(no subject)
You'd think, given the amount of theatre I go to, that I'd have seen the majority of Olivier nominated performances wouldn't you? Of course I really really haven't because a lot of what I see these days is more niche (for any number of reasons though starting with "cheaper tickets" and continuing through "often more interesting".
Still it's been a little while since I gave my thoughts on award nominees so I thought I'd take a look at this year's bunch.
Best Revival
A View From The Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire at Young Vic
The Crucible at Old Vic
My Night With Reg at Donmar Warehouse & Apollo Theatre
Skylight at Wyndham’s Theatre
Well I loved both The Crucible & Streetcar but I've also heard great things about A View from a Bridge. Any of those three would be good.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
David Calder for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Richard Goulding for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
John Light for Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Nathaniel Parker for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Can't really judge this as I only saw Charles III, they're all very good actors though. I'd pick Joh Light on sentimental grounds.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Phoebe Fox for A View From The Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
The Girls playing Iris for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Angela Lansbury for Blithe Spirit at Gielgud Theatre
Lydia Wilson for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Again can't really judge but Lydia Wilson was very good.
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
Jon Clark for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Paule Constable and David Plater for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Howard Harrison for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Jan Versweyveld for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
City of Angels, a thousand times City of Angels. The set & lighting were so perfect! (Though I do wish Mr Burns & not Charles III were the Almeida nominee but I recognise that was a doomed hope)
Best Sound Design
Tom Gibbons for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Matt McKenzie for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Gareth Owen for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Brian Ronan for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
No strong opinion
Best Entertainment and Family
Dance ‘Til Dawn at Aldwych Theatre
Hetty Feather at Vaudeville Theatre
La Soirée at La Soirée Spiegeltent
No strong opinion
Best Costume Design
Rob Jones for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Christopher Oram for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Paul Tazewell for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Alejo Vietti for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
I did covet all the City of Angels costumes so probably that though I'm sure Wolf Hall deserves it too.
XL Video Award for Best Set Design
Bunny Christie for Made In Dagenham at Adelphi Theatre
Es Devlin for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Rob Jones for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Jan Versweyveld for A View From A Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
City of Angels (sensing a theme) though all of these had great sets from what I saw/read.
Best New Dance Production
32 Rue Vandenbranden by Peeping Tom at Barbican
Mats Ek’s Juliet And Romeo by Royal Swedish Ballet at Sadler’s Wells
Tabac Rouge by Compagnie Du Hanneton/James Thiérrée at Sadler’s Wells
No idea (sorry!)
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Christopher Wheeldon for The Winter’s Tale at Royal Opera House
Crystal Pite for her choreography in the productions of The Associates - A Picture Of You Falling, The Tempest Replica and Polaris at Sadler’s Wells
Rocio Molina for Bosque Ardora at Barbican
The Elders Project as part of the Elixir Festival at Sadler’s Wells
I loved the idea of the Elders Project but I've heard most/best things about The Winter's Tale.
Virgin Atlantic Best New Play
King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Mr Burns :-P I actually have no opinion here I'm afraid. The new plays I loved over the last year were all too small to be nominated.
Best Actor
Richard Armitage for The Crucible at Old Vic
James McAvoy for The Ruling Class at Trafalgar Studio 1
Tim Pigott-Smith for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Mark Strong for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Mark Strong or Richard Armitage I hope. My preference would be Richard but I suspect Mark will get it.
Best Actress
Gillian Anderson for A Streetcar Named Desire at Young Vic
Kristin Scott Thomas for Electra at Old Vic
Imelda Staunton for Good People at Hampstead Theatre & Noël Coward Theatre
Penelope Wilton for Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Hurrah for the older actress?! Any and all of these ladies would please me, Gillian Anderson was spectacular as Blanche but I loved Imelda in Good People too.
This Morning Audience Award
Billy Elliot The Musical at Victoria Palace Theatre
Jersey Boys at Piccadilly Theatre
Matilda The Musical at Cambridge Theatre
Wicked at Apollo Victoria Theatre
Well IDK how Jersey Boys got in there but any of these.
Best New Comedy
Handbagged at Vaudeville Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong at Duchess Theatre
Shakespeare In Love at Noël Coward Theatre
Apparently I don't do comedy? The Play That Goes Wrong is the one I've heard best things about.
Magic Radio Best Musical Revival
Cats at London Palladium
City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
The Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Miss Saigon at Prince Edward Theatre
Don't make me pick between Porgy and Bess and City of Angels! Please don't! Cats was good too and Miss Saigon was an inevitable nomination I guess but oh PLEASE let one of the classics win this. They were both so so good.
Best New Opera Production
Benvenuto Cellini at London Coliseum
Dialogues Des Carmélites at Royal Opera House
Die Frau Ohne Schatten at Royal Opera House
The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg at London Coliseum
No idea, sorry!
