By: Erin J Kahn
News & Features

Everything to Know About the 2018 Olivier Award Nominations

Nominations for the 2018 Olivier Awards are in! And it’s another record setting year. Find out who the top contenders are, who might win two Olivier Awards to add to the four she already has (hint: it’s Imelda Staunton), why we’re betting on Hamilton, and everything else you need to know about theatre’s biggest night.

Hamilton Continues to Make History

If there’s one constant in this year’s Olivier Award nominations, it’s Hamilton. Passionately smashin’ every expectation, the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical rounded up a record-breaking 13 nominations. If you’re counting, that’s two more than Harry Potter and the Cursed Child brought in last year – and that was a record at the time!

The show’s nominations include Best New Musical, Outstanding Achievement in Music (for Lin-Manuel Miranda), Best Director (Thomas Kail), Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, and Best Theatre Choreographer, plus six acting nominations.

In some categories, Hamilton will even be competing against itself. Best Actor in a Musical pits Giles Terera (Aaron Burr) against Jamael Westman (Alexander Hamilton). Hopefully it won’t come down to a duel.

Meanwhile, Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical includes not one, not two, but three Hamilton cast members: Michael Jibson (King George), Jason Pennycooke (Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson), and Cleve September (John Laurens / Philip Hamilton). Ross Noble (Igor in Young Frankenstein) is the sole nominee for that category not in Hamilton.

Hamilton actress Rachel John (Angelica Schuyler) has also been nominated, for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical.

What Other Shows Are On the Table?

Following close on Hamilton‘s heels is the National Theatre’s revival of Follies: with ten total nominations including Best Director (Dominic Cooke), Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Actress (Janie Dee), and Best Musical Revival.

Besides Hamilton, contenders for Best New Musical are An American In Paris, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Girl From the North Country, and Young Frankenstein.

Production shot from 'The Ferryman' London
The Ferryman

If you’ve been following London theatre at all this year, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman is leading the play nominations with eight total. It’s up against Ink, Network, and Oslo in the Best New Play category. And director Sam Mendes, actress Laura Donnelly, and actor Paddy Considine are all nominees.

Close behind is Angels In America (no surprise there, either) with seven nominations. It’s up for Best Revival, with Marianne Elliot nominated for Best Director, and several cast nominations.

Other contenders across the board are Girl From the North Country, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Ink, Hamlet at the Almeida Theatre, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Network, and Oslo. Ink, Oslo, Network, and The Ferryman are all up for Best New Play.

Acting Nominations Are … Intense

You don’t have to look far to find out just how crazy this year’s nominations are. In Best Actress, who could choose between Imelda Staunton, Audra McDonald, Lesley Manville, and Laura Donnelly? Then again, Imelda Staunton has already won four Olivier Awards and Audra McDonald has six Tony Awards to her name. So maybe it’s time to give something to first-time nominee Laura Donnelly.

Staunton could also win elsewhere: she’s up for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Follies. Will she win two awards in one night? We wouldn’t put it past her.

The pressure is also on for Best Actor: Bryan Cranston, Andrew Garfield, and Andrew Scott are all nominees – not to mention Ferryman actor Paddy Considine. Aside from Scott (who’s a previous Olivier Award-winner), all these actors are first-time nominees. In fact, there seem to be a lot of first-time nominees this season, which is very exciting.

Some other notable nominations are John McCrea and Josie Walker (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), and Shirley Henderson and Ciarán Hinds (Girl From The North Country).

Production shot from 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie' London
‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie‘ won Best Musical at the UK Theatre Awards. Can it keep up the winning streak?

Affiliate Theatres Need Some Love, Too

Let’s not forget the nominees for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre, though, because scooping up an Olivier nomination for an off-West End show is pretty impressive. The contenders are The B*easts at Bush Theatre, Killology at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs At The Royal Court Theatre, The Red Lion at Trafalgar Studios 2, and The Revlon Girl at Park Theatre.

In Case You Needed Reminding

So um, the Olivier Awards are kind of a big deal. Going on 36 years now, they’re basically the most prestigious awards you can get in the world of theatre.

This year, the Olivier Awards ceremony will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 8 April. Don’t miss it!

