Olivier Awards (2013) – The Winners and Losers

The 37th Olivier Awards took place this past Sunday; an evening brought together to celebrate the very best of theatre in the UK.

As expect, the evening brought-out the very best of British theatre talent to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, displaying that not only can us Brits do theatre better than anyone else in the world but we can also look better than any others too.

It was ball gowns and bow ties every way you turned. But hey, who was complaining? These theatre folk aren’t exactly ugly!

2011 Best Actress in a Musical winner and West End actress Sheridan Smith, alongside television favourite Hugh Bonnerville, lead the evenings proceedings with the stageyest of openings from Miss Smith who performed Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend; dancers and all.

The evening honoured the very best of British theatre both in the musical, opera, play and production genres.

For the first time ever, the Olivier Awards were broadcast on mainstream television; featuring on ITV for an hour-long highlights programme at 10:15pm. The show also streamed live from the Opera House on BBC Radio 2.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time dominated the awards, equaling the record by picking up seven Oliviers, including best actor for its star, Luke Treadaway.

Curious Incident also won Best New Play with Marianne Elliott won best director and Spooks actor Nicola Walker, who played the teenager’s mother in the original production, won best supporting actress.

During her acceptance speech, Marianne Elliott said: “We took risks and we thought we would fail and it is a testament to subsidised theatre that we were allowed to think we might fail.”

The evening also saw British actress Helen Mirren win her first Olivier for her performance as the Queen in The Audience. Richard McCabe, who played Harold Wilson alongside Mirren, was named Best Supporting Actor.

Sweeney Todd and Top Hat also won three awards each including Best Musical for Top Hat and Actor and Actress for Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton for Sweeney.

Leigh Zimmerman, who celebrated her join citizenship with Britain, won Best Supporting Musical Performance for her role in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium.The BBC Radio 2 audience award, celebrating long-running musicals, was awarded to Billy Elliot.

Special awards were also given to choreographer and director Gillian Lynne and playwright Michael Frayn.

The evening also featured performances from Idina Menzel, Top Hat, A Chorus Line, Michael Ball and Heather Headley.

Heather Headley performing ‘I Will Always Love You’ from The Bodyguard – The Musical.

The Olivier Awards have grown in popularity and respect from around the world. No longer are they over-shadowed by the American Tony Awards and have become awards with recognition. The evening once again celebrated a vast amount of talent from across the theatre arts world. Great to see Curious Incident get the recognition it deserves and celebrate not both performers on stage but off as well with Gillian Lynne.

No doubt The Book of Mormon will achieve well in the 2014 awards and with the expected revival of  Miss Saigon and potentially even Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical as well, next years awards will be full of different musical genres to please everyone.

See you in April 2014!

Winners… 

BEST ACTOR – Luke Treadaway – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

BEST ACTRESS – Helen Mirren – The Audience

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – Richard McCabe – The Audience

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – Nicola Walker – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

MASTERCARD BEST NEW PLAY – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

BEST DIRECTOR – Marianne Elliott – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL – Michael Ball – Sweeney Todd

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL – Imelda Staunton – Sweeney Todd

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL – Leigh Zimmerman – A Chorus Line

BEST NEW MUSICAL – Top Hat

BEST REVIVAL – Long Day’s Journey Into Night

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL – Sweeney Todd

BEST ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY – Goodnight Mister Tom

WHITE LIGHT AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING DESIGN – Paule Constable – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

BEST SOUND DESIGN – Ian Dickinson – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

BEST COSTUME DESIGN – Jon Morrell – Top Hat

XL VIDEO AWARD FOR BEST SET DESIGN – Bunny Christie & Finn Ross – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

BEST NEW DANCE PRODUCTION – Aeternum by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DANCE – Marianela Nunez for Aeternum, Diana & Actaeon and Viscera, The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House

BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER – Bill Deamer – Top Hat

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN AN AFFILIATE THEATRE – The season of new writing at the Royal Court Upstairs

BEST NEW OPERA PRODUCTION – Einstein On The Beach at the Barbican Theatre

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA – Bryan Hymel for his performances in Les Troyens, Robert Le Diable and Rusalka at the Royal Opera House

BBC RADIO 2 AUDIENCE AWARD – Billy Elliot The Musical

SPECIAL AWARD – Gillian Lynne & Michael Frayn

Header, quote and all photographs copyright to http://www.olivierawards.co.uk and @OlivierAwards.

Sheffield Theatres wants ”more” this Christmas with Bart’s famous Oliver!

Sheffield Theatres have announced its 2013 Christmas musical: Lionel Bart’s, Oliver!

Following the great success of his 2012 Christmas production of My Fair Lady, tony nominated Daniel Evans, current Artistic Director at the Crucible Theatre, will direct this Christmas a cast of local young performers and the best of British theatre talent.

Lionel Barts Oliver!, based on the novel by Charles Dickens, follows the life of a orphan in London and his unlikely friendship with a local thief. After asking for ”more” in an orphanage, he is sold to an undertaker and subsequently runs away, ending in London, England. His friendship with local pick-pocket Dodger then entails.

Made famous in 1969 with an international box office smash film, Oliver! will no-doubt move Sheffield Theatres towards a second sell-out Christmas run.

