Nominations have been announced for this year’s 2024 Olivier Awards, organised by the Society of London Theatre.
The annual Olivier Awards will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 14 April 2024, once again hosted by Hannah Waddingham.
The nominations were revealed today, 12 March 2024, live on TikTok by Olivier Award winner Beverley Knight, who is about to star in Sister Act The Musical at the Dominion Theatre in London.
Jump to Full List of Nominations ↓ | Jump to Nominations League Table ↓
Jamie Lloyd’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, Ruper Goold’s production of James Graham’s Dear England at the National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre, and Nicholas Hytner’s production of Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre were the biggest scorers of the nominations. Sunset Boulevard received 11 nominations, and Dear England and Guys & Dolls both got 9 nominations.
Surprising news at the nominations announcement was that the Bridge Theatre has now become an Affiliate Member of the Society of London Theatre and is paying their performance levy, meaning that their current production of Guys & Dolls is now eligible for the Olivier Awards.
Other nomination highlights include:
- The National Theatre has the most nods of any venue, with 15 nominations, for Dear England, The Motive And The Cue, Till The Stars Come Down and The Effect.
- Famous screen stars are recognised in this year’s nominations with Sarah Jessica Parker nominated for Plaza Suite, James Norton for A Little Life, Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard, Sarah Snook for The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Andrew Scott for Vanya and Sheridan Smith for Shirley Valentine.
- Haydn Gwynne has been posthumously nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in When Winston Went To War With The Wireless at Donmar Warehouse.
- Eleanor Worthington-Cox has been nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her performance in Next To Normal at Donmar Warehouse, 14 years after being the youngest ever Olivier Award winner when she won Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Matilda in 2012 aged 10, alongside her co-starring Matildas.
Some shocks and disappointments, namely shows that came out with less nominations than expected, included Crazy For You, with just two nods for Susan Stroman (direction and choreography) and Charlie Stemp (acting); and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s La Cage aux Folles and The Old Vic’s Just For One Day came away with only one nomination each.
Shows that failed to get any nominations despite strong reviews, audiences and buzz, included the National Theatre’s The Witches, based on Roald Dah’s book; Annie Baker’s play Infinite Life, also at the National Theatre; The Time Traveller’s Wife which recently closed at the Apollo Theatre; the RSC’s production of Hamnet adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti; or blockbuster musical comedy Mrs Doubtfire at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
In terms of people, there is much confusion over why Nicholas Hytner wasn’t nominated for Best director of a musical for Guys & Dolls; and in some quarters, why Celinde Schoenmaker was omitted from the awards when her Guys & Dolls co-stars Daniel Mays, Marisha Wallace and Cedric Neal were all nominated (it’s worth mentioning that Andrew Richardson, who originated Sky Masterson in this production, also wasn’t nominated).
Already announced for this year’s Olivier Awards are the Industry Recognition Awards for this year, with awards going to Sylvia Addison for her work in orchestral contracting; Vereen Irving for her work in ticketing and box office management; Robert Israel and Richard Walton for their work in theatre insurance; and Susan Whiddington CBE for her work in theatre education.
Check out our Olivier Awards 2024 – What We Know So Far for information on awards eligibility, theatres that are allowed to participate in the awards, where the awards will be broadcast and more. Also see Olivier Awards 2024 – Nominated to shows to book right now; and Olivier Awards 2023 – Full list of winners from last year.
