Theatre
Feature
The 2024 Olivier Award nominees (and where to see them)
Here’s your guide to all this year's Olivier Award nominees that you can still catch in the West End
It’s the West End’s biggest night next month, and there’s still time to see some of the most nominated productions live on stage. From brand new musicals to celebrated revivals, here are all the productions you’ll want to catch before the Oliviers on 14 April.
Guys And Dolls
Nicholas Hytner’s immersive revival has the potential to be a big winner in April with nine nominations, including Best Theatre Choreography, Best Actor and Actress in a Musical, and Best Musical Revival. You can experience 1930s Manhattan for yourself at the Bridge Theatre, either safely from your seat, or – if you want to really feel part of the story – in the immersive standing sections.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
The blockbuster play by the creators of the hit Netflix show picked up five nominations, including Best Director for Stephen Daldry, Best Set Design, and the Noël Coward award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. This one has to be seen to be believed – catch it at the Phoenix Theatre.
Bluey’s Big Play
The stage play based on the BAFTA and Emmy-winning children’s TV show is currently on tour around the UK and Ireland, with plenty of chances for families outside of London to experience the Olivier-nominated hit. Bluey’s Big Play is in with a chance of winning Best Family Show.
Hadestown
One of the most talked-about new musicals to come out of Broadway in the last decade, Hadestown is up for Best Musical Revival at this year’s awards. With the show having newly arrived in London’s Lyric Theatre for a long stay, there’s still plenty of opportunity to follow Orpheus on his journey to the Underworld.
Just For One Day
This one will be gone by the time the awards take place, but there’s still just enough time to catch it. Relive the power of Live Aid in this theatrical tribute to history’s greatest concert, featuring songs from Bob Dylan, David Bowie and U2. It was Matt Brind from the production’s creative team who picked up a nomination here for Outstanding Musical Contribution.
An Enemy Of The People
The celebrated adaption of Henrik Ibsen’s classic picked up nominations for Best Actor In A Supporting Role (Paul Hilton) and Best Actress In A Supporting Role (Priyanga Burford). An Enemy Of The People is booking at the Duke of York’s Theatre right up until the night before the awards, so you still have a chance of grabbing the final few remaining seats.
A Mirror
You’ve got until 20 April to catch Sam Holcroft’s darkly funny new play, and see the performance that earned Sex Education’s Tanya Reynolds an Olivier nomination for Best Actress In A Supporting Role. A Mirror is playing now at the Trafalgar Theatre following a sell-out run at the Almeida.
Next To Normal
Astonishingly, this is the first time that London has played host to the Pulitzer-winning musical, making it eligible for the Best New Musical award even though it first premiered on Broadway in 2009. The show also scooped up nominations for Best Actress In A Supporting Role In A Musical for Eleanor Worthington-Cox and Best Actress In A Musical for Caissie Levy. Following its run at the Donmar Warehouse, Next To Normal doesn’t actually arrive on the West End until 18 June, so there’s plenty of time to plan ahead.
The Hills Of California
Sam Mendes directs Jez Butterworth’s brand new family drama at the Harold Pinter Theatre, which has nominations in the Best New Play category and Best Actress for Laura Donnelly. The Hills Of California is currently booking until 15 June, so get in and see it before summer kicks off.
