On April 12, London’s theatrical community held their annual Olivier Awards for the best in British Theater, Opera, and Dance in what is the equivalent of Broadway’s Tony Awards.
Named for actor and director Laurence Olivier, the Olivier Awards were established in 1976 with the winner selected by professionals and theatregoers. “Ted Lasso” actor Nick Mohammed hosted the 50th anniversary of the Olivier Awards from the Royal Albert Hall with Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, Vanessa Williams and Andrew Lloyd Webber among those who presented the awards.
The evening also marked two musical anniversaries with performances – Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” turned 40 and “Wicked” is now 20 years old.
It was a lovable marmalade eating bear from darkest Peru topped the list of award winners with seven!
Based on the stories by Michael Bond, the on stage Paddington was created with a blend of live acting and puppetry with James Hameed providing the voice and puppetry and Arti Shah inhabiting the costume on stage. With the duo role; both actors were presented with the Best Actor Award – the presentation made Arti Shah the first female to win a Best Actor Olivier Award.
In his acceptance speech, Hammed reminded the audience, Paddington reminds us to be welcoming, inquisitive and most importantly, kind.”
Director Luke Sheppard said, “it would be a dream for Paddington to pack his suitcase and visit some other cities around the world”…including Broadway.
In 2022, the lovable bear made an on-screen appearance with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
In a big switch, Rachel Zegler as Eva Peron would belt out the hit “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from an exterior balcony that drew in large crowds below on the pavement while the theatre’s audience watched the performance on a screen.
Winners of the 2026 Olivier Awards:
Best New Musical: “Paddington The Musical”
Best New Play: “Punch”
Best New Entertainment or Comedy: “Oh, Mary!”
Best Family Show: “The Boy at the Back of the Class”
Best Revival of a Play: “All My Sons”
Best Musical Revival: “Into The Woods”
Best Actress in a Play: Rosamund Pike for her role in “Inter Alia”
Best Actor in a Play: Jack Holden for his role in “Kenrex”
Best Actress in a Musical: Rachel Zegler for her role in “Evita”
Best Actor in a Musical: James Hameed and Arti Shah as Paddington in “Paddington The Musical”
Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Paapa Essiedu for his role in “All My Sons”
Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Julie Hesmondhalgh for her role in “Punch”
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for her role in “Paddington The Musical”
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Tom Edden for his role in “Paddington The Musical”
Best Director: Luke Sheppard for “Paddington the Musical”
Outstanding Musical Contribution: Chris Fenwick and Sean Hayes for “Goodnight Oscar”
Best Theater Choreography: “Evita”
Best New Opera Production: “Dead Man Walking”
Best New Dance Production: “Into the Hairy”
Best Set Design: “Paddington The Musical”
Best Lighting Design: “Into The Woods”
Best Sound Design: “Kenrex”
Best Costume Design: “Paddington The Musical”
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theater: “The Glass Menagerie” at the Yard Theatre
Special Award: Elaine Paige