Shocks and drama at the Olivier Awards

Much Ado About an award: Tamsin Greig is presented with her award for best actress by Don Johnson
11 April 2012
The Weekender

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It was a night of drama at the theatre as Stephen Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George marched away with five Olivier Awards while hotly tipped hit Spamalot ended up with nothing.

Sondheim's production swept the board in what was considered a major shock.

Big budget smash hit Spamalot, Eric Idle's stage version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, led the field with seven nominations including best new musical, best actor in a musical and best actress.

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At the British theatre industry's equivalent of the Oscars, Sunday In The Park With George picked up five honours including outstanding musical production - beating The Sound of Music, Cabaret and Evita.

The acting prizes went to its stars, Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell.

The show, staged at Wyndham's Theatre, also won awards for lighting and set design.

One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson and The Royle Family's Sue Johnston hosted the ceremony from the Grosvenor House on London's Park Lane.

Presenters at the ceremony included Tamzin Outhwaite, Claire Sweeney and EastEnder Natalie Cassidy.

The awards are voted by The Society of London Theatre.

Green Wing star Tamsin Greig, 39, was named best actress for her role as Beatrice in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Rufus Sewell won best actor for his starring role in Tom Stoppard's Rock'N'Roll.

A production of The Crucible at the Gielgud Theatre won best revival and a best director award for Dominic Cooke.

Caroline, Or Change, was named best new musical. Tony Kushner's show is set against the civil rights movement in 1963 Louisiana, and centres on a black maid in a Jewish household.

Veteran actress Sheila Hancock's performance in Cabaret won her an award for best supporting role in a musical.

The English National Opera's Jenufa was named best new opera production, while its star Amanda Roocroft won an award for outstanding achievement in opera.

The best new play award went to Blackbird, in which actress Jodhi May's character confronted the man who abused her as a schoolgirl. Carlos Acosta won an award for outstanding achievement in dance for his work at Sadler's Wells.

Opera star Sir John Tomlinson received the Society's Special Award for outstanding contribution.

Greig's best actress award was presented by Hollywood stars Don Johnson and Kim Cattrall. The actress jokingly thanked her three children "who let me live away from home seven months and didn't seem to care" while she worked on the RSC production.

But Rock'N Roll director Sir Trevor Nunn read out a speech in which Sewell declared the win "an amazing honour".

The Spamalot team were furious that the hit musical was snubbed in every category. Hannah Waddingham, who lost out in the best actress category, said: "I don't begrudge the best actor or best actress award at all but I really do begrudge the fact we didn't win best new musical.

"Surely if you are nominated in seven categories there is a reason for that and at some point that should be acknowledged."

Full List of Winners

• Best Lighting Design - Sunday In The Park With George (Wyndham's Theatre)

• Best Sound Design - Waves (Cottesloe Theatre)

• Best Theatre Choreographer - Javier De Frutos for Cabaret (Lyric Theatre)

• Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Sheila Hancock for Cabaret (Lyric Theatre)

• Best Costume Design - The Voysey Inheritance (Lyttelton Theatre)

• Best Set Design - Sunday In The Park With George (Wyndham's Theatre)

• Best New Dance Production - The Royal Ballet's Chroma (Royal Opera House)

• Outstanding Achievement in Dance - Carlos Acosta for his programme of work and performances at Sadler's Wells

• Best Actress - Tamsin Greig for Much Ado About Nothing (Novello Theatre)

• Best Actor - Rufus Sewell for Rock'N'Roll (Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and the Duke of York's)

• Outstanding Musical Production - Sunday In The Park With George (Wyndham's Theatre)

• Outstanding Achievement or Performance in an Affiliate Theatre - Pied Piper (Theatre Royal, Stratford East)

• Best Director - Dominic Cooke for The Crucible (Gielgud Theatre)

• Best New Opera Production - English National Opera's Jenufa (London Coliseum)

• Outstanding Achievement in Opera - Amanda Roocroft for her performance in English National Opera's Jenufa (London Coliseum)

• Best Performance in a Supporting Role - Jim Norton for The Seafarer (Cottesloe Theatre)

• Best Revival - The Crucible (Gielgud Theatre)

• Best New Comedy - John Buchan's The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre)

• Best New Play - Blackbird (Albery Theatre)

• Best Actor in a Musical - Daniel Evans for Sunday In The Park With George (Wyndham's Theatre)

• Best Actress in a Musical - Jenna Russell for Sunday In The Park With George (Wyndham's Theatre)

• Best New Musical - Caroline, Or Change (Lyttelton Theatre)

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