Renowned lyricist Don Black will be honoured with this year’s Special Olivier Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to theatre.
In a prolific career spanning six decades, Black has provided lyrics for many musical theatre productions, working with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Tell Me On A Sunday, Aspects Of Love, Whistle Down The Wind and Stephen Ward.
His collaboration with Christopher Hampton on Sunset Boulevard won them a Tony Award for Best Book in 1995. Other stage credits include A. R. Rahman’s musical Bombay Dreams, John Barry’s Billy and Brighton Rock, and Frank Wildhorn’s Dracula, The Musical.
Alongside his theatre work, Black’s output includes numerous film and television themes, as well as hit songs. He has written lyrics for Quincy Jones, Lulu, Meat Loaf, Michel Legrand and Debbie Wiseman, among many others.
Black is particularly known for his long association with the James Bond films, starting with the Thunderball theme in 1965, and continuing with John Barry’s Diamonds Are Forever and The Man With The Golden Gun. A further collaboration with Barry on the title song of the film Born Free won Black a 1966 Academy Award for Best Song.
‘The Society of London Theatre is delighted to honour Don Black with the Special Award, marking an extraordinary career encompassing many genres, but particularly musical theatre. Lyricists often do not receive the recognition they deserve, despite their words being known and loved by audiences worldwide – and having personally known Don for over 25 years, it makes it a particular pleasure to celebrate his impact on the face of theatre.’
Kenny Wax, President of the Society of London Theatre
The Special Award is given each year to recognise an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to theatre over the course of their career. Past recipients include Matthew Bourne, Kenneth Branagh, Stephen Sondheim, Judi Dench, Alan Bennett, Sam Mendes, Maggie Smith, Harold Pinter, Alec Guinness, John Gielgud, Joan Littlewood and Ian McKellen.
The Olivier Awards, widely recognised as Britain’s most prestigious stage honours, take place on Sunday 5 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford. Nominations were announced earlier this week and are available to view on the Olivier Awards website.
The 2019 Olivier Awards took place at the Royal Albert Hall last night. The awards ceremony, hosted by Jason Manford, saw Sharon D Clarke get her second Olivier Award as well as The Inheritance, Company and Come From Awaybeing awarded 4 awards each.
The 2019 Olivier Awards saw The Inheritance, Company & Come From Away get four awards each.
Read the full list of winners in bold below.
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Jonathan Bailey, Company at the Gielgud Theatre Clive Carter, Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre Richard Fleeshman, Company at the Gielgud Theatre Robert Hands, Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Patti LuPone, Company at the Gielgud Theatre Ruthie Ann Miles, The King and I at the London Palladium “The Queens” – Aimie Atkinson, Alexia McIntosh, Millie O’Connell, Natalie Paris, Maiya Quansah-Breed and Jarneia Richard-Noel – for Six at Arts Theatre Rachel Tucker, Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC
Come From Away – Book, Music and Lyrics: David Hein and Irene Sankoff; Music Supervisor, Arrangements: Ian Eisendrath; Orchestrations: August Eriksmoen; Musical Director/UK Music Supervisor: Alan Berry; and the band of Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre Fun Home – Composer: Jeanine Tesori; Lyricist/Bookwriter: Lisa Kron at Young Vic The Inheritance – Composer: Paul Englishby at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre A Monster Calls – Original music composed by Benji Bower and performed live by Benji with Will Bower (The Bower Brothers) at The Old Vic Six – Original score, orchestrations and vocal arrangements: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss, Tom Curran and Joe Beighton at Arts Theatre
BEST NEW DANCE PRODUCTION
16 A Room/Solo Echo/Bill by Ballet British Columbia at Sadler’s Wells Blkdog by Botis Seva at Sadler’s Wells Playlist (Track 1, 2) by William Forsythe for English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells The Unknown Soldier by Alastair Marriott for The Royal Ballet at Royal Opera House
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DANCE
Akram Khan for his performance in Xenos at Sadler’s Wells John Macfarlane for his design of Swan Lake at Royal Opera House Dimitris Papaioannou for his choreography of The Great Tamer at Sadler’s Wells
BEST ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY
A Monster Calls at The Old Vic Snow White at The London Palladium Songs For Nobodies at Ambassadors Theatre The Wider Earth at Jerwood Gallery, Natural History Museum
BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER
Kelly Devine for Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre Christopher Gattelli based on original choreography by Jerome Robbins for The King And I at The London Palladium Carrie-Anne Ingrouille for Six at Arts Theatre Liam Steel for Company at Gielgud Theatre
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
Caroline, Or Change at Playhouse Theatre Company at Gielgud Theatre The King And I at The London Palladium
BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Marc Antolin for Little Shop Of Horrors at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Kobna Holdbrook-Smith for Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at Aldwych Theatre Zubin Varla for Fun Home at Young Vic Ken Watanabe for The King And I at The London Palladium
BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Sharon D Clarke for Caroline, Or Change at Playhouse Theatre Rosalie Craig for Company at Gielgud Theatre Kelli O’Hara for The King And I at The London Palladium Adrienne Warren for Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at Aldwych Theatre
BEST REVIVAL
King Lear at Duke of York’s Theatre The Lieutenant Of Inishmore at Noël Coward Theatre The Price at Wyndham’s Theatre Summer And Smoke at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
BEST NEW COMEDY
Home, I’m Darling at National Theatre – Dorfman and Duke of York’s Theatre Nine Night at National Theatre – Dorfman and Trafalgar Studios 1 Quiz at Noël Coward Theatre
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN AFFILIATE THEATRE
Moe Bar-El for his performance in Every Day I Make Greatness Happen at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Flesh And Bone at Soho Theatre Jonathan Hyde for his performance in Gently Down The Stream at Park Theatre The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Athena Stevens for Schism at Park Theatre
AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Neil Austin for Company at Gielgud Theatre Howell Binkley for Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre Jon Clark for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre Lee Curran for Summer And Smoke at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Paul Arditti and Christopher Reid for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre Mike Beer for A Monster Calls at The Old Vic Carolyn Downing for Summer And Smoke at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre Gareth Owen for Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre Nick Powell for The Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre – Lyttelton
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Fly Davis for Caroline, Or Change at Playhouse Theatre Anna Fleischle for Home, I’m Darling at National Theatre – Dorfman and Duke of York’s Theatre Gabriella Slade for Six at Arts Theatre Catherine Zuber for The King And I at The London Palladium
AWARD FOR BEST SET DESIGN
Bunny Christie for Company at Gielgud Theatre Bob Crowley for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre Es Devlin for The Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre – Lyttelton Anna Fleischle for Home, I’m Darling at National Theatre – Dorfman and Duke of York’s Theatre
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Keir Charles for Quiz at Noël Coward Theatre Adam Gillen for Killer Joe at Trafalgar Studios 1 Adrian Lukis for The Price at Wyndham’s Theatre Malcolm Sinclair for Pressure at Ambassadors Theatre Chris Walley for The Lieutenant Of Inishmore at Noël Coward Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Susan Brown for Home, I’m Darling at National Theatre – Dorfman and Duke of York’s Theatre Monica Dolan for All About Eve at Noël Coward Theatre Cecilia Noble for Nine Night at National Theatre – Dorfman and Trafalgar Studios 1 Vanessa Redgrave for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre
BEST NEW OPERA PRODUCTION
Katya Kabanova at Royal Opera House Lessons In Love And Violence at Royal Opera House The Turn Of The Screw at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA
David Butt Philip and Roderick Williams for their performances in War Requiem at London Coliseum The English National Opera chorus for Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall Andris Nelsons for his conducting of Lohengrin at Royal Opera House The ensemble of Porgy And Bess at London Coliseum
BEST ACTOR
Adam Godley, Ben Miles and Simon Russell Beale for The Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre – Lyttelton Arinzé Kene for Misty at Trafalgar Studios 1 Ian McKellen for King Lear at Duke of York’s Theatre Kyle Soller for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre David Suchet for The Price at Wyndham’s Theatre
BEST ACTRESS
Gillian Anderson for All About Eve at Noël Coward Theatre Eileen Atkins for The Height Of The Storm at Wyndham’s Theatre Patsy Ferran for Summer And Smoke at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre Sophie Okonedo for Antony And Cleopatra at National Theatre – Olivier Katherine Parkinson for Home, I’m Darling at National Theatre – Dorfman and Duke of York’s Theatre
SIR PETER HALL AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
Christopher Ashley for Come From Away at Phoenix Theatre Stephen Daldry for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre Marianne Elliott for Company at Gielgud Theatre Rebecca Frecknall for Summer And Smoke at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre Sam Mendes for The Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre – Lyttelton
BEST NEW PLAY
The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre The Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre – Lyttelton Misty at Trafalgar Studios 1 Sweat at Donmar Warehouse
