Olivier Awards 2023: everything you need to know

This Sunday is the big day! Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Olivier Awards.

What are the Olivier Awards?

Only one of the most prolific nights of the theatrical calendar – when the cream of the theatre crop come together and celebrate the performing arts in London. They’ve been running since 1976, and winning an Olivier Award is a stamp of the highest approval from the industry.

The awards ceremony itself, taking place on Sunday 2 April, will once again be returning to the 5000-seater Royal Albert Hall – with the ceremony kicking off at 6pm and running until approx. 9:30pm, and the green carpet (with an eco-friendly focus) from 4pm to 5:30pm (and we’ll be there live-tweeting and having an all-out blast)!

Who’s presenting?

Three-time WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award nominee and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham will be hosting this year, emceeing the event and ushering the individual presenters on and off stage. She’ll also be performing a special opening number penned by Pippa Cleary (The Great British Bake Off Musical)

Presenting awards or taking part in the evening are (deep breath) Milly Alcock, Sheila Atim, Matthew Bourne, Darcey Bussell, Liz Carr, Divina De Campo, Es Devlin, Luke Evans, Helen George, Callum Scott Howells, Eddie Izzard, Cush Jumbo, Ronan Keating, Tim Minchin, Anne Reid, Golda Rosheuvel, Lea Salonga, Harriet Scott, Sheridan Smith, Mark Strong, Meera Syal, Sindhu Vee, Dita Von Teese and Aimee Lou Wood.

Who’s the leader of the pack?

The RSC’s acclaimed stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro is leading the pack with a total of nine nominations, following its box office record-smashing tenure at the Barbican Theatre. The most-nominated musical at this year’s ceremony is Standing at the Sky’s Edge (which completed its run at the National Theatre last weekend).

Other productions boasting multiple Olivier nominations include the bold reimagining of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! (with seven nods), the Almeida revival of A Streetcar Named Desire starring Patsy Ferran, Paul Mescal and Anjana Vasan (six), Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird (six), The Band’s Visit at Donmar Warehouse (six), the Jodie Comer-led Prima Facie (five), the David Tennant-led revival of Good (four) and the Almeida’s world premiere musical Tammy Faye (four).

Read the full list of nominations here.

Who’s performing on the night?

Crikey – who isn’t performing?! You’ve got all four of the shows nominated for Best New Musical (The Band’s Visit, Standing At The Sky’s Edge, Sylvia and Tammy Faye), as well as two nominated revivals (Oklahoma! and Sister Act) and Disney’s Newsies (which has been nominated for its choreography).

Speaking of choreography, the cast of Grease will also perform a tribute to special award recipient Arlene Philips. And finally, The Book of Mormon will also mark its tenth anniversary in the West End. We believe!

See the full line-up of performers on the night.

Who will be on the green carpet?

You name them, they’ll probably be there – there’s sure to be appearances from the casts of Oklahoma!, Sylvia, Tammy Faye, Standing on the Sky’s Edge and My Neighbour Totoro. Other notable stars confirmed to attend include Rose Ayling-Ellis, Jodie Comer, Arthur Darvill, Jean Paul Gaultier, Beverley Knight, Elliot Levey, Janet McTeer, Paul Mescal, Caroline Quentin, Clive Rowe, Sharon Small, Rafe Spall, Marisha Wallace, David Tennant and Giles Terera.

Beyond that, who knows – you’ll have to tune into the WhatsOnStage coverage to find out live as it happens!

How can I stay in the loop?

We’ll be providing live updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so keep an eye out for the latest news, photos, videos from the green carpet, the winners room and the auditorium.

The event won’t be broadcast live in the UK (but can be streamed abroad), however, a highlights package will air on ITV1 and ITVX at 10.15pm on Sunday 2 April.

In addition, the ceremony will be broadcast live on Magic Radio from 6pm, presented by Ruthie Henshall and Alice Arnold.

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