Olivier Awards 2022: Eddie Redmayne and Lily Allen lead star-studded nominations

Revival of Cabaret sees most nominations for awards in April hosted by Jason Manford
Six performing at the 2019 Olivier Awards
Pamela Raith photography
Josh Salisbury8 March 2022

The Olivier Awards, British theatre’s most prestigious awards, has announced its nominations for 2022.

A-list Eddie Redmayne and singer Lily Allen are among those in the running for an award.

Redmayne and his co-star Jessie Buckley are both up for leading actor awards for their parts in Cabaret, a revival of the classic 1966 musical at the Playhouse Theatre.

Jason Manford at the 2019 Olivier Awards
Pamela Raith

The musical, which has been met with critical acclaim, received 11 nominations - the most of any show this year.

Life of Pi, Lolita Chakrabarti’s stage adaptation of the bestselling novel at the Wyndham Theatre, received nine nominations in total.

The classic Cole Porter musical Anything Goes, which broke box office records at the Barbican last summer, also swept the list with nine nominations.

Meanwhile, Back To The Future - The Musical, currently playing at the Adelphi Theatre, is up for seven awards including best original score.

The awards will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday April 10.

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, said: “I want to offer enormous congratulations to all the 2022 Olivier Awards nominees.

“This year’s fantastic array truly demonstrates the breadth and diversity of London’s world-leading theatre industry, and its extraordinary creativity and resilience during an extremely challenging period for our sector.

“After a two-year hiatus, we are delighted to be able to bring the theatre community together again to celebrate our brightest talents.

“I’m sure the atmosphere in the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 10 April will be absolutely electric.”

Stand-up comedian Jason Manford will host the awards which will be broadcast on ITV and Magic Radio.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which is currently playing at the Piccadilly Theatre, received five nominations.

The National Theatre’s production of the Larry Kramer play The Normal Heart set in New York’s gay community during the 1980s AIDS crisis also recieved the same number of nominations.

Family favourite Frozen and Get Up! Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical both received four Olivier Awards.

In the Opera and Dance categories, nominees include English National Opera’s The Cunning Little Vixen and mezzo soprano Christine Rice for her performance in 4/4 at the Royal Opera House.

The full list of nominations:

Cunard Best Revival

A Number at The Old Vic

Constellations - Donmar Warehouse at Vaudeville Theatre

The Normal Heart at National Theatre - Olivier

The Tragedy Of Macbeth at Almeida Theatre

Noël Coward/Geoffrey Johnson Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play

The Choir Of Man at Arts Theatre

Pantoland At The Palladium at The London Palladium

Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of) at Criterion Theatre

The Shark Is Broken at Ambassadors Theatre

Magic Radio Best Musical Revival

Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Spring Awakening at Almeida Theatre

Best Costume Design

Jon Morrell for Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Christopher Oram for Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Tom Scutt for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Catherine Zuber for Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design

Ian Dickinson for 2:22 A Ghost Story at Noël Coward Theatre

Carolyn Downing for Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Nick Lidster for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Gareth Owen for Back To The Future - The Musical at Adelphi Theatre

Best Original Score or New Orchestrations

Anything Goes - New Orchestrations: Bill Elliott, David Chase and Rob Fisher at Barbican Theatre

Back To The Future - The Musical - Composers: Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard; Orchestrations: Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook at Adelphi Theatre

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical - Orchestrator: Simon Hale at Lyric Theatre

Life Of Pi - Composer: Andrew T. Mackay at Wyndham's Theatre

Best Theatre Choreographer

Finn Caldwell for Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Julia Cheng for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Kathleen Marshall for Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Sonya Tayeh for Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

7 actors who play the Tiger for Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Dino Fetscher for The Normal Heart at National Theatre - Olivier

Nathaniel Parker for The Mirror And The Light at Gielgud Theatre

Danny Lee Wynter for The Normal Heart at National Theatre - Olivier

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Tori Burgess for Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of) at Criterion Theatre

