Nominations have been announced for the Olivier Awards 2023 with Mastercard, which will take place on 2 April at the Royal Albert Hall.
This year’s most nominated production is My Neighbour Totoro, the new stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s beloved 1988 animated film. Brought to the stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company and legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, the production receives a total of nine nominations, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, Best Director, Best Theatre Choreographer, Best Original Score and a Best Actress nod for Mei Mac.
Standing At The Sky’s Edge at the National Theatre receives eight nominations, the most for a musical. The production, which is set in Sheffield and premiered in the city in 2019, has earned Richard Hawley his first Olivier Award nomination for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations. Other nominations include Best New Musical, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
Garnering seven nominations – including Best Musical Revival – is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma West End. Newly transferred to the West End following sell-out runs on Broadway and at the Young Vic, the production has also gained acting nominations for Arthur Darvill, Anoushka Lucas, Liza Sadovy and Marisha Wallace.
With six nominations apiece are A Streetcar Named Desire West End, with nods for actors Paul Mescal, Anjana Vasan and Patsy Ferran; The Band’s Visit, the musical adapted from the eponymous Israeli film; and To Kill A Mockingbird - West End, Bartlett Sher’s staging of Harper Lee’s classic novel which has earnt Rafe Spall, Pamela Nomvete and David Moorst acting nominations.
Jodie Comer is nominated for Best Actress for her West End debut in Prima Facie, which receives five nominations overall, including Best New Play and Best Director. Among the Best Actor nominees are David Tennant, for a new production of C.P. Taylor’s 1989 play Good - which is up for four awards including Best Revival - and Tom Hollander for Patriots, a new play by Peter Morgan set during the fall of the Soviet Union, which is nominated in three categories.
In the musical acting categories, Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells are both in contention for their roles in new musical Tammy Faye, which boasts a score by Elton John and the Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and tells the story of legendary televangelist Tammy Faye Messner. Beverley Knight is nominated for her role in The Old Vic Theatre’s new suffragette musical Sylvia, and Clive Rowe for his performance in Sister Act.
The National Theatre has had a strong year, boasting a total of 16 nominations across six of its productions; Standing At The Sky’s Edge, Blues For An Alabama Sky, The Crucible, Phaedra, The Corn Is Green and Jack Absolute Flies Again.
Some nominees are no stranger to the Olivier Awards. Actress Janet McTeer returns for her 6th nomination, having first been nominated in 1986 as Most Promising Newcomer in a Play. Costume designer Hugh Durrant, sound designers Max & Ben Ringham, and choreographer Crystal Pite all receive their 5th nominations this year, and actor Clive Rowe receives his 4th nomination.
This is also a big year for first-time actor nominations, with 27 people receiving their first nod – including Rose Ayling-Ellis, Jodie Comer, Paul Mescal, Caroline Quentin, Sharon Small and Anjana Vasan. Notable creative first-time nominees include fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier for his self-titled Fashion Freak Show at the Roundhouse.
For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy saw 6 actors gain nominations in a single category – the original cast, Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh and Kaine Lawrence, are all nominated for their West-End debut.
Commenting on the nominations, Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, co-CEOs of the Society of London Theatre and Executive Producers of the Olivier Awards, said: “We would like to congratulate all the nominees for the Olivier Awards with Mastercard 2023. It is incredible to see such a diverse range of people honoured for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
“We have no doubt this year's event will be the ultimate celebration of theatre and are anticipating showstopping performances and an electric atmosphere in the Royal Albert Hall come Sunday 2 April.”
The Olivier Awards will be hosted by Hannah Waddingham and broadcast via ITV and Magic Radio. Further details of the ceremony will be announced soon.
For a full list of nominations, please visit the awards website.