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The nominees for the 2017 Olivier Awards were announced this afternoon. Here are some first thoughts on choices that were a mixture of just, obvious ('Harry Potter', 'Groundhog Day') and unfair (a lot of off-West End talent has been overlooked).
'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' is clearly going to win big
With 11 nods, JK Rowling’s two-part epic stage play is the most nominated play (ie not a musical) in the awards’ history. It’s not hard to see why: it’s a box-office colossus, it's a technical triumph and it boasts an outstanding cast. There are a couple of tough categories, but all 11 seem winnable and it will surely be the show that dominates the night, and quite probably set a record for the most Oliviers won by a single show.
‘Groundhog Day’ will probably win biggish
You’d think Tim Minchin’s wildly acclaimed follow-up to his seven-Olivier-winning ‘Matilda’ would be a shoo-in for success. The only question mark is whether the fact it only had a limited run at the Old Vic prior to its imminent Broadway opening will count against it next to musicals that are still running. Still, it has eight nominations and will probably convert a bunch of them into gongs.
The Best New Play category is incredibly random
There’s an argument that Jack Thorne’s text for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is not really a standalone piece of writing, but it seems fair enough that it gets nominated. Annie Baker’s ‘The Flick’ at the National Theatre makes sense – it’s probably the most critically acclaimed play of 2016. But putting two decent shows from the Donmar Warehouse (‘Elegy’ and ‘One Night in Miami’) in there feels weird, especially in light of there being no nominations at all for new writing powerhouse the Royal Court or the Almeida (‘Boy’ and ‘Oil’).
It’s a fairly bad year for non-West End theatres
Since changes made a few years back to the Olivier nominations process gave much more weight to the opinions of West End producers, there has been a decline in the number of off-West End productions nominated. The National Theatre has a decent haul, with eight nominations spread over various categories; the Young Vic has done well thanks to its Billie Piper-starring ‘Yerma’. Beyond that, little else gets a look-in: nothing for the Royal Court or Almeida, neither of which transferred anything to the West End last year. Even for the Donmar, those two Best New Play nods are its only nominations. It feels like a lot of very good work is getting overlooked.
The list could be more diverse
There’s a smattering of black talent nominated and a couple of big wins would make all the difference. But the bulk of nominations has gone to a lot of very, very white shows, with Noma Dumezweni’s Best Supporting Actor nod the only one for a POC in the two frontrunner shows, while it’s left to musical ‘Dreamgirls’ to provide much of the remaining diversity in this year’s awards.
The Olivier Awards ceremony takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday April 9.
Here's the full list of nominees:
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Ian Bartholomew for ‘Half a Sixpence’ at Noël Coward Theatre
Adam J Bernard for ‘Dreamgirls’ at Savoy Theatre
Ben Hunter for ‘The Girls’ at Phoenix Theatre
Andrew Langtree for ‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Haydn Gwynne for ‘The Threepenny Opera’ at National Theatre, Olivier
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for ‘Murder Ballad’ at Arts Theatre
Rebecca Trehearn for ‘Show Boat’ at New London Theatre
Emma Williams for ‘Half a Sixpence’ at Noël Coward Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Music
‘Dreamgirls’ at Savoy Theatre - music by Henry Krieger
‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre - composer and arranger Imogen Heap
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre - the band and company creating the gig-like vibe of the original ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ concept album
‘School of Rock: The Musical’ at New London Theatre - three children's bands who play instruments live every night
Best New Dance Production
‘Betroffenheit’ by Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young at Sadler’s Wells
‘Blak Whyte Gray’ by Boy Blue Entertainment at Barbican Theatre
‘Giselle’ by Akram Khan and English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells
‘My Mother, My Dog and Clowns’ by Michael Clark at Barbican Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for their London season at Sadler’s Wells
Luke Ahmet for ‘The Creation’ by Rambert at Sadler’s Wells
English National Ballet for expanding the variety of their repertoire with ‘Giselle’ and ‘She Said’ at Sadler’s Wells
Best Entertainment and Family
‘Cinderella’ at London Palladium
‘David Baddiel – My Family: Not the Sitcom’ at Vaudeville Theatre
‘Peter Pan’ at National Theatre, Olivier
‘The Red Shoes’ at Sadler’s Wells
Best Theatre Choreographer
Matthew Bourne for ‘The Red Shoes’ at Sadler’s Wells
Peter Darling and Ellen Kane for ‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
