HAMILTON was the night's biggest winner at this year's Olivier Awards, taking home seven prizes in total including Best New Musical. But in the performance categories, it split down the middle between men from Hamilton and women from Bob Dylan hit GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY. The National Theatre's revival of FOLLIES also took two awards, including Best Musical Revival.
The winners of the Olivier Awards 2018 with Mastercard, the UK’s most prestigious stage honours, were announced tonight (Sunday 8 April 2018) at London’s Royal Albert Hall hosted by Catherine Tate.
New American musical Hamilton collected seven Olivier Awards including Best New Musical with composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda and orchestrator Alex Lacamoire winning Outstanding Achievement in Music. Giles Terera, who plays the part of Aaron Burr, was named Best Actor in a Musical, with Michael Jibson winning Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his portrayal of King George III. The musical, about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, also went on to win Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, and Best Theatre Choreographer.
Amongst the National Theatre's five Awards are two wins for its major Sondheim production Follies, including Best Musical Revival. The production is due to return to the NT in 2018.
Shirley Henderson and Sheila Atim won Best Actress in a Musical and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical, respectively, for Girl From The North Country, Conor McPherson's musical based on the work of Bob Dylan, which premiered at the Old Vic and recently completed its West End transfer season at the Noel Coward Theatre.
There were also wins for #StageFaves productions of An American in Paris and Dick Whittington.
Musical performances at this year's black-tie ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall included American musical theatre legend Chita Rivera performing the iconic West Side Story track Somewhere with Andy Karl (Olivier Award 2017 winner for his performance in Groundhog Day), Adam J Bernard (Olivier Award 2017 winner for his performance in Dreamgirls), and the Arts Educational Schools London Choir, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the production debuting in London; nominated musicals Hamilton, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Girl From The North Country, Young Frankenstein, Follies and 42nd Street; and as the evening's finale, a 50th anniversary tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic musical Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat featuring past stars Jason Donovan and Linzi Hateley, Lee Mead and Preeya Kalidas, and Joe McElderry and Danielle Hope.
Leading musical presenters this year included Alexandra Burke, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Beverley Knight, Chita Rivera, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Meera Syal, Mel Giedroyc and Patti LuPone.
Visit our dedicated Olivier Awards page on #StageFaves for further coverage - and tons of social media - from the night.
Full list of musical winners at 2018 Oliviers
Best Entertainment & Family
- Dick Whittington at London Palladium
Best Costume Design
- Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Best Sound Design
- Nevin Steinberg for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Best Set Design
- Bob Crowley and 59 Productions for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
Best Lighting Design
- Howell Binkley for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Music
- Hamilton - Composer-Lyricist: Lin-Manuel Miranda; Orchestrator: Alex Lacamoire at Victoria Palace Theatre
Best Theatre Choreographer
- Andy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Best Musical Revival
- Follies at National Theatre - Olivier
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
- Michael Jibson 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 and the Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical
- Shirley Henderson for Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic and the Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actor in a Musical
- Giles Terera for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Mastercard Best New Musical
- Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
