Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Matt Henry and Kenneth Cranham were among the winners at the 2016 Olivier Awards held at London’s Royal Opera House on 3 April 2016.
Dame Judi Dench received a record eighth Olivier Award for her portrayal of Paulina in The Winter’s Tale at the Garrick Theatre. Dench has now won more Olivier Awards for acting than any other performer.
Chichester Festival Theatre’s West End transfer of Gypsy was the big winner on the night, winning four prizes. In addition to the Best Actress in a Musical win for Imelda Staunton, the show collected Best Musical Revival, Best Lighting Design and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Lara Pulver.
The National Theatre was also celebrating, with its productions picking up four Olivier Awards. Denise Gough won Best Actress for her acclaimed performance in People, Places And Things, which is now playing at Wyndham’s Theatre. Best Sound Design went to Tom Gibbons. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was named Best Revival and Mark Gatiss won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Three Days In The Country.
Kenneth Cranham won the Best Actor Award for his performance in Florian Zeller’s The Father. Best Actor was a hotly contested category with nominations for Kenneth Branagh, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adrian Lester and Mark Rylance.
Kinky Boots took home three prizes with Matt Henry collecting Best Actor in a Musical, Gregg Barnes winning Best Costume Design and the production winning Best New Musical.
In The Heights won three Olivier Awards. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman won Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music. Drew McOnie was named Best Theatre Choreographer and David Bedella collected Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
The Royal Court Theatre’s production of Hangmen was named Best New Play and Anna Fleischle won Best Set Design.
The Magic Fm Audience award, the only award voted by the public went to The Phantom of the Opera.
The full list of 2016 Olivier Award Winner can be found here.
The Olivier Awards were hosted by Michael Ball and featured performances by Cyndi Lauper, Michael Feinstein, Joe Stilgoe, Jack Savoretti, and all the nominated productions in both the Best New Musical and Best Musical Revival categories. Imelda Staunton opened the ceremony performing Everything’s Coming Up Roses from Gypsy.
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