Olivier Awards 2024 – Full list of Nominations
Noël Coward award for best new entertainment or comedy play
Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo and Franca Rame, adapted by Tom Basden at the Lyric Hammersmith and Theatre Royal Haymarket
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim at the Gielgud theatre
Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry at the Phoenix theatre
Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, adapted by Liv Hennessy at the Ambassadors theatre
Best family show
Bluey’s Big Play by Joe Brumm at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
Dinosaur World Live by Derek Bond at Regent’s Park Open Air theatre
The House With Chicken Legs, book by Sophie Anderson, adapted by Oliver Lansley at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Smeds and the Smoos, book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, adapted by Tall Stories at the Lyric theatre
Gillian Lynne award for best theatre choreographer
Fabian Aloise for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
Arlene Phillips with James Cousins for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Mark Smith for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace
Susan Stroman for Crazy for You at the Gillian Lynne theatre
Best costume design
Bunny Christie & Deborah Andrews for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Ryan Dawson Laight for La Cage Aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air theatre
Hugh Durrant for Peter Pan at The London Palladium
Marg Horwell for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Best revival
The Effect by Lucy Prebble at the National Theatre – Lyttelton
Macbeth by William Shakespeare at the Donmar Warehouse
Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell at the Duke of York’s theatre
Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Simon Stephens at the Duke of York’s theatre
Best musical revival
Groundhog Day, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, book by Danny Rubin at The Old Vic
Guys and Dolls, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows at the Bridge theatre
Hadestown, music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell at the Lyric theatre
Sunset Boulevard, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics and book by Don Black & Christopher Hampton at the Savoy theatre
Best sound design
Paul Arditti for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix theatre
Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbins for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
Adam Fisher for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Gareth Fry for Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse
Outstanding musical contribution
Tom Brady for Musical Supervision and Arrangements and Charlie Rosen for Orchestrations for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Matt Brind for Musical Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations for Just for One Day at The Old Vic
Steve Sidwell for Orchestrations and Joe Bunker for Musical Direction for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune theatre
Alan Williams for Musical Supervision and Musical Direction for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Best actor in a supporting role
Will Close for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
Paul Hilton for An Enemy of the People at the Duke of York’s theatre
Giles Terera for Clyde’s at the Donmar Warehouse
Luke Thompson for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter theatre & Savoy theatre
Zubin Varla for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter theatre & Savoy theatre
Best actress in a supporting role
Lorraine Ashbourne for Till the Stars Come Down at the National Theatre – Dorfman
Priyanga Burford for An Enemy of the People at the Duke of York’s theatre
Haydn Gwynne for When Winston Went to War With the Wireless at the Donmar Warehouse
Gina McKee for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier
Tanya Reynolds for A Mirror at the Almeida Theatre and Trafalgar theatre
Best set design
Miriam Buether for Set Design and 59 Productions for Video Design for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix theatre
Bunny Christie for Set Design for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Es Devlin for Set Design and Ash J Woodward for Video Design for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
Soutra Gilmour for Set Design and Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom for Video Design for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Best lighting design
Jon Clark for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
Jon Clark for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix theatre
Paule Constable for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Jack Knowles for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Best actress in a supporting role in a musical
Grace Hodgett Young for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Zoë Roberts for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune theatre
Amy Trigg for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace
Eleanor Worthington-Cox for Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse
Best actor in a supporting role in a musical
Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune theatre
Cedric Neal for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
David Thaxton for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Jack Wolfe for Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse
Best new opera production
Blue by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum
