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Laurence Olivier Awards
Awarded for	Best in London theatre
Presented by	The Society of London Theatre
Country	United Kingdom
First awarded	1976
The Society of London Theatre Official website

The Laurence Olivier Awards, previously known as The Society of West End Theatre Awards, were renamed in honour of British actor Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier in 1984, having first been established in 1976. They are presented annually for achievement in London theatre.

The awards are managed and financed by The Society of London Theatre in London and produced by West End producer Adam Spiegel.

Contents 1 Awards 1.1 Best New Play 1.2 Best Director 1.3 Best Actor 1.4 Best Actress 1.5 Best Performance in a Supporting Role 1.6 Best Actor in a Supporting Role 1.7 Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1.8 Best New Musical 1.9 Best Sound Design 1.10 Best Lighting Design 1.11 Best Set Design 1.12 Best Set Designer 1.13 Best Theatre Choreographer 2 See also 3 External links

The following list shows the winners in the principal categories since 1989/90. The official London Theatre Guide (See below) provides some other categories and earlier years.

• 2007–Blackbird by David Harrower
• 2006–On the Shore of the Wide World by Simon Stephens
• 2005–The History Boys by Alan Bennett
• 2004–The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh
• 2003–Vincent in Brixton by Nicholas Wright
• 2002–Jitney by August Wilson
• 2001–Blue/Orange by Joe Penhall
• 2000 – Goodnight Children Everywhere by Richard Nelson
• 1999–The Weir by Conor McPherson
• 1998–Closer by Patrick Marber
• 1997–Stanley by Pam Gems
• 1996–Skylight by David Hare
• 1995–Broken Glass by Arthur Miller
• 1994–Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
• 1993–Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare
• 1992–Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman
• 1991–Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel
• 1989/90 – Racing Demon by David Hare

• 2007–Dominic Cooke for The Crucible
• 2006–Richard Eyre for Hedda Gabler
• 2005–Nicholas Hytner for The History Boys
• 2004–Michael Grandage for Caligula
• 2003–Sam Mendes for Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya
• 2002–Michael Boyd for Henry VI Parts I, II and III and Richard III
• 2001–Howard Davies for All My Sons
• 2000 – Trevor Nunn for Summerfolk, The Merchant of Venice and Troilus and Cressida
• 1999–Howard Davies for The Iceman Cometh
• 1998–Richard Eyre for King Lear
• 1997–Des McAnuff for Tommy
• 1996–Sam Mendes for Company and The Glass Menagerie
• 1995–Trevor Nunn for The Merchant of Venice and Summerfolk

• 2007 – Rufus Sewell for Rock 'N' Roll
• 2006 – Brian Dennehy for Death of a Salesman
• 2005 – Richard Griffiths for The History Boys
• 2004 – Matthew Kelly for Of Mice and Men
• 2003 – Simon Russell Beale for Uncle Vanya
• 2002 – Roger Allam for Privates on Parade
• 2001 – Conleth Hill for Stones in his Pockets
• 2000 – Henry Goodman for The Merchant of Venice
• 1999 – Kevin Spacey for The Iceman Cometh
• 1998 – Ian Holm for King Lear
• 1997 – Antony Sher for Stanley
• 1996 – Alex Jennings for Peer Gynt
• 1995 – David Bamber for My Night with Reg
• 1994 – Mark Rylance for Much Ado About Nothing
• 1993 – Robert Stephens for Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2
• 1992 – Nigel Hawthorne for The Madness of George III
• 1991 – Ian McKellen for Richard III
• 1989/90 – Oliver Ford Davies for Racing Demon
• 1989 – Peter O'Toole for Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell

• 2007–Tamsin Greig for Much Ado About Nothing
• 2005–Clare Higgins for Hecuba
• 2004–Eileen Atkins for Honour
• 2003–Clare Higgins for Vincent in Brixton
• 2002–Lindsay Duncan for Private Lives
• 2001–Julie Walters for All My Sons
• 2000 – Janie Dee for Comic Potential
• 1999–Eileen Atkins for The Unexpected Man
• 1998–Zoe Wanamaker for Electra
• 1997–Janet McTeer for A Doll's House
• 1996–Judi Dench for Absolute Hell
• 1995–Clare Higgins for Sweet Bird of Youth
• 1994–Fiona Shaw for Machinal
• 1993–Alison Steadman for The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
• 1992–Juliet Stevenson for Death and the Maiden
• 1991–Kathryn Hunter for The Visit
• 1989/90 – Lea Salonga for Miss Saigon

From 2003, the supporting actress and actor categories were combined

• 2007–Jim Norton for The Seafarer
• 2006–Noma Dumezweni for A Raisin In The Sun
• 2005–Amanda Harris for Othello
• 2004–Warren Mitchell for The Price
• 2003–Essie Davis for A Streetcar named Desire

• 2002–Toby Jones for The Play What I Wrote
• 2001–Ben Daniels for All My Sons
• 2000 – Roger Allam for Money
• 1997–Trevor Eve for Uncle Vanya
• 1995–Ken Stott for Broken Glass
• 1994–Joseph Mydell for Perestroika
• 1993–Julian Glover for Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2)
• 1992–Oleg Menshikov for When She Danced
• 1991–David Bradley for King Lear
• 1984–Edward Petherbridge for Strange Interlude
• 1983–Alan Devlin for A Moon for the Misbegotten
• 1982–David Healy for Guys and Dolls
• 1981–Joe Melia for Good
• 1980 – David Threlfall for Nicholas Nickleby
• 1979–Patrick Stewart for Antony and Cleopatra
• 1978–Robert Eddison for Twelfth Night
• 1977–Nigel Hawthorne for Privates on Parade

