The nominations for this year’s Olivier Awards have been announced, with the ceremony itself set to take place next month.
Awarded to nominees from the world of theatre and musical theatre, the Olivier Awards are regarded as the highest accolade for stage actors. The 2018 awards have broken all records, with the hit West End musical, Hamilton, receiving no less than thirteen nominations.
The musical relates the story of Alexander Hamilton, regarded as a founding father of hip-hop. The show’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda has already won a Pulitzer Prize for the show. Writing on social media, Miranda says:
“Blessings overflow. Grateful to Olivier Awards and this incredible company, band and crew. Thank you UK, I miss you dearly.”
The show has already won nearly every other award possible, when Hamilton played on Broadway, and it looks set to do the same in the UK. With two nominations for best actor going to Giles Terera and James Westman, a best supporting actress nomination for Rachel Jones, and best supporting actor nominations going to Cleve September, Jason Pennycooke and Michael Jibson, it will be interesting to see which stars of the show walk away with the coveted engraved awards.
Hamilton is up against rival contender, Follies, which received ten nominations, including best actress nominations for Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton. Staunton is a four-time winner of the acting accolade and is also nominated for her role in ‘Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolf?’
The ceremony promises to be glittering affair when it takes place on 8th April. The event will be hosted by Catherine Tate at the Royal Albert Hall.
