The 2006 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Set Design has been awarded to Richard Eyre’s production of Hedda Gabler, for which the set was designed by Rob Howell. This is the second time that productions designed by Howell have picked up a statuette for design at the Laurence Olivier Awards. The first came in 2000 for a triumvirate of shows; Richard III, Troilus And Cressida and Vassa.
Also nominated in the Best Set Design category were Billy Elliot – The Musical (set designed by previous winner Ian MacNeil) and Don Carlos (set designed by Christopher Oram).
After training at Birmingham Polytechnic, Howell joined the RSC as a design assistant, before designing his first production, The Shakespeare Revue, in 1994. His other credits include Our House (Cambridge), The Government Inspector, The Fix, True West, Proof, Habeas Corpus (all Donmar Warehouse), and Chips With Everything (National).
The Richard Eyre-directed production of Hedda Gabler was originally staged at the Almeida in March before transferring to the Duke of York’s in May. The production received a total of six nominations at the 2006 Laurence Olivier Awards.
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