London Theatre's Complete Guide to the Olivier Awards
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Welcome to our comprehensive guide to the Olivier Awards, the London theatre industry's most celebrated evening, rewarding the past year of West End theatre. This page is designed to answer all of your questions about the awards and act as a 'hub' for all of our 2017 Olivier Awards content.
UPDATED: 2017 Olivier Award-winners announced.
Olivier Award FAQ's
What are the Olivier Awards?
Established in 1976, the Olivier Awards celebrate the world-class status of London theatre and are Britain's most prestigious stage honours. Awarded each year, they are voted on by a panel of judges as well as a public made up of members of the public who apply each year to sit on the board.
When are the 2017 Olivier Awards?
The 2017 Olivier Awards take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 9 April at 7pm.
Which shows are nominated for the Oliver Award?
The Olivier Award 2017 nominations were announced by Denise Gough and Matt Henry at a ceremony in central London last month. Read the full list of Olivier Award 2017 nominees.
How can I watch the Olivier Awards?
The Olivier Awards will be broadcast on ITV on Tuesday 11 April from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. For viewers outside of the UK it will broadcast at the same time on Facebook, and will stream in China for the very first time via YouKu.
A Red Carpet Live show debuts this year from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, hosted by Anita Rani, Jamie Lambert and Frank DiLella, exclusively on Facebook.
For those wanting to keep up to date with the events as they happen, the awards will be broadcast live on Magic Radio on Sunday 9th April, hosted by Alice Arnold and Olivier Award-winner Ruthie Henshall. Sirius XM will broadcast the show via radio in the USA.
Who is performing at the Olivier Awards?
The Olivier Awards ceremony will include specially crafted performances throughout the evening. Confirmed performances will come from Gary Barlow and company of The Girls, Amber Riley, Tim Minchin and the companies of School Of Rock The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Red Shoes. Six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald will perform as part of the 'In Memoriam' section.
Who is presenting the Olivier Awards?
The Olivier Awards Ceremony will be hosted by comedian Jason Manford. Presenters of individual awards include David Baddiel, Alfie Boe, John Boyega, Michaela Coel, Leanne Cope, Julian Clary, Robert Fairchild, Ben Forster, Phoebe Fox, Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, Matt Henry, Ruthie Henshall, Amanda Holden, Rufus Hound, Cush Jumbo, Nathan Lane, Rose Leslie, Maureen Lipman, Danny Mac, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Laura Mvula, Paul O'Grady, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sophie Okonedo, Charlotte Ritchie, Mark Rylance and Russell Tovey.
How to Win an Olivier Award
Ever wondered what it takes to win an Olivier Award? We take a look at the characters that have won the Best Actor and Actress Awards in both plays and musicals and have come up with a winning formula for success. Young or Old? British or American? Soldier or Housewife? Use our exclusive interactive guide to explore the past winners of the Oliver Awards in the key performance categories and predict who history tells us is most likely to come out on top at the 2017 ceremony.
Reviews of Olivier Nominated Shows
| Show | Award | Star Rating | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funny Girl | Best Musical Revival | ★★★★★ | "Smith makes it into something extraordinary — truthful, bold and heart stopping by turns." |
| Jesus Christ Superstar | Best Musical Revival | ★★★ | "Leaves you reconsidering a musical theatre classic." |
| Show Boat | Best Musical Revival | ★★★★★ | "It's a miracle of a production for a miracle of a show. Bravo!" |
| Sunset Boulevard | Best Musical Revival | ★★★★ | "There's some ravishingly beautiful music here, and Close compensates in acting chops what she lacks in musical accuracy..." |
| The Glass Menagerie | Best Revival | ★★★★★ | "This production and its fine set of performances will lodge in your mind and soul for years to come." |
| This House | Best Revival | ★★★★★ | "An unmissable and commanding theatrical tour de force." |
| Travesties | Best Revival | ★★★★ | "A difficult puzzle that more than warrants the effort of attempting to solve." |
| Yerma | Best Revival | ★★★★★ | "It's arresting, merciless and deeply unsettling" |
| The Comedy About a Bank Robbery | Best Comedy | ★★★★ | "The only crime that Mischief would be guilty of is not making audiences have a good time" |
| Nice Fish | Best Comedy | ★★★★ | "Just go with the flow and you may love it as much as I did." |
| The Truth | Best Comedy | ★★★ | "If you enjoy your farces with a bit more door slamming this isn't for you" |
| Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Best New Play | ★★★★★ | "Will thrill new audiences as well as regular theatregoers alike" |
| The Flick | Best New Play | ★★★★ | "A slice of real life is rarely seen so honestly and faithfully presented" |
| One Night in Miami | Best New Play | ★★★ | "I couldn't help but feel this was more history lesson than narrative drama" |
| Dreamgirls | Best New Musical | ★★★★★ | "An electric megawatt of a musical and a sure fire West End hit" |
| The Girls | Best New Musical | ★★★★★ | "I adored them and I adored this show. It's a sure-fire hit." |
| School of Rock | Best New Musical | ★★★★ | "This is a show that is above all a lot of fun. I watched it beaming throughout." |
| Groundhog Day | Best New Musical | ★★★★★ | "It is the wild eclecticism of Minchin's score that is the take-home treat." |
Interviews with Olivier Nominated Performers
Over the past year London Theatre has interviewed a whole host of Olivier Nominated performers, speaking to those at the heart of the West End. Below you can read our interviews with the stars of the stage to find out more about performing in these celebrated shows.
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