Olivier Awards 2023 Highlights
Last night were the 2023 Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London. For those of you who don’t know what the Olivier Awards are, they are the British theatre awards just like the Tony Awards are the American theatre awards. I’m going to highlight some of the top winners below.
My Neighbour Totoro
My Neighbour Totoro swept at the Olivier’s last night taking home a total of 6 awards out of their 8 nominations, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. This production, presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company, is based on the 1988 animated Studio Ghibli film of the same name. It ran for a short time last year and will be back for a limited run at the Barbican Theatre starting on November 21.
Written by: Tom Morton-Smith
Music by: Joe Hisaishi
Directed by: Phelim McDermott
Based on: My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki
Show Synopsis:
In 1950s Japan, two girls, Satsuki and Mei, whose mother has been hospitalised with tuberculosis, relocate to a village in the countryside. Their new house, in which they live with their professor father, Tatsuo, is haunted with soot spirits, susuwatari, and they encounter Totoro, a "forest spirit who looks like the result of an experimental breeding programme involving a chinchilla, a barn owl and a bean-bag sofa". Mei is the first to discover him, and he comforts the girls with his presence.
My Neighbour Totoro - Photo by Manuel Harlan
Prima Facie
One of the most talked about shows of the season, Prima Facie took home 2 awards out of 5 nominations - Best New Play & Best Actress (Jodie Comer). It is a one woman play that opened for a couple of months at the Harold Pinter Theatre. In about a week from the writing of this article, Jodie Comer will be reprising her role in the Broadway production beginning previews on April 11 at the Golden Theatre. The show will run until June 18.
Written by: Suzie Miller
Directed by: Justin Martin
Show Synopsis:
Warning - this show covers themes of sexual assault.
Tessa is a thoroughbred. A young, brilliant barrister who loves to win. She has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game; defending; cross examining and lighting up the shadows of doubt in any case. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.
Prima Facie - Photo by Helen Murray
A Streetcar Named Desire
Tennesse Williams’ masterpiece returned to London for a short run at the Almeida Theatre at the end of last year. It took home 3 awards out of its 6 nominations - Best Revival, Best Actor (Paul Mescal) and Best Supporting Actress (Anjana Vasan) . It will be returning for a limited 6 week run at the Phoenix Theatre starting on March 20.
Written by: Tennessee Williams
Directed by: Rebecca Frecknall
Show Synopsis:
When Blanche unexpectedly visits her estranged sister Stella, she brings with her a past that will threaten their future. As Stella’s husband Stanley stalks closer to the truth, Blanche’s fragile world begins to fracture. Reality and illusion collide and a violent conflict changes their lives forever.
A Streetcar Named Desire - Photo by Marc Brenner
Oklahoma!
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s classic musical, Oklahoma! is reimagined at this revival currently running at the Wyndham’s Theatre until September 2. It took home 2 awards out of its 7 nominations - Best Musical Revival and Best Actor in a Musical (Arthur Darvill).
Music by: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by: Oscar Hammerstein II
Directed by: Daniel Fish
Show Synopsis:
Oklahoma! tells a story of a community banding together against an outsider, and the frontier life that shaped America.
Oklahoma! - Photo by Marc Brenner
Theres are just a handful of the many winners from last night’s awards ceremony. If any of these interest you or if you have any questions about other shows currently running or coming to London’s West End, please reach out to me anytime and we can get started your booking your trip to the beautiful United Kingdom!
