Olivier Awards: Harry Potter And The Cursed Child set to clean up
Written by News on 09/04/2017
It’s already a commercial and critical success, but we’ll find out tonight if Harry Potter And The Cursed Child cleans up at the Olivier Awards.
Its 11 nominations make it the most nominated new play in the ceremony’s history.
The show is in contention for some of the night’s biggest prizes – including best new play, best director, best set design, as well as acting nominations for Jamie Parker who plays Harry, Noma Dumezweni for her portrayal of Hermione and Anthony Boyle’s Scorpius Malfoy.
Boyle – who is nominated for best supporting actor – said he’s thrilled to be a part of a show that’s helping introduce a new audience to theatre.
"They’ve done a survey and it’s something like 60% of audiences are first-time theatregoers which is just amazing," he told Sky News.
"To be giving people their first play, or their first experience of theatre, it’s a really lovely thing to give that to people."
British theatre’s biggest night moves to the Royal Albert Hall this year, and will be hosted by comedian Jason Manford.
Tim Minchin will perform a song from his musical Groundhog Day, star of Dreamgirls Amber Riley will also be singing, and Gary Barlow will star on stage alongside the cast of his musical The Girls.
The Take That singer collaborated with childhood friend, playwright Tim Firth, to produce a musical version of the Calendar Girls.
Barlow told Sky News: "I’m loving it and already we’re talking about what we want to do next.
"It’s like learning a new skill really. I’m 45 now and you don’t often get a chance in your life to get introduced to a new world that you can bring something to."
Arguably one of the fiercest categories, the award for best actress, pits Glenda Jackson – who made her triumphant return to acting in King Lear – up against Ruth Wilson’s Hedda Gabler, Broadway legend Cherry Jones for the Glass Menagerie, and Billie Piper in Yerma.
Piper said: "I feel like there’s so much more experimental theatre going on at the moment, so you’re not just heavily reliant on the classics or the West End musicals.
"There are some really vibey people working on some really good stuff."
Wilson admitted she was "so honoured" to have made the shortlist.
"Helen McCrory is not on that list," she said. "Lia Williams, Juliet Stevenson, Gemma Arterton… these amazing performances that have happened this year. I’m just very honoured to be one of the four selected."
(c) Sky News 2017: Olivier Awards: Harry Potter And The Cursed Child set to clean up