• 2002–Marcia Warren for Humble Boy
• 2001–Pauline Flanagan for Dolly West's Kitchen
• 2000 – Patricia Hodge for Money
• 1997–Deborah Findlay for Stanley
• 1995–Dora Bryan for The Birthday Party
• 1994–Helen Burns for The Last Yankee
• 1993–Barbara Leigh-Hunt for An Inspector Calls
• 1992–Frances de la Tour for When She Danced
• 1991–Sara Crowe for Private Lives
• 1984–Marcia Warren for Stepping Out
• 1983–Abigail McKern for As You Like It
• 1982–Anna Massey for The Importance of Being Earnest
• 1981–Gwen Watford for Present Laughter
• 1980 – Suzanne Bertish for Nicholas Nickleby
• 1979–Doreen Mantle for Death of a Salesman
• 1978–Elizabeth Spriggs for Love Letters on Blue Paper
• 1977–Mona Washbourne for Stevie

• 2007–Caroline, Or Change, book and lyrics by Tony Kushner, music by Jeanine Tesori
• 2006–Billy Elliot the Musical, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, music by Elton John
• 2005–The Producers, book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan; music and lyrics by Brooks
• 2004–Jerry Springer - The Opera, music by Richard Thomas, book and lyrics by Stewart Lee & Thomas
• 2003–Our House, book by Tim Firth, music and lyrics by Madness
• 2001–Merrily We Roll Along , music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth
• 2000 – Honk! The Ugly Duckling, music by George Stiles, book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe
• 1999–Kat and the Kings by David Kramer and Taliep Petersen
• 1998–Beauty and the Beast, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton
• 1997–Martin Guerre, book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, music by Schönberg, lyrics by Edward Hardy and Stephen Clark, additional lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and Boublil
• 1996–Jolson The Musical, written by Francis Essex and Rob Bettinson
• 1995–Once On This Island, book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty
• 1994–City of Angels, book by Larry Gelbart, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel
• 1993–Crazy for You, music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, book by Ken Ludwig
• 1992–Carmen Jones by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on Meilhac and Halévy's adaptation of Prosper Merimée's Carmen with original music by Bizet
• 1991–Sunday in the Park with George, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine
• 1989/90 – Return to the Forbidden Planet by Bob Carlton
• 1988–Candide, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Richard Wilbur
• 1987–Follies, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Goldman
• 1986–The Phantom of the Opera, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
• 1985–Me and My Girl, book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber, music by Noel Gay
• 1984–42nd Street, music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble
• 1983–Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
• 1982–Poppy, book and lyrics by Peter Nichols, music by Monty Norman
• 1981–Cats, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot
• 1980 – Sweeney Todd, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, based on the play by Christopher Bond
• 1979–Songbook (musical), music by Monty Norman, lyrics by Julian More, book by Norman and More
• 1978–Evita, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
• 1977–The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, music by Guy Woolfenden
• 1976–A Chorus Line, book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban

• 2007 - Gareth Fry for Waves at the Royal Nationlal Theatre, Cottlesloe
• 2006 - Paul Arditti for Billy Eliott The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre

From 2003, Best Set Design replaced Best Set Designer, reflecting an increase in collaborative efforts.

• 2006–Hedda Gabler designed by Rob Howell at the Almeida and Duke of York's
• 2005–His Dark Materials designed by Giles Cadle at the Olivier Theatre
• 2004–Hitchcock Blonde designed by William Dudley
• 2003–A Streetcar Named Desire designed by Bunny Christie

• 2002–Tim Hatley for Humble Boy and Private Lives
• 2001–William Dudley for All My Sons
• 2000 – Rob Howell for Richard III, Troilus and Cressida and Vassa
• 1999–Anthony Ward for Oklahoma!
• 1998–Tim Goodchild for Three Hours After Marriage
• 1997–Tim Hatley for Stanley
• 1996–John Napier for Burning Blue
• 1995–Stephen Brimson Lewis for Design for Living and Les Parents Terribles
• 1994–Mark Thompson for Hysteria
• 1993–Ian MacNeil for An Inspector Calls
• 1992–Mark Thompson for The Comedy of Errors
• 1991–Mark Thompson for The Wind in the Willows

• 2006–Peter Darling for Billy Elliot - The Musical
• 2005–Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear for Mary Poppins
• 2004–Karen Bruce for Pacific Overtures
• 2003–Matthew Bourne and Company for Play Without Words
• 2002–Matthew Bourne for My Fair Lady
• 2001–Bob Fosse and Ann Reinking for Fosse
• 2000 – Garth Fagan for The Lion King
• 1999–Susan Stroman for Oklahoma!
• 1998–Simon McBurney for The Caucasian Chalk Circle
• 1997–Bob Avian for Martin Guerre
• 1996–Dein Perry for Tap Dogs
• 1995–David Atkins and Dein Perry for Hot Shoe Shuffle
• 1994–Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas for Stomp!
• 1993–Susan Stroman for Crazy for You
• 1992–Rafael Aguilar for Matador
• 1991–Charles Augins for Five Guys Named Moe

• West End theatre
• Complete list of categories and winners [1]
• Evening Standard Awards - a rival prize ceremony
• Critics' Circle Theatre Awards - another rival prize ceremony
• Tony Awards - the American counterpart

• Official London Theatre Guide: "Laurence Olivier Awards" – Feature of The Official London Theatre Guide website. Accessed 15 Sept. 2007.
• "Oliviers 2007 Web broadcast" Hyperlinked on the official website of the Society of London Theatre. Accessed 15 Sept. 2007.