Laurence Olivier Awards facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Laurence Olivier Awards, often called the Olivier Awards, are special prizes given every year by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT). These awards celebrate the "world-class status of London theatre," meaning they honor the very best shows and performances in London.

Quick facts for kids Olivier Awards
The Laurence Olivier Award statue, designed by Harry Franchetti. It shows Olivier as Henry V in a 1937 play.
Presented by	Society of London Theatre
Country	United Kingdom
First awarded	1976; 50 years ago (1976)

The awards were first known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards. In 1984, they were renamed to honor a famous English actor named Laurence Olivier.

These awards are given out each year to people involved in West End shows and other important non-commercial theatres in London. They cover many different types of performances, including plays, musicals, dance, and opera. There's also a special award given each year for outstanding contributions. The Olivier Awards are considered the highest honor in British theatre and drama. They are like the BAFTA Awards for movies and TV, or the Brit Awards for music. Globally, they are similar to Broadway's Tony Awards in the United States.

Since they began, the award ceremonies have been held at various places across London. From 2012 to 2016, they took place at the Royal Opera House. Then, in 2017, they moved to the Royal Albert Hall. In 2026, the ceremony was shown on BBC Two television and broadcast on Magic Radio.

Most recent Olivier Award winners

← 2025

2026 Laurence Olivier Awards

2027 →


Award	Best Actor	Best Actress
Winner	Jack Holden (Kenrex)	Rosamund Pike (Inter Alia)

Award	Best Actor in a Musical	Best Actress in the Musical
Winner	James Hameed (Paddington)	Rachel Zegler (Evita)
Award	Best Director
Winner	Luke Sheppard (Paddington)

Previous Best Musical

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Play
Giant

Best Musical

Paddington
Best Play
Punch

What are the Olivier Awards?
See also

What are the Olivier Awards?

The Olivier Awards are a big celebration of London's amazing theatre scene. They recognize the best actors, actresses, directors, and shows that light up the stages of the city. Winning an Olivier Award is a huge honor, showing that someone's work is truly outstanding.

A Look Back: How the Awards Started

The awards began in 1976. They were created by the Society of London Theatre and were first called the Society of West End Theatre Awards. An artist named Tom Merrifield designed the first awards. The very first ceremony happened in December 1976 at the Café Royal.

In 1984, the famous British actor Laurence Olivier agreed to have the awards named after him. That's how they became known as the Laurence Olivier Awards!

How the Winners are Chosen

Every year, special groups of judges are formed by the Society of London Theatre. These groups decide who wins for theatre, opera, dance, and other shows.

For opera, dance, and other smaller theatres, each judging group includes experts like journalists and casting directors. It also includes members of the public who love London theatre. These groups first pick the shows they think are worthy of a nomination. Then, they vote for the winners at the end of the judging period.

For the main theatre awards, a long list of possible nominees is made by public judges. This list is then sent to members of SOLT to vote on. After more voting by both members and judges, the final list of nominees is created. Finally, everyone votes again to choose the winners.

The Big Night: Ceremony Details

The Olivier Awards ceremony is a glamorous event where the winners are announced. It's a night filled with excitement and celebration for everyone involved in theatre.

Who Has Hosted?

Many famous people have hosted the Olivier Awards ceremony over the years. Some of these hosts include Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton, Clive Anderson, Gemma Arterton, Stephen Mangan, Hugh Bonneville, Sheridan Smith, Lenny Henry, Catherine Tate, Jason Manford and Hannah Waddingham.

Where the Magic Happens: Venues

The awards ceremony has been held in many beautiful locations across London. The Grosvenor House Hotel is a place often linked with the awards, hosting the after-show party many times and the main event a few times.

Other famous theatres and hotels that have hosted the awards include the Albery Theatre, Café Royal, Dominion Theatre, London Palladium, Lyceum Theatre, Park Lane Hilton, Piccadilly Theatre, Royal National Theatre Olivier, Royalty Theatre, Shaftesbury Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Victoria Palace Theatre.

From 2012 to 2016, the ceremony was held at the Royal Opera House. In 2017, it moved to the Royal Albert Hall, where it has been held since.

Watching the Show: Broadcasts

The first Olivier Awards shown on television was the 1981 ceremony, broadcast on BBC1. This continued until 1992, then moved to BBC2 until 2003.