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Jonas Kaufmann for Andrea Chénier and Manon Lescaut at Royal Opera House
Richard Jones for his direction of The Girl Of The Golden West, The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg and Rodelinda at London Coliseum
Royal Opera House and Early Opera Company for their offsite programme at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and Roundhouse
Welsh National Opera Chorus for Moses Und Aron at Royal Opera House
Well obviously I'm going for the option including the SWP but really their programme has been incredible!
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre
Bull at The Maria at Young Vic
Four Minutes Twelve Seconds at Hampstead Downstairs
Juma Sharkah for her performance in Liberian Girl at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court
Tanya Moodie for her performances in Intimate Apparel at Park Theatre and The House That Will Not Stand at Tricycle Theatre
Bull is the only one I saw but I don't think it deserves to win :-/ (I don't know if it counts because I don't know how the National Theatre fits in but I feel the NT/NTS James Plays should maybe be in here somwhere)
Best Theatre Choreographer
Jerry Mitchell for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Annie-B Parsons for Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
Josh Prince for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Sergio Trujillo for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Here Lies Love just because of the audience choreography alongside the onstage stuff!
Best Director
Rupert Goold for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Jeremy Herrin for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Josie Rourke for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Ivo Van Hove for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic
Josie Rourke for City of Angels but happy with any of these.
Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music
The Orchestra for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim for Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
David Bryan, Joe DiPietro, Tim Sutton and the Memphis Band for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Ray Davies for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Not sure on this one, haven't seen enough to judge really.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Rolan Bell for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
George Maguire for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Ian McIntosh for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Jason Pennycooke for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Haven't seen any of these :-P Jason Pennycooke just because I've liked him in the past.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Samantha Bond for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Haydn Gwynne for Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown The Musical at Playhouse Theatre
Nicole Scherzinger for Cats at London Palladium
Lorna Want for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Nicole really was very good but I'd also like Haydn to get this.
Best Actor in a Musical
Jon Jon Briones for Miss Saigon at Prince Edward Theatre
John Dagleish for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Killian Donnelly for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Brandon Victor Dixon for The Scottsboro Boys at Garrick Theatre
Can't say about John Dagleish really but any of the other three I'd be happy for.
Best Actress in a Musical
Gemma Arterton for Made In Dagenham at Adelphi Theatre
Katie Brayben for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Tamsin Greig for Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown at Playhouse Theatre
Beverley Knight for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Again happy for any of them really.
MasterCard Best New Musical
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Not sure I can judge this really, Here Lies Love was good and very different but people have been LOVING Memphis.
So lot's of awards I can't really judge then :-P Perils of going to the Globe, National & then mostly fringe/affiliate venues.
Still it's been a little while since I gave my thoughts on award nominees so I thought I'd take a look at this year's bunch.
Best Revival
A View From The Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire at Young Vic
The Crucible at Old Vic
My Night With Reg at Donmar Warehouse & Apollo Theatre
Skylight at Wyndham’s Theatre
Well I loved both The Crucible & Streetcar but I've also heard great things about A View from a Bridge. Any of those three would be good.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
David Calder for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Richard Goulding for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
John Light for Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Nathaniel Parker for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Can't really judge this as I only saw Charles III, they're all very good actors though. I'd pick Joh Light on sentimental grounds.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Phoebe Fox for A View From The Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
The Girls playing Iris for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Angela Lansbury for Blithe Spirit at Gielgud Theatre
Lydia Wilson for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Again can't really judge but Lydia Wilson was very good.
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
Jon Clark for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Paule Constable and David Plater for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Howard Harrison for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Jan Versweyveld for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
City of Angels, a thousand times City of Angels. The set & lighting were so perfect! (Though I do wish Mr Burns & not Charles III were the Almeida nominee but I recognise that was a doomed hope)
Best Sound Design
Tom Gibbons for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Matt McKenzie for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Gareth Owen for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Brian Ronan for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
No strong opinion
Best Entertainment and Family
Dance ‘Til Dawn at Aldwych Theatre
Hetty Feather at Vaudeville Theatre
La Soirée at La Soirée Spiegeltent
No strong opinion
Best Costume Design
Rob Jones for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Christopher Oram for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Paul Tazewell for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Alejo Vietti for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
I did covet all the City of Angels costumes so probably that though I'm sure Wolf Hall deserves it too.
XL Video Award for Best Set Design
Bunny Christie for Made In Dagenham at Adelphi Theatre
Es Devlin for The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Rob Jones for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Jan Versweyveld for A View From A Bridge at Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
City of Angels (sensing a theme) though all of these had great sets from what I saw/read.
Best New Dance Production
32 Rue Vandenbranden by Peeping Tom at Barbican
Mats Ek’s Juliet And Romeo by Royal Swedish Ballet at Sadler’s Wells
Tabac Rouge by Compagnie Du Hanneton/James Thiérrée at Sadler’s Wells
No idea (sorry!)
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Christopher Wheeldon for The Winter’s Tale at Royal Opera House
Crystal Pite for her choreography in the productions of The Associates - A Picture Of You Falling, The Tempest Replica and Polaris at Sadler’s Wells
Rocio Molina for Bosque Ardora at Barbican
The Elders Project as part of the Elixir Festival at Sadler’s Wells
I loved the idea of the Elders Project but I've heard most/best things about The Winter's Tale.
