The full list of 2007 Laurence Olivier winners - in order of announcement
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BEST LIGHTING DESIGN |
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SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE designed by Natasha Chivers and Mike Robertson at Wyndham’s |
| Sam Buntrock’s revival of Sunday in the Park with George – the first major London production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, exploring the creative process of French painter Georges Seurat, since the UK premiere at the National Theatre in 1990 – first opened in November 2005 at Southwark’s 150-seat Menier Chocolate Factory, where it ran for four sell-out months. It had an extended West End season at Wyndham’s Theatre from May to September 2006 and is now expected to transfer to New York’s Studio 54 at the end of this year. In addition to its Laurence Olivier success, the production’s accolades to date include the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production (from the Menier run) and both the Critics’ Circle (2006) and Evening Standard prizes for Best Set Design. In the West End, Daniel Evans starred as Georges, with Jenna Russell as his mistress and muse Dot. |
| BEST SOUND DESIGN |
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WAVES designed by Gareth Fry at the Cottesloe |
| Waves - based on Virginia Woolf’s highly experimental 1931 novel, consisting of monologues by six characters describing a coastal setting at different times of the day - premiered in November 2006 at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre, where it continued in rep until earlier this month. Director Katie Mitchell and her company devised the multimedia piece. |
| BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER |
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Javier De Frutos for CABARET at the Lyric |
| Rufus Norris’ revival of Cabaret opened in September 2006 at the Lyric Theatre, where it’s currently booking until 29 September 2007. Kander and Ebb’s 1966 classic, particularly in Norris’ rendering, turns Weimar Berlin into a dark and sexually charged haven of decadence, its morally ambiguous inhabitants determined to keep up appearances as the real world - outside the sanctuary of the cabaret - prepares for the chaos of war. The cast features Anna Maxwell Martin (Sally Bowles), James Dreyfus (Emcee), Michael Hayden (Cliff) and Sheila Hancock (Fraulein Schneider). |
| BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL |
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Sheila Hancock for CABARET at the Lyric |
| Rufus Norris’ revival of Cabaret opened in September 2006 at the Lyric Theatre, where it’s currently booking until 29 September 2007. Kander and Ebb’s 1966 classic, particularly in Norris’ rendering, turns Weimar Berlin into a dark and sexually charged haven of decadence, its morally ambiguous inhabitants determined to keep up appearances as the real world - outside the sanctuary of the cabaret - prepares for the chaos of war. The cast features Anna Maxwell Martin (Sally Bowles), James Dreyfus (Emcee), Michael Hayden (Cliff) and Sheila Hancock (Fraulein Schneider). |
| BEST COSTUME DESIGN |
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THE VOYSEY INHERITANCE designed by Alison Chitty at the Lyttelton |
| Peter Gill’s acclaimed revival of Harley Granville Barker’s 1903 English classic The Voysey Inheritance ran in rep in the NT Lyttelton from April to June 2006, returning for further dates in August and September. Edward's highly principled world turns upside down when his father reveals that he has been illegally speculating with clients' money. Julian Glover and Dominic West starred as father and son. |
| BEST SET DESIGN |
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SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE designed by David Farley and Timothy Bird at Wyndham’s |
| Sam Buntrock’s revival of Sunday in the Park with George – the first major London production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, exploring the creative process of French painter Georges Seurat, since the UK premiere at the National Theatre in 1990 – first opened in November 2005 at Southwark’s 150-seat Menier Chocolate Factory, where it ran for four sell-out months. It had an extended West End season at Wyndham’s Theatre from May to September 2006 and is now expected to transfer to New York’s Studio 54 at the end of this year. In addition to its Laurence Olivier success, the production’s accolades to date include the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production (from the Menier run) and both the Critics’ Circle (2006) and Evening Standard prizes for Best Set Design. In the West End, Daniel Evans starred as Georges, with Jenna Russell as his mistress and muse Dot. |
| BEST NEW DANCE PRODUCTION |
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The Royal Ballet’s CHROMA at the Royal Opera House |
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| OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DANCE |
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Carlos Acosta for his programme of work and his performances at Sadler’s Wells |
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| BEST ACTRESS |
| Tamsin Greig for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Novello |