Liz Carr for The Normal Heart at National Theatre - Olivier

Christina Gordon for Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of) at Criterion Theatre

Akiya Henry for The Tragedy Of Macbeth at Almeida Theatre

Blue-I Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design

Tim Hatley for Design and Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell for Puppets for Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Tim Hatley for Design and Finn Ross for Video Design for Back To The Future - The Musical at Adelphi Theatre

Derek McLane for Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

Tom Scutt for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

White Light Award for Best Lighting Design

Neil Austin for Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Isabella Byrd for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Tim Lutkin for Back To The Future - The Musical at Adelphi Theatre

Tim Lutkin and Andrzej Goulding for Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Best Actress In A Supporting Role In A Musical

Gabrielle Brooks for Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at Lyric Theatre

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for Cinderella at Gillian Lynne Theatre

Carly Mercedes Dyer for Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Liza Sadovy for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Best Actor In A Supporting Role In A Musical

Clive Carter for Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

Hugh Coles for Back To The Future - The Musical at Adelphi Theatre

Elliot Levey for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Gary Wilmot for Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Outstanding Achievement In Opera

Christine Rice for her performance in 4/4 at Royal Opera House

takis for set and costume design of HMS Pinafore by English National Opera at London Coliseum

Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra for Bajazet at Royal Opera House - Linbury Theatre

Best New Opera Production

Bajazet at Royal Opera House - Linbury Theatre

The Cunning Little Vixen by English National Opera at London Coliseum

Jenůfa at Royal Opera House

Theodora at Royal Opera House

Best Actor In A Musical

Olly Dobson for Back To The Future - The Musical at Adelphi Theatre

Arinzé Kene for Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at Lyric Theatre

Robert Lindsay for Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Eddie Redmayne for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Best Actress In A Musical

Jessie Buckley for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Sutton Foster for Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Beverley Knight for The Drifters Girl at Garrick Theatre

Stephanie McKeon for Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Outstanding Achievement In Dance

Acosta Danza for De Punta A Cabo in 100% Cuban at Sadler’s Wells

Dancers for NDT2 Tour at Sadler’s Wells

Arielle Smith for her choreography of Jolly Folly in Reunion by English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells

Edward Watson for his performance in The Dante Project at Royal Opera House

Best New Dance Production

Draw From Within by Rambert Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells

Revisor by Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young / Kidd Pivot at Sadler’s Wells

Transverse Orientation by Dance Umbrella and Sadler’s Wells at Sadler’s Wells

Best Actress

Lily Allen for 2:22 A Ghost Story at Noël Coward Theatre

Sheila Atim for Constellations - Donmar Warehouse at Vaudeville Theatre

Emma Corrin for Anna X at Harold Pinter Theatre

Cush Jumbo for Hamlet at Young Vic

Best Actor

Hiran Abeysekera for Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Ben Daniels for The Normal Heart at National Theatre - Olivier

Omari Douglas for Constellations - Donmar Warehouse at Vaudeville Theatre

Charles Edwards for Best Of Enemies at Young Vic

Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director

Rebecca Frecknall for Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Michael Longhurst for Constellations - Donmar Warehouse at Vaudeville Theatre

Kathleen Marshall for Anything Goes at Barbican Theatre

Max Webster for Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre

10 Nights at Bush Theatre

Folk at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs

The Invisible Hand at Kiln Theatre

Old Bridge at Bush Theatre

A Place For We at Park Theatre

Best Family Show

Billionaire Boy at Garrick Theatre

Dragons And Mythical Beasts at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

What The Ladybird Heard at Palace Theatre

Wolf Witch Giant Fairy at Royal Opera House - Linbury Theatre

Best New Play

2:22 A Ghost Story at Noël Coward Theatre

Best Of Enemies at Young Vic

Cruise at Duchess Theatre

Life Of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre

Mastercard Best New Musical

Back To The Future - The Musical at Adelphi