photo credit: Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger. (Photo by Marc Brenner)*

Nicole Scherzinger (full name Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente) is best known for being the lead singer in the globally renowned girl band Pussycat Dolls. She is playing Norma Desmond from 18 September in a new production of *[Sunset Boulevard](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/31115-sunset-boulevard)* at the [Savoy Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/savoy-theatre). 

Scherzinger was born on 29 June 1978 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. At 14, she began acting at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, where she landed a role in her first professional play, La Bête. She graduated from Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS), part of DuPont Manual High School, in 1996. 

Following this, she attended Wright State University, majoring in theatre arts with dance, where she performed in a vast range of regional productions, landing the lead role in shows including *[Guys and Dolls](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25504-guys-and-dolls-tickets)*, and *Show Boat*. She decided to put her college studies on hold after a few years to pursue her music career in 1999 after landing a spot singing backing vocals for the rock band Days of the New. The aspiring star entered the first season of the TV talent show Popstars, where she won the lead singer role in a girl band ‘Eden’s Crush.

A couple of years later, the band split, and simultaneously, the LA burlesque act The Pussycat Dolls were undergoing a recasting into a pop/R&B group. In 2003, Scherzinger landed the role of the lead singer, singing almost all of the vocals on their debut album. The group sold 55 million records, making them one of the best-selling girl bands ever.

The Pussycat Dolls decided to split in 2009, and since then, Scherzinger has pursued a notable career in television. She has appeared as a judge in several of the biggest TV talent competitions, including  *The Masked Singer*, *X Factor* and *Australia’s Got Talent*. The worldwide star also features in several blockbuster films, including *Moana*, and *Men in Black 3*. 

She made her West End debut in 2014 as Grizabella in *Cats*, where she received an Olivier Award nomination and will return to the London stage in *[Sunset Boulevard](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/31115-sunset-boulevard)* in September. 


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Sunset Boulevard

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Nicole Scherzinger returns to the West End this September, starring as the immortal Norma Desmond in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary Sunset Boulevard, directed by Jamie Lloyd.

London's Savoy Theatre is one of the most renowned theatre venues in the heart of the city. This cherished venue exhibits a rich history that dates back to 1881. The Savoy indulges its patrons with a variety of performances, including plays, musicals, ballet, and concerts. The attractive architecture and interior details give the attendees a sense of a grand theatrical experience. The Savoy Theatre prides itself on having introduced electric lights to the theatre world. Remarkable luminaries such as Gilbert and Sullivan have graced its stage. The theatre has a seating capacity of 1,158, split between the Stalls, Dress Circle, and Upper Circle. Dedicated to providing full accessibility, the venue offers services for those with mobility, hearing, and visual impairments.

## How to get to the Savoy Theatre 
The Savoy Theatre is centrally located in London and is easily accessible by both public and private transport. The theatre is easily reachable by bus, tube, and rail services. The nearest tube stations are Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines), Embankment (District, Circle, Bakerloo, and Northern lines), and Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). For those who prefer buses, services 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87, 91, 139, and 176 stop near the theatre. For patrons driving private vehicles, the closest Q-Park car park is available at the nearby Chinatown. The theatre also participates in the Q-Park Theatreland Scheme, offering a 50% discount on parking.

## Additional Information 

Venue opens 1hr 30min before showtime.

Please arrive with plenty of time, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable point, which may be the interval.

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Savoy Theatre

The Savoy Theatre is a historic London venue offering diverse performances. It's centrally accessible by tube, bus, and car.

Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis to reveal Olivier Awards nominees

ABBA Voyage

The Lion King

Wicked

The Phantom of the Opera

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

The Book of Mormon

Hamilton

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mamma Mia!

Fawlty Towers – The Play

A guide to some of the biggest moments in Olivier Awards history

Top theatre to see in London in March

A guide to all the latest and upcoming movie musicals

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