| Following its repertory dates at Stratford-upon-Avon, Marianne Elliott’s 1950s Cuban-set production of Much Ado About Nothing transferred to the Novello Theatre, as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s annual West End residency, for a month from 7 December 2006. This is the second major prize for Tamsin Greig, who played Beatrice opposite Joseph Millson’s Benedick. Last month, she won the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Shakespearean Performance for the production. |
| BEST ACTOR |
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Rufus Sewell for ROCK ‘N’ ROLL at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and the Duke of York’s |
| Following its world premiere in June 2006 at the Royal Court, as part of the theatre’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Rock 'n' Roll opened on 22 July at the West End’s Duke of York’s, where its extended season finishes on 25 February 2007, ahead of a Broadway transfer. This is the third major Best Actor prize for Rufus Sewell, who created the role of Czech dissident Jan – it follows wins at the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle awards. Tom Stoppard’s epic has also nabbed Best Play honours in the Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle and Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards, while Trevor Nunn also won Best Director honours in the Whatsonstage.com Awards. |
| OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION |
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SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine at Wyndham’s |
| Sam Buntrock’s revival of Sunday in the Park with George – the first major London production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, exploring the creative process of French painter Georges Seurat, since the UK premiere at the National Theatre in 1990 – first opened in November 2005 at Southwark’s 150-seat Menier Chocolate Factory, where it ran for four sell-out months. It had an extended West End season at Wyndham’s Theatre from May to September 2006 and is now expected to transfer to New York’s Studio 54 at the end of this year. In addition to its Laurence Olivier success, the production’s accolades to date include the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production (from the Menier run) and both the Critics’ Circle (2006) and Evening Standard prizes for Best Set Design. In the West End, Daniel Evans starred as Georges, with Jenna Russell as his mistress and muse Dot. |
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SPECIAL AWARD |
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Sir John Tomlinson |
| Sir John Tomlinson is acknowledged by the Society for the international renown he’s achieved for his definitive interpretations of a wide variety of roles for the bass voice across the operatic repertoire. In this year’s Oliviers, he received a separate Outstanding Achievement in Opera nomination for one of those roles – in Gotterdammerung at the Royal Opera House. Tomlinson was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2005. |
| OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OR PERFORMANCE IN AN AFFILIATE THEATRE |
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PIED PIPER at Theatre Royal, Stratford East for a powerful season of provocative work, reaching new audiences
Pied Piper opened in October at Theatre Royal Stratford East, where it created a hip-hop sensation despite a brief initial run of just a fortnight. The new piece of street dance theatre, developed by Boy Blue Entertainment and director Ultz, transports the classic Robert Browning poem to modern London. |
| BEST DIRECTOR |
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Dominic Cooke for THE CRUCIBLE at the Gielgud
Following its dates at Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s tribute revival of the late Arthur Miller’s 1953 classic The Crucible, set during the Salem witchcraft trials, had a limited season at the West End’s Gielgud Theatre from April to June 2006. Dominic Cooke – then an RSC associate director and now artistic director of the Royal Court – directed a cast that featured Iain Glen as John Proctor and Helen Schlesinger (winner of Whatsonstage.com’s Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress) as his wife Elizabeth Proctor. |
| BEST NEW OPERA PRODUCTION |
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English National Opera’s JENUFA at the London Coliseum |
| OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA |
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Amanda Roocroft for her performance in English National Opera’s JENUFA at the London Coliseum |
| BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE |
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Jim Norton for THE SEAFARER at the Cottesloe
The Seafarer, written and directed by Irishman Conor McPherson, premiered in September at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre, where it continued in rep until last month. It’s Christmas Eve and Sharky has returned to Dublin to look after his irascible, ageing brother (Jim Norton) who’s recently gone blind. The cast also comprises Ron Cook, Conleth Hill, Karl Johnson and Michael McElhatton. The production is now embarking on a regional tour. |
| BEST REVIVAL |