Virgin Atlantic Best New Play
King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
The Nether at Duke of York’s Theatre
Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Mr Burns :-P I actually have no opinion here I'm afraid. The new plays I loved over the last year were all too small to be nominated.
Best Actor
Richard Armitage for The Crucible at Old Vic
James McAvoy for The Ruling Class at Trafalgar Studio 1
Tim Pigott-Smith for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Mark Strong for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic & Wyndham’s Theatre
Mark Strong or Richard Armitage I hope. My preference would be Richard but I suspect Mark will get it.
Best Actress
Gillian Anderson for A Streetcar Named Desire at Young Vic
Kristin Scott Thomas for Electra at Old Vic
Imelda Staunton for Good People at Hampstead Theatre & Noël Coward Theatre
Penelope Wilton for Taken At Midnight at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Hurrah for the older actress?! Any and all of these ladies would please me, Gillian Anderson was spectacular as Blanche but I loved Imelda in Good People too.
This Morning Audience Award
Billy Elliot The Musical at Victoria Palace Theatre
Jersey Boys at Piccadilly Theatre
Matilda The Musical at Cambridge Theatre
Wicked at Apollo Victoria Theatre
Well IDK how Jersey Boys got in there but any of these.
Best New Comedy
Handbagged at Vaudeville Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong at Duchess Theatre
Shakespeare In Love at Noël Coward Theatre
Apparently I don't do comedy? The Play That Goes Wrong is the one I've heard best things about.
Magic Radio Best Musical Revival
Cats at London Palladium
City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
The Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Miss Saigon at Prince Edward Theatre
Don't make me pick between Porgy and Bess and City of Angels! Please don't! Cats was good too and Miss Saigon was an inevitable nomination I guess but oh PLEASE let one of the classics win this. They were both so so good.
Best New Opera Production
Benvenuto Cellini at London Coliseum
Dialogues Des Carmélites at Royal Opera House
Die Frau Ohne Schatten at Royal Opera House
The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg at London Coliseum
No idea, sorry!
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Jonas Kaufmann for Andrea Chénier and Manon Lescaut at Royal Opera House
Richard Jones for his direction of The Girl Of The Golden West, The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg and Rodelinda at London Coliseum
Royal Opera House and Early Opera Company for their offsite programme at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and Roundhouse
Welsh National Opera Chorus for Moses Und Aron at Royal Opera House
Well obviously I'm going for the option including the SWP but really their programme has been incredible!
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre
Bull at The Maria at Young Vic
Four Minutes Twelve Seconds at Hampstead Downstairs
Juma Sharkah for her performance in Liberian Girl at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court
Tanya Moodie for her performances in Intimate Apparel at Park Theatre and The House That Will Not Stand at Tricycle Theatre
Bull is the only one I saw but I don't think it deserves to win :-/ (I don't know if it counts because I don't know how the National Theatre fits in but I feel the NT/NTS James Plays should maybe be in here somwhere)
Best Theatre Choreographer
Jerry Mitchell for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Annie-B Parsons for Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
Josh Prince for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Sergio Trujillo for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Here Lies Love just because of the audience choreography alongside the onstage stuff!
Best Director
Rupert Goold for King Charles III at Almeida Theatre & Wyndham’s Theatre
Jeremy Herrin for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at Aldwych Theatre
Josie Rourke for City Of Angels at Donmar Warehouse
Ivo Van Hove for A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic
Josie Rourke for City of Angels but happy with any of these.
Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music
The Orchestra for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim for Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
David Bryan, Joe DiPietro, Tim Sutton and the Memphis Band for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Ray Davies for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Not sure on this one, haven't seen enough to judge really.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Rolan Bell for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
George Maguire for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Ian McIntosh for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Jason Pennycooke for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Haven't seen any of these :-P Jason Pennycooke just because I've liked him in the past.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Samantha Bond for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Haydn Gwynne for Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown The Musical at Playhouse Theatre
Nicole Scherzinger for Cats at London Palladium
Lorna Want for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Nicole really was very good but I'd also like Haydn to get this.
Best Actor in a Musical
Jon Jon Briones for Miss Saigon at Prince Edward Theatre
John Dagleish for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Killian Donnelly for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Brandon Victor Dixon for The Scottsboro Boys at Garrick Theatre
Can't say about John Dagleish really but any of the other three I'd be happy for.
Best Actress in a Musical
Gemma Arterton for Made In Dagenham at Adelphi Theatre
Katie Brayben for Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Tamsin Greig for Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown at Playhouse Theatre
Beverley Knight for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Again happy for any of them really.
MasterCard Best New Musical
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at Aldwych Theatre
Here Lies Love at National Theatre, Dorfman
Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Not sure I can judge this really, Here Lies Love was good and very different but people have been LOVING Memphis.
So lot's of awards I can't really judge then :-P Perils of going to the Globe, National & then mostly fringe/affiliate venues.