The 2025 Olivier Awards celebrated timeless classics, with Giant taking home top prize and numerous other talented performers winning awards for their outstanding work.
Giant, a powerful play about children’s author Roald Dahl, has taken the top prize at the annual Olivier awards.
The Olivier Awards are a prestigious annual event that recognizes excellence in professional theatre in London's West End.
Named after the renowned actor Laurence Olivier, the awards have been presented since 1976.
The ceremony honors outstanding achievements in various categories, including acting, directing, and set design.
Winners receive a coveted bronze mask trophy and a cash prize.
The Olivier Awards are considered the UK equivalent of the Tony Awards in New York City.
John Lithgow, who played Dahl, won the best actor award for his captivating performance. His win was met with applause from the audience, and he expressed gratitude to ‘England for welcoming me’.
Lithgow’s win was not an isolated one; Giant also took home three more Olivier awards, including best new play and outstanding contribution from its playwright, Mark Rosenblatt. This success comes after Giant ran at the Royal Court in London last year and will now transfer to the West End later this month.
The 2025 Olivier awards ceremony was a star-studded event, with numerous talented performers taking home awards for their outstanding work. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a new musical based on ‘F Scott Fitzgerald’s short story’ , won three awards, including best new musical and outstanding contribution from its music team.
Benjamin Button is a fictional character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short story 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.' The narrative follows the life of 'Benjamin,' born with the physical appearance of an elderly man and aging in reverse.
As he grows younger, 'Benjamin' experiences various challenges, including social isolation and unrequited love.
Despite his unusual circumstances, Benjamin finds acceptance and connection through his relationships.
This thought-provoking tale explores themes of identity, morality, and the human condition.
Benjamin Button’s success was matched by Fiddler on the Roof, which won nine awards, including best musical revival and best set design. The classic musical, composed by Jerry Bock and with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, has a rich history, having received 13 Olivier nominations and setting a record for Hamilton in 2018.
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical drama set in pre-revolutionary Russia.
The story revolves around Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman, and his five daughters as they navigate love, family, and tradition.
Based on stories by Sholem Aleichem, the musical explores themes of faith, community, and social change.
With its iconic score and memorable characters, 'Fiddler on the Roof' has become a beloved classic, winning nine Tony Awards and being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Romola Garai achieved an impressive feat by beating herself to win the award for best actress in a supporting role. Her victory was not just a personal triumph but also a testament to her dedication to her craft. She expressed her gratitude to her family, particularly her husband, who supported her during this time.
The years she spent working on The Years, a play based on Nobel prize-winner Annie Ernaux‘s memoir, were described as the ‘greatest privilege of my life.’ Garai also praised director Eline Arbo, calling her a ‘genius’ who brought women’s lives to the stage.
The 2025 Olivier awards celebrated diversity and excellence in theatre. The award for best actress in a musical went to Imelda Staunton for her outstanding performance in Hello, Dolly!. The prize for best theatre choreographer was given to Christopher Wheeldon for his work on MJ the Musical.
Other notable winners included Lesley Manville, who won the award for best actress and called for better funding for UK regional theatre. Maimuna Memon took home the award for best actress in a supporting role in a musical for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.