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THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller at the Gielgud
Following its dates at Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s tribute revival of the late Arthur Miller’s 1953 classic The Crucible, set during the Salem witchcraft trials, had a limited season at the West End’s Gielgud Theatre from April to June 2006. Dominic Cooke – then an RSC associate director and now artistic director of the Royal Court – directed a cast that featured Iain Glen as John Proctor and Helen Schlesinger (winner of Whatsonstage.com’s Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress) as his wife Elizabeth Proctor. |
| BEST NEW COMEDY |
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John Buchan’s THE 39 STEPS adapted by Patrick Barlow from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon at the Criterion
Premiered at Leeds’ West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2005, Patrick Barlow’s stage adaptation of John Buchan’s whodunit The 39 Steps, memorably filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935, opened at London’s Tricycle Theatre last summer and transferred in September to the West End’s Criterion Theatre, where it’s now booking until April 2007. It’s directed by Maria Aitken and performed by just four actors – currently, Charles Edwards, Rupert Degas, Simon Gregor and Rachel Pickup. It also won this year’s Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best New Comedy.
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| BEST NEW PLAY |
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BLACKBIRD by David Harrower at the Albery
Following its summer 2005 premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival, David Harrower’s Blackbird had a limited West End season at the Albery Theatre (now the Noël Coward) from February to May 2006. Directed by acclaimed German director Peter Stein, it starred Roger Allam and Jodhi May, reprising their Edinburgh performances, as a couple who reunite 15 years after they had an intense, illegal relationship. |
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BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL |
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Daniel Evans for SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Wyndham’s
Sam Buntrock’s revival of Sunday in the Park with George – the first major London production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, exploring the creative process of French painter Georges Seurat, since the UK premiere at the National Theatre in 1990 – first opened in November 2005 at Southwark’s 150-seat Menier Chocolate Factory, where it ran for four sell-out months. It had an extended West End season at Wyndham’s Theatre from May to September 2006 and is now expected to transfer to New York’s Studio 54 at the end of this year. In addition to its Laurence Olivier success, the production’s accolades to date include the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production (from the Menier run) and both the Critics’ Circle (2006) and Evening Standard prizes for Best Set Design. In the West End, Daniel Evans starred as Georges, with Jenna Russell as his mistress and muse Dot. |
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BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL |
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Jenna Russell for SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Wyndham’s
Sam Buntrock’s revival of Sunday in the Park with George – the first major London production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, exploring the creative process of French painter Georges Seurat, since the UK premiere at the National Theatre in 1990 – first opened in November 2005 at Southwark’s 150-seat Menier Chocolate Factory, where it ran for four sell-out months. It had an extended West End season at Wyndham’s Theatre from May to September 2006 and is now expected to transfer to New York’s Studio 54 at the end of this year. In addition to its Laurence Olivier success, the production’s accolades to date include the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production (from the Menier run) and both the Critics’ Circle (2006) and Evening Standard prizes for Best Set Design. In the West End, Daniel Evans starred as Georges, with Jenna Russell as his mistress and muse Dot. |
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BEST NEW MUSICAL |
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CAROLINE, OR CHANGE book and lyrics by Tony Kushner, music by Jeanine Tesori at the Lyttelton
Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s 2004 Broadway musical Caroline, or Change received its UK premiere in October 2006 at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre, where its repertory season finished at the beginning of this year. In Louisiana in 1963 in the immediate aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, Caroline Thibodeaux, a black maid to a southern Jewish family, is struggling to keep afloat both emotionally and economically. Once again directed by American George C Wolfe, the largely British cast was led by Tonya Pinkins, recreating her New York title performance. Caroline, or Change also won Best Musical honours at this year’s Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard awards. |
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