For the first time in the category’s history, a wheelchair user has been named the Olivier Award winner for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Amy Trigg, who has shot to fame since debuting as Agnes in the musical The Little Big Things, is only the second wheelchair user to ever win an Olivier Award, after Liz Carr in 2022.
This year’s Olivier Awards, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, saw the biggest names in theatre come together to honour the best in British theatre in the past year. From casts and crews, to creatives, pundits and celebrities, the star-studded awards ceremony featured performances from the nominees for Best New Musical, including the eventual winner Operation Mincemeat, which also received the accolade for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical, for Jak Malone.
But, as in the WhatsOnStage Awards earlier this year, the event was dominated by a favourite revival, which captivated minds during its short run on the West End. Jamie Lloyd’s reimagining of the classic story Sunset Boulevard secured a stunning seven awards, including both Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical, Best Lighting and Sound Design and Best Director. Whilst the nominations last month saw a three-way race at the top, Sunset Boulevard performed far beyond any of its revivals, with every other show receiving no more than two awards apiece.
Both other shows set to have competed with Sunset Boulevard suffered huge upsets at tonight’s awards. Despite being nominated for nine awards each, Dear England finished up with Best New Play and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Will Close’s portrayal of Harry Kane, and Guys & Dolls only managed to secure Best Theatre Choreographer for Arlene Phillips and James Cousins.
As well as Dear England and Operation Mincemeat, only two other productions ended up with multiple awards. Stranger Things: The First Shadow, based on the hit Netflix series, claimed Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Set Design, and the reimagined The Picture of Dorian Gray won Best Costume Design and Best Actress.
The ceremony, which was preceded by the famous green carpet, also included the traditional ‘In Memoriam’ section, honouring those in the theatrical community who have passed away since last year’s ceremony. This year’s honours included the late Sir Michael Gambon, Tina Turner and Benjamin Zephaniah.
Many productions will be celebrating their successes this evening, having been named some of the best in British theatre, with many making history with their wins, most notably Amy Trigg’s charge to the top of the Oliviers. But with Sunset Boulevard sweeping yet another awards ceremony, some productions have been pushed out of many awards they may have otherwise have claimed, having been eclipsed by Jamie Lloyd and Nicole Scherzinger’s phenomenal revival.
The Olivier Awards 2024 were held on April 14th at the Royal Albert Hall. See the full list of award winners and nominees here
