2008 Laurence Olivier Award Winners

Last night saw the winners of the most prestigious awards in theatre announced - The Laurence Olivier Awards. Held at the Grovesnor House Hotel on Park Lane, the 2008 Olivier Awards saw a huge level of success for the West End revival of Hairspray which scooped an amazing 4 awards including Best New Musical, Best Actor and Actress in a Musical and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical.

Andrew Lloyd Webber was awarded the Special Award in recognition of his work. Lloyd Webber has composed some of the longest running musicals in West End history including The Phantom Of The Opera which has run for 22 years, Cats which ran for 21 years and Starlight Express and Evita which ran for 17 and 10 years respectively.

The Winners In Full

Best Actress: Kristen Scott Thomas The Seagull. Royal Court

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor- Othello. The Donmar

Best Performance In A Supporting Role: Rory Kinnear - The Moon of Mode. The Olivier NT

Best Newcomer In A Play: Tom Hiddleston - Cymbeline. The Barbican

Best New Play: A Disappearing Number - by Simon McBurney. The Barbican

Best New Comedy: Rafta Rafta - by Ayub Khan-Din. Lyttleton. NT

Best Revival: Saint Joan Olivier, NT.

Best New Musical: Hairspray - by Shaiman and Wittman. The Shaftesbury

Best Musical Revival: Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo - adapted from Mozart by Mark Dornford-May. Young Vic

Best Actress In A Musical: Leanne Jones - Hairspray. The Shaftesbury

Best Actor In A Musical: Michael Ball - Hairspray. The Shaftesbury

Best Performance in a Supporting Role In A Musical: Tracie Bennet - Hairspray. The Shaftesbury

Best Director: Rupert Goold- Macbeth. The Gielgud

Best Theatre Choreographer: Toby Sedwick - War Horse. Olivier, NT

Best Lighting Design: Howard Harrison- Macbeth. The Gielgud

Best Set Design: Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company - War Horse. Olivier, NT

Best Costume Design: Vicki Mortimer - Man of Mode. Olivier, NT

Best Sound Design: Paul Arditti - Saint Joan. Olivier, NT.

Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre: Gone Too Far. Royal Court Upstairs.

Best New Opera Production: Pelléas Et Mélsande - Royal Opera at Opera House

Outstanding Achievement In Opera: Natalie Dessay for her performance in La Fill Du Régiment The Royal Opera House

Best New Dance Production: Jewels - The Royal Ballet. Royal Opera House.

Outstanding Achievement In Dance: The Royal Ballet Company for their performances in Jewels

Special Award: Andrew Lloyd Webber

To see the now multi Olivier Award winning Hairspray and other exciting and entertaining West End musicals, and a theatre break that offers you a night to remember, book your tickets today with Show and Stay.

Published by: Tony Hill