If you enjoy award ceremonies you’ll know they’re even more fun if you know the work nominated and can root for your favourites. I always try to see all the Best Picture nominees for the Oscars and read the short listed novels for the Booker Prize.
Although some of the shows competing for honours have finished there’s still plenty of productions you can enjoy to help you pick your favourite.
Half A Sixpence is still playing at the Noël Coward Theatre where you can see award nominated performances from Charlie Stemp, Ian Bartholomew and Emma Williams.
School of Rock at the New London Theatre has attracted award recognition for their three alternating children's bands who play instruments live every night and for leading man David Fynn who is up for Best Actor in a Musical. It’s also a contender for Best New Musical.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues its run at the Palace Theatre where you can check out Steven Hoggett’s choreography, Imogen Heap’s composition, Neil Austin’s lighting, Katrina Lindsay’s costumes, Christine Jones’ set design, Gareth Fry’s sound design, Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Anthony Boyle’s performances and John Tiffany’s direction. All nominated for Olivier awards.
At the Phoenix Theatre The Girls is also up for the Best New Musical Award and you can watch Debbie Chazen, Sophie-Louise Dann, Michele Dotrice, Claire Machin, Claire Moore and Joanna Riding who’ve been collectively nominated for the Best Actress in a Musical Award, alongside Best Supporting Actor Nominee, Ben Hunter.
Another Best Actress in a Musical nominee, Amber Riley and Best Actor in a Supporting Role nominee, Adam J Bernard can still be seen in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre, as can Gregg Barnes’s award nominated costumes and you’ll hear Henry Krieger’s award nominated music. It’s also up for Best New Musical.
Buying a ticket to The Glass Menagerie at the Duke of York’s Theatre, a contender for Best Revival, will also allow you to see the nominated work of designers Natasha Katz and Bob Crowley, director John Tiffany and performers Cherry Jones, Kate O’Flynn and Brian J. Smith
Travesties at the Apollo Theatre boasts nominations for Sound designer Adam Cork and for actors Tom Hollander, Freddie Fox and Clare Foster.
Meanwhile award nominated Best New Comedy, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery is on still on at the Criterion Theatre and you can still catch Paul Arditti sound design for Amadeus at the Olivier Theatre and see Bob Crowley’s set design for Disney’s Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre.
The Olivier Awards are seen, rightly or wrongly by the public, as the Oscars of London Theatre. Here's part 3 of the nominations in each category and who I'd like to see pick up the prizes.