On April 6 the Olivier Awards presented the English version of the Tony Awards at the Royal Albert Hall. Billy Porter and Beverly Knight hosted the gala event.
Named for actor and director Laurence Olivier, the awards are presented to members of the theatre, opera, and dance.
American actor John Lithgow took home the award as Best Actor for his role in “Giant” – a play about children’s writer Roald Dahl. With a collection of Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Awards, the 79 year old Lithgow said, “I think I’m going to faint.” Adding that the transatlantic relationship between the UK and the U.S. is “still firmly intact.” With current relations around the world strained, Lithgow noted, “it’s not always easy to welcome an American into your midst, and at this particular moment, it’s probably a little more complicated than usual.”
Princess Margaret in “The Crown”, Lesley Manville was awarded the Best Actress trophy for her role as Jocasta in “Oedipus”.
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” took home the prize for Best Musical.
Winners of the 2025 Olivier Awards:
New Play: “Giant”
New Musical: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
New Entertainment or Comedy in “Titanique”
Family Show: “Brainiac Live”
Best Revival of a Play: “Oedipus”
Best Revival of a Musical: “Fiddler on the Roof”
Best Actress in a Play: Lesley Manville in “Oedipus”
Best Actor in a Play: John Lithgow in “Giant”
Best Actress in a Musical: Imelda Staunton in “Hello, Dolly!”
Best Actor in a Musical: John Dagleish in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Romola Garai in “The Years”
Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Elliot Levey in “Giant”
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Maimuna Memon in “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812”
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Layton Williams in “Titanique”
Best Direction: Eline Arbo for “The Years”
Outstanding Musical Contribution: Darren Clark and Mark Aspinall for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Theatre Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon for “MJ The Musical”
Best New Opera Production: “Festen”
Outstanding Achievement in Opera: Allan Clayton in “Festen”
Best New Dance Production: “Assembly Hall”
Outstanding Achievement in Dance: Eva Yerbabuena for “Yerbaguna”
Best in Set Design: Tom Scutt for “Fiddler on the Roof”
Best Lighting Design: Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs for “Oliver”
Best in Sound Design: Nick Lidster for “Fiddler on the Roof”
Best in Costume Design: Gabriella Slade for “Starlight Express”
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre: the Soho Theatre for “Boys on the Verge of Tears”