After that, the awards were only on radio until 2011. In 2011 and 2012, the BBC offered live online coverage, and Paul Gambaccini hosted a show on BBC Radio 2 with live updates. In 2013, ITV started broadcasting the awards, bringing them back to mainstream television. The ceremony was also broadcast on Magic Radio. In 2026, the awards returned to BBC Two and BBC Radio 2.

Different Kinds of Awards

The Olivier Awards celebrate excellence in many areas of theatre. Here are some of the main categories:

For Plays

Best New Play
Best Revival (for an older play brought back to the stage)
Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role

For Musicals

Best New Musical
Best Musical Revival (for an older musical brought back)
Best Actor in a Musical
Best Actress in a Musical
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Outstanding Musical Contribution

Behind the Scenes: Production Awards

Best Director
Best Theatre Choreographer (for dance in a show)
Best Set Design
Best Costume Design
Best Lighting Design
Best Sound Design

Dance and Opera Awards

Best New Dance Production
Best New Opera Production
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Outstanding Achievement in Opera

Other Special Awards

Special Award (for a lifetime of achievement or outstanding contribution)
Best Family Show
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre (for smaller, non-commercial theatres)

Awards from the Past

Some award categories have been retired over the years, meaning they are no longer given out. These include awards like "Actor of the Year in a New Play" and "Most Promising Performer."

Amazing Records and Milestones

The Olivier Awards have seen many incredible achievements and records over the years. Here are some of the most notable:

Top Productions

The play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child holds the record for the most Olivier Awards ever won by a play. In 2017, it won nine awards, including Best New Play.
For musicals, the record for most Olivier Awards is tied between Paddington: The Musical (2026), Sunset Boulevard (2024), Cabaret (2022), Hamilton (2018), and Matilda (2012). Each of these musicals received seven awards.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2013) received seven Olivier Awards.
The most nominations ever received by a single production is 13. This record is shared by Hamilton (2018) and Fiddler on the Roof (2025).
Kiss Me, Kate (2002) holds the record for the most nominations (nine) without winning any awards.

Star Performers and Creators

Sonia Friedman is the producer with the most Olivier wins, having won 18 awards. She is also the only producer to win Best Play, Best Musical, Best Play Revival, and Best Musical Revival.

Judi Dench has won seven competitive Olivier Awards. She also received a Special Olivier Award in 2004.

William Dudley (a designer), Judi Dench (an actress), and Matthew Bourne (a choreographer) are tied for the most competitive wins by an individual, with seven awards each. Judi Dench also received a Special Olivier Award in 2004.
Andrew Lloyd Webber (a famous composer and producer) has won six competitive awards, plus a Special Olivier Award in 2008.
Ian McKellen, Alan Bennett, Richard Eyre, and Stephen Sondheim have all won five competitive awards, in addition to a Special Olivier Award.
Paule Constable has received a record seventeen Olivier nominations and has won six times.
Performers who have won Olivier Awards in both play and musical categories include: Simon Russell Beale, Jonathan Pryce, Henry Goodman, Imelda Staunton, Judi Dench, Sheridan Smith, Janie Dee, Sharon D. Clarke, Sheila Atim, and Eddie Redmayne.
- Of these, Judi Dench is the only one to win both a play and a musical acting award in the same year (1996).
In 1991, Karla Burns became the first black performer to win an Olivier Award. She won for her role as Queenie in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Show Boat.
Maggie Smith has been nominated six times but has never won a competitive award. She did receive a Special Olivier Award in 2010.
Philip Quast has won the Olivier for Best Actor in a Musical three times.
Imelda Staunton has won the Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical four times. She also holds the record for the most nominations in this category, with eight.
In 1985, Patti LuPone tied with herself for an Olivier Award. She won for her performances in Les Miserables and The Cradle Will Rock.
Roles that have won awards for actors on more than one occasion include Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd.
Michael Ball, Bertie Carvel, and Jak Malone all won Oliviers for playing roles of the opposite sex. Michael Ball won in 2008 for Hairspray, Bertie Carvel in 2012 for Matilda, and Jak Malone in 2024 for Operation Mincemeat (musical).
Sometimes, awards are shared! In 2022, all seven actors who shared the role of the Tiger in Life of Pi received the Olivier for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In 2012, all four actresses who shared the role of Matilda in Matilda the Musical received the Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical.
On April 15, 2012, at just 10 years old, Eleanor Worthington Cox became the youngest winner of an award. She received the Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical for Matilda the Musical.
In 2018, Billie Piper became the first actor to win all six of the main UK Theatre Best Actress awards for a single performance. This was for her role in Yerma.