Steven Hoggett for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Drew McOnie for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Magic Radio Best Musical Revival
‘Funny Girl’ at Savoy Theatre
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
‘Show Boat’ at New London Theatre
‘Sunset Boulevard’ at London Coliseum
Best Actor in a Musical
David Fynn for ‘School of Rock: The Musical’ at New London Theatre
Tyrone Huntley for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Andy Karl for ‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
Charlie Stemp for ‘Half a Sixpence’ at Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical
Glenn Close for ‘Sunset Boulevard’ at London Coliseum
Debbie Chazen, Sophie-Louise Dann, Michele Dotrice, Claire Machin, Claire Moore and Joanna Riding for ‘The Girls’ at Phoenix Theatre
Amber Riley for ‘Dreamgirls’ at Savoy Theatre
Sheridan Smith for ‘Funny Girl’ at Savoy Theatre
Best Revival
‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Duke of York’s Theatre
‘This House’ at Garrick Theatre
‘Travesties’ at Apollo Theatre
‘Yerma’ at Young Vic
Best New Comedy
‘The Comedy About a Bank Robbery’ at Criterion Theatre
‘Nice Fish’ at Harold Pinter Theatre
‘Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour’ at National Theatre, Dorfman
‘The Truth’ at Wyndham’s Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre
‘Cuttin’ It’ at The Maria, Young Vic
‘The Government Inspector’ at Theatre Royal Stratford East
‘The Invisible Hand’ at Tricycle Theatre
‘It Is Easy to Be Dead’ at Trafalgar Studios 2
‘Rotterdam’ at Trafalgar Studios 2
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
Neil Austin for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Lee Curran for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Natasha Katz for ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Duke of York’s Theatre
Hugh Vanstone for ‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
Best Sound Design
Paul Arditti for ‘Amadeus’ at National Theatre, Olivier
Adam Cork for ‘Travesties’ at Apollo Theatre
Gareth Fry for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Nick Lidster for Autograph for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Best Costume Design
Gregg Barnes for ‘Dreamgirls’ at Savoy Theatre
Hugh Durrant for ‘Cinderella’ at London Palladium
Rob Howell for ‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
Katrina Lindsay for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design
Bob Crowley for Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ at Prince Edward Theatre
Bob Crowley for ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Duke of York’s Theatre
Rob Howell for ‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
Christine Jones for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Anthony Boyle for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Freddie Fox for ‘Travesties’ at Apollo Theatre
Brian J Smith for ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Duke of York’s Theatre
Rafe Spall for ‘Hedda Gabler’ at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Melissa Allan, Caroline Deyga, Kirsty Findlay, Karen Fishwick, Kirsty MacLaren, Frances Mayli McCann, Joanne McGuinness and Dawn Sievewright for ‘Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour‘ at National Theatre, Dorfman
Noma Dumezweni for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Clare Foster for ‘Travesties’ at Apollo Theatre
Kate O’Flynn for ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Duke of York’s Theatre
Best New Opera Production
‘4.48 Psychosis’ at Lyric Hammersmith
‘Akhnaten’ at London Coliseum
‘Così Fan Tutte’ at Royal Opera House
‘Lulu’ at London Coliseum
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Renée Fleming for her performance in ‘Der Rosenkavalier’ at Royal Opera House
Stuart Skelton for his performance in ‘Tristan and Isolde’ at London Coliseum
Mark Wigglesworth for his conducting of ‘Don Giovanni’ and ‘Lulu’ at London Coliseum
Best Actor
Ed Harris for ‘Buried Child’ at Trafalgar Studios 1
Tom Hollander for ‘Travesties’ at Apollo Theatre
Ian McKellen for ‘No Man’s Land’ at Wyndham’s Theatre
Jamie Parker for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
Best Actress
Glenda Jackson for ‘King Lear’ at The Old Vic
Cherry Jones for ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Duke of York’s Theatre
Billie Piper for ‘Yerma’ at Young Vic
Ruth Wilson for ‘Hedda Gabler’ at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Best Director
Simon Stone for ‘Yerma’ at Young Vic
John Tiffany for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
John Tiffany for ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Duke of York’s Theatre
Matthew Warchus for ‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
Virgin Atlantic Best New Play
‘Elegy’ at Donmar Warehouse
‘The Flick’ at National Theatre, Dorfman
‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at Palace Theatre
‘One Night in Miami’ at Donmar Warehouse
Mastercard Best New Musical
‘Dreamgirls’ at Savoy Theatre
‘The Girls’ at Phoenix Theatre
‘Groundhog Day’ at The Old Vic
‘School of Rock: The Musical’ at New London Theatre