Hamilton and The Ferryman dominate Olivier Awards

The Hip Hop musical Hamilton has won seven of the thirteen Olivier Awards for which it was nominated, equalling Matilda’s record for the most Oliviers won by a musical.
Hamilton won seven Olivier Awards: Photo – Matthew Murphy

The West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about the US founding father Alexander Hamilton was named the best new musical, as well as being honoured for the best achievement in music, choreography, lighting and sound design. Its stars Giles Terera and Michael Jibson were named best actor and best supporting actor in a musical respectively.

Another cast member, Jamael Westman, said Hamilton was being honoured for breaking down barriers and changing the way we see theatre.

 

Jez Butterworth’s Northern Ireland Troubles-set The Ferryman won three of theatre’s most prestigious awards; best new play, best director for Sam Mendes and best actress in a play, for Laura Donnelly. With the story based on the experiences of her own family, Donnelly said she had felt the weight of responsibility to do it justice that she had never felt before. Her co-star Paddy Considine missed out on the best actor prize to Bryan Cranston, for Network.

The female musical awards both went to the Bob Dylan-inspired Girl from the North Country, with Shirley Henderson and Sheila Atim being named best actress and best supporting actress respectively.

The best actor in a supporting role in a play was Bertie Carvel, for Ink. Denise Gough won the prize for the best supporting actress in a play for Angels in America, which was also named the best revival. Stephen Sondheim’s Follies was the best musical revival; it also won the prize for best costume design.

As with many of the recent film awards ceremonies, a number of stars turned up wearing Time’s Up badges on their outfits and several actresses took feminist activists as their guests.

And here is the full list of winners, as they were handed out:

Best actor in a supporting role in a musical

Winner:
Michael Jibson for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best actress in a supporting role in a musical

Winner:
Sheila Atim for Girl From The North Country at the Old Vic

Outstanding achievement in music

Winner:
Hamilton – Composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best new dance production

Winner:
Flight Pattern by Crystal Pite at Royal Opera House

Outstanding achievement in dance

Winner:
Francesca Velicu for her performance in English National Ballet’s production of Pina Bausch’s Le Sacre Du Printemps at Sadler’s Wells

Best entertainment and family

Winner:
Dick Whittington at London Palladium

Best theatre choreographer

Winner:
Andy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best musical revival

Winner:
Follies at National Theatre, Olivier

Best actor in a musical

Winner:
Giles Terera for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best actress in a musical

Winner:
Shirley Henderson for Girl From The North Country at the Old Vic

Best revival

Winner:
Angels In America at National Theatre, Lyttelton

Best new comedy

Winner:
Labour Of Love at Noel Coward Theatre

Outstanding achievement in affiliate theatre

Winner:
Killology at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre

Best lighting design

Winner:
Howell Binkley for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best sound design

Winner:
Nevin Steinberg for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best costume design

Winner:
Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre, Olivier

Best set design

Winner:
Bob Crowley and 59 Productions for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre

Best actor in a supporting role

Winner:
Bertie Carvel for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre

Best actress in a supporting role

Winner:
Denise Gough for Angels In America at National Theatre, Lyttelton

Best new opera production

Winner:
Semiramide at Royal Opera House

Outstanding achievement in opera

Winner:
Joyce DiDonato and Daniela Barcellona for their performances in Semiramide at Royal Opera House

Best actor

Winner:
Bryan Cranston for Network at National Theatre Lyttelton

Best actress

Winner:
Laura Donnelly for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre

Best director

Winner:
Sam Mendes for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre

Best new play

Winner:
The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre

Best new musical

Winner:
Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre