Olivier Award Nominations Announced
by Oliver Mitford on Thursday 12 March 2015, 11:02 am in Laurence Olivier Awards
After much speculation, finally the nominations for the 39th Laurence Olivier Awards were announced on Monday. The closed ceremony was held at the flashy Rosewood Hotel in London, and was presented by previous award-winners, Lesley Manville and James McAvoy.
The most nods this year have been given to the Young Vic Theatre, being nominated a grand total of 11 times for productions that include Bull, A Streetcar Named Desire, A View from the Bridge and The Scottsboro Boys. However, the Royal National Theatre received just one nomination overall, for new musical Here Lies Love, quite a change from their usual large haul of possible awards.
It seems that big names were the dish-of-the-day, with stars such as Nicole Scherzinger, James McAvoy, Richard Armitage, Dame Angela Lansbury, Gemma Arterton, Beverley Knight and Tamsin Greig, all receiving nominations for their various roles in big-hitting plays and musicals.
The winners of the coveted prizes will be announced at a star-studded red carpet ceremony held at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden on Sunday 12 April 2015.
Broadway transfers, Memphis and Beautiful also topped the lists of nominations, with both shows making the shortlist for Best New Musical, as well as eight other nominations for Memphis and seven others for Beautiful.
Kevin Spacey, the outgoing artistic director of the Old Vic will receive a special Olivier Award for his extraordinary contribution to British Theatre. The legendary actor, director and manager has held the post at the Old Vic Theatre for just over 11 years.
Look out for more news on the Olivier Awards coming soon.