The nominations for the 2004 Laurence Olivier Awards, the most prestigious awards of the West End calendar, have been announced, with three musicals leading the way in overall nominations.
Jerry Springer The Opera, Ragtime and Pacific Overtures have each received eight nominations across a number of categories. Jerry Springer The Opera and Ragtime were both nominated for Best New Musical with Pacific Overtures nominated for Outstanding Musical Production. The nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical are shared between the three productions, along with Thoroughly Modern Millie and High Society. All three also feature alongside Caligula in the category of Best Director.
In the categories of Best Actress and Best Actor, ten different productions and six different theatres are represented. Kenneth Branagh is nominated for Best Actor for the title role in Edmond at the National Olivier alongside Roger Allam, who won this category in 2002, and Greg Hicks, Matthew Kelly and Michael Sheen who are all hoping to win their first Olivier. The Best Actress Award will be between four veterans of the stage and one rather newer star. Kelly Reilly, for whom 2003 could be considered a breakthrough year, is nominated along with Kristin Scott Thomas, Eileen Atkins, Helen Mirren and Ann Mitchell.
Nicholas Hytner’s decision to make the National’s Cottesloe Theatre exclusive to new writing has paid off, as it receives three of the four nominations for Best New Play. Michael Frayn’s Democracy, Kwame Kwei-Armah’s Elmina’s Kitchen and Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman are nominated along with Terry Johnson’s Hitchcock Blonde, which was seen at both the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and the Lyric.
The Laurence Olivier Awards, presented by the Society of London Theatre in association with Hilton UK and Ireland, will be announced on Sunday February 22 at a star studded ceremony to be held at the Hilton, Park Lane.