Its most recognisable musical numbers include Food, Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, Yo’ve Got to Pick a Pocket, Boy for Sale, Where is Love? and the famous, As Long as He Needs Me.

Director Daniel Evans is sure audiences will be wanting ”more” with his production this festive season: “I’m so excited to be bringing Lionel Bart’s Oliver! to the Crucible Stage. Dickens’ boldness of characterisation and Bart’s music hall score combine to make an intoxicating piece of music theatre. We’ll be working with sixty talented children from the city region alongside a cast of 22 professional actors and 15 musicians. So, I hope we can continue to make Sheffield Theatres the place to be at Christmas!”

Joining the Creative Team alongside Daniel Evans are Designer Peter McKintosh (Me and My Girl), Choreographer Alistair David (My Fair Lady), Musical Director Jonathan Gill, Lighting Designer Howard Harrison (Me and My Girl) and Sound Designer Simon Baker (My Fair Lady).

Oliver! goes on sale to Sheffield Theatres members on Saturday 18 May and to the public on Saturday 25 May.

Tickets available direct at: http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or at the Box Office on 0114 249 6000.

Header, quote via Daniel Evans and all photographs copyright to http://www.sheffieldtheatre.co.uk and The Stage, UK.

West End star Sam Buttery talks The Voice, Boy George and being Taboo in Brixton

Sam Buttery; West End actor and star of recent BBC hit show The Voice  talks to me about all things Tom Jones, success following his apperance on The Voice and going crazy each night in Boy George’s smash musical Taboo.

Originally from London, 21 year-old Sam Buttery’s has become one of the countries most recognisable vocalists having been selected to appear on music icon Tom Jones’ team on the new BBC talent show, The Voice.

Earlier this year, 20-year-old Sam chose Adele’s hit-song ‘Set Fire To The Rain’ and amazed judges with his voice. Music icon Sir Tom saw potential, pressed his button and added the Tom Jones superfan to his team.

W: Sam, thank you for talking to me.

S: You’re very welcome.

W: So, The Voice! Not exactly a bad way to launch yourself into the public eye. How did all that come about?

S: I saw it advertised on BBC One and it just felt right to go for it.

W: What was it like when Tom Jones turned around for you?

S: It was such a surreal amazing thing, I loved it.

W: You mentioned at your audition that you are a big fan of Tom’s?

S: I am and always have been a very big fan of Tom’s, along with my Dad. I always sang his songs when I was little! Even at school! (laughs)

W: Would you go back on The Voice if you could do it all again?

S: It was stressful and surreal; almost indescribable.

W: Following your appearance on The Voice, how did your life change? Was it as overnight as people are lead to believe?

S: In all honesty, it was a long hard slog to try and forge a career after leaving the show. It is not quite overnight as it is sometimes perceived.

W: What was it like performing on prime-time BBC1 week-after-week?

S: I don’t know if I would go back and do it ALL again. I would go back and work with Tom again without any doubt! I don’t regret anything however.

Sam’s first audition on The Voice.

W: What was your audition process like for Taboo? I imagine rather different to The Voice? S: The audition process was all very surreal. I attended a function at the Tate Modern hosted by George. My friend Daniel Lismore, whose guest I was, introduced me to George who asked me to audition for Taboo. Anne Vosser, the lovely casting director, contacted me and I did one audition and landed the role!

W: And you follow in some rather large footsteps with Leigh Bowery? Matt Lucas and Boy George himself to name but a few.

S: Very large footsteps! But, what an honour and a challenge.

W: And now you’re in Taboo at the Brixton Club House?

S: Yes I am in Taboo! Which is such amazing fun! Even before the voice I have always wanted to pursue a career in musical theatre!

W: I actually came to see the show back in late 2012 but due to illness was cancelled. The show really is a gruelling evening for the cast then?

S: It’s extremely hard work as it was a new venue and such a strange space. It was such a tiny building so once one person was sick, everyone was.

W: Earlier this year there was your first cast change. What’s it like remaining with a cast but have new faces to work with each night?

S: Its great to change cast as it keeps the show fresh.

W: You worked alongside some West End regulars and some fresh-faced recent graduates. How did you find that? 

S: I have always been a musical theatre fan girl/geek so to work alongside west end performers was amazing for me. I have loved theatre from the age of about 10! No, I have never had any formal training, apart from about four singing lessons.

W: Did Boy George ever give you feedback on your version of Leigh? I imagine getting his blessing would be the biggest of compliments? 

S: He said he loved it; dream. (laughs)

Sam’s appearance with Boy George on ITV’s This Morning from September 2012 

W: Had you seen previous productions of Taboo before you were cast? 

S: I had never seen any other productions actually.

W: ‘Pretty Lies’ and ‘Petrified’ are actually two of my favourite musical theatre songs and both are from Taboo. Do you have any favourites? 

S: My favourite songs from the show are stranger in this world and Il adore. My favourite musical theatre songs changed every day, at the moment anything from A Chorus Line/ People… My Man…. Anything Barbra!

W: And finally, do you have any plans once you leave Taboo?

S: I am auditioning like a goodun’ at the moment and recording various stuff! Watch this space. (laughs)

W: Sam, thank you very much and the best of luck with your final weeks in Taboo!

Tickets for Taboo and available online at www.taboothemusical.co.uk

Header and all photographs copyright to TabooinBrixton and @samuelbuttery.