Innocence by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House
Picture a Day Like This by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House – Linbury theatre
The Rhinegold by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum
Outstanding achievement in opera
Antonio Pappano for his role as Musical Director of the Royal Opera House
Belarus Free Theatre Company for King Stakh’s Wild Hunt at the Barbican theatre
Marina Abramović for her concept and design of 7 Deaths Of Maria Callas at the London Coliseum
Best actor in a musical
David Cumming for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune theatre
Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Daniel Mays for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Charlie Stemp for Crazy for You at the Gillian Lynne theatre
Best actress in a musical
Natasha Hodgson for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune theatre
Caissie Levy for Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse
Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Marisha Wallace for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge theatre
Best new dance production
Broken Chord by Gregory Maqoma and Thuthuka Sibisi at Sadler’s Wells
The Rite of Spring by Seeta Patel at Sadler’s Wells
La Ruta by Gabriela Carrizo, part of Nederlands Dans Theater – NDT 1 at Sadler’s Wells
Time Spell by Michelle Dorrance, Jillian Meyers and Tiler Peck, part of Turn It Out With Tiler Peck and Friends at Sadler’s Wells
Outstanding achievement in dance
Isabela Coracy for her performance in NINA: By Whatever Means, part of Ballet Black: Pioneers at the Barbican theatre
Jonzi D for his artistic direction of Breakin’ Convention 2023 International festival of hip-hop Dance theatre at Sadler’s Wells
Rhiannon Faith for her community focused conception of Lay Down Your Burdens at The Pit at Barbican
Outstanding achievement in affiliate theatre
Blue Mist by Mohamed-Zain Dada at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court theatre
A Playlist for The Revolution by AJ Yi at the Bush theatre
Sleepova by Matilda Feyişayo at the Bush theatre
The Swell by Isley Lynn at the Orange Tree theatre
The Time Machine: A Comedy by Steven Canny and John Nicholson at the Park theatre
Sir Peter Hall award for best director
Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix theatre
Rupert Goold for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy theatre
Sam Mendes for The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton and Noël Coward theatre
Best actress
Laura Donnelly for The Hills of California at the Harold Pinter theatre
Sophie Okonedo for Medea at @sohoplace
Sarah Jessica Parker for Plaza Suite at the Savoy theatre
Sheridan Smith for Shirley Valentine at the Duke of York’s theatre
Sarah Snook for The Picture of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Best actor
Joseph Fiennes for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
Mark Gatiss for The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre – Lyttelton and Noël Coward theatre
James Norton for A Little Life at the Harold Pinter theatre & Savoy theatre
Andrew Scott for Vanya at the Duke of York’s theatre
David Tennant for Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse
Best new play
Dear England by James Graham at the National Theatre – Olivier and Prince Edward theatre
The Hills of California by Jez Butterworth at the Harold Pinter theatre
The Motive and the Cue by Jack Thorne at the National Theatre – Lyttelton and Noël Coward theatre
Till the Stars Come Down by Beth Steel at the National Theatre – Dorfman
Best new musical
The Little Big Things, music by Nick Butcher, lyrics by Nick Butcher and Tom Ling, book by Joe White at @sohoplace
Next to Normal, music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey at the Donmar Warehouse
Operation Mincemeat, music, lyrics and book by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts at the Fortune theatre
A Strange Loop, music, lyrics and book by Michael R Jackson at the Barbican theatre
Olivier Awards 2024 – Nominations League Table
| Show | Count |
| Sunset Boulevard | 11 |
| Guys and Dolls | 9 |
| Dear England | 9 |
| Operation Mincemeat | 6 |
| Stranger Things: The First Shadow | 5 |
| Next to Normal | 4 |
| A Little Life | 3 |
| Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse | 3 |
| The Little Big Things | 3 |
| The Motive and the Cue | 3 |
| An Enemy of the People | 2 |
| Crazy for You | 2 |
| Shirley Valentine | 2 |
| The Hills of California | 2 |
| The Picture Of Dorian Gray | 2 |
| Till the Stars Come Down | 2 |
| Vanya | 2 |
| 7 Deaths Of Maria Callas | 1 |
| A Mirror | 1 |
| A Playlist for The Revolution | 1 |
| A Strange Loop | 1 |
| Accidental Death of an Anarchist | 1 |
| Blue | 1 |
| Blue Mist | 1 |
| Bluey’s Big Play | 1 |
| Broken Chord | 1 |
| Clyde’s | 1 |
| Dinosaur World Live | 1 |
| Groundhog Day | 1 |
| Hadestown | 1 |
| Innocence | 1 |
| Just for One Day | 1 |
| King Stakh’s Wild Hunt | 1 |
| La Cage Aux Folles | 1 |
| La Ruta | 1 |
| Lay Down Your Burdens | 1 |
| Medea | 1 |
| NINA: By Whatever Means | 1 |
| Peter Pan | 1 |
| Picture a Day Like This | 1 |
| Plaza Suite | 1 |
| Sleepova | 1 |
| Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends | 1 |
| The Effect | 1 |
| The House With Chicken Legs | 1 |
| The Rhinegold | 1 |
| The Rite of Spring | 1 |
| The Smeds and the Smoos | 1 |
| The Swell | 1 |
| The Time Machine: A Comedy | 1 |
| Time Spell | 1 |
| Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial | 1 |
| When Winston Went to War With the Wireless | 1 |
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