 Full List of 2018 Olivier Nominees

 American Airlines Best New Play

  • The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
  • Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre

Mastercard Best New Musical

Best Revival

  • Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
  • Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
  • Witness For The Prosecution at London County Hall

Magic Radio Best Musical Revival

  • 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
  • Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
  • On The Town at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Actor

  • Paddy Considine for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • Bryan Cranston for Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Andrew Garfield for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Andrew Scott for Hamlet at Almeida Theatre

Best Actress

  • Laura Donnelly for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • Lesley Manville for Long Day’s Journey Into Night at Wyndham’s Theatre
  • Audra McDonald for Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill at Wyndham’s Theatre
  • Imelda Staunton for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical

Best Actress in a Musical

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Bertie Carvel for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
  • John Hodgkinson for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • James McArdle for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Peter Polycarpou for Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Bríd Brennan for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • Denise Gough for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Dearbhla Molloy for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • Imogen Poots for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

  • Michael Jibson for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
  • Ross Noble for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
  • Jason Pennycooke for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
  • Cleve September for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical

  • Sheila Atim for Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic
  • Tracie Bennett for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
  • Rachel John for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
  • Lesley Joseph for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre

Best Director

  • Dominic Cooke for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
  • Marianne Elliott for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Rupert Goold for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
  • Thomas Kail for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
  • Sam Mendes for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Music

  • Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – Music and Orchestrations by Dan Gillespie Sells, his debut as a musical theatre composer and orchestrator at Apollo Theatre
  • Follies – The Orchestra, under the Music Supervision of Nicholas Skilbeck and Music Director Nigel Lilley at National Theatre – Olivier
  • Girl From The North Country – Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan, Original Orchestrations & Arrangements by Simon Hale at The Old Vic
  • Hamilton – Composer-Lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best New Dance Production

  • Flight Pattern by Crystal Pite at Royal Opera House
  • Goat by Ben Duke for Rambert Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells
  • Grand Finale by Hofesh Shechter at Sadler’s Wells
  • Tree Of Codes by Wayne McGregor and The Paris Opera Ballet at Sadler’s Wells

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

  • Rocío Molina for pushing the boundary of flamenco in Fallen From Heaven (Caída Del Cielo) at Barbican Theatre
  • Francesca Velicu for her performance in English National Ballet’s production of Pina Bausch’s Le Sacre Du Printemps at Sadler’s Wells
  • Zenaida Yanowsky for her performance in Liam Scarlett’s Symphonic Dances at Royal Opera House

Best Entertainment and Family

  • David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny at Garrick Theatre
  • Derren Brown: Underground at Playhouse Theatre
  • Dick Whittington at London Palladium
  • Five Guys Named Moe at Marble Arch Theatre

Best Theatre Choreographer

  • Andy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
  • Bill Deamer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
  • Kate Prince for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
  • Randy Skinner for 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
  • Christopher Wheeldon for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
Production shot from '42nd Street' London
’42nd Street’ is up for two Olivier Awards: Best Theatre Choreographer and Best Musical Revival.

Best New Comedy

  • Dry Powder at Hampstead Theatre
  • Labour Of Love at Noël Coward Theatre
  • Mischief Movie Night at Arts Theatre
  • The Miser at Garrick Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre

  • The B*easts at Bush Theatre
  • Killology at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • The Red Lion at Trafalgar Studios 2
  • The Revlon Girl at Park Theatre

White Light Award for Best Lighting Design

  • Howell Binkley for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
  • Paule Constable for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Paule Constable for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
  • Jan Versweyveld for Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton

Best Sound Design

  • Tom Gibbons for Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
  • Gareth Owen for Bat Out Of Hell The Musical at London Coliseum
  • Eric Sleichim for Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton
  • Nevin Steinberg for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Best Costume Design

  • Hugh Durrant for Dick Whittington at London Palladium
  • Roger Kirk for 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
  • Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
  • Paul Tazewell for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

Blue-I Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design

  • Bunny Christie for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
  • Bob Crowley and 59 Productions for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
  • Rob Howell for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
  • Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier

Best New Opera Production

  • La Bohème at Trafalgar Studios 2
  • The Exterminating Angel at Royal Opera House
  • Semiramide at Royal Opera House

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

  • Paul Brown for his set and costume designs for Iolanthe at London Coliseum
  • Joyce DiDonato and Daniela Barcellona for their performances in Semiramide at Royal Opera House
  • Roderick Williams for his performance in The Royal Opera’s The Return Of Ulysses at the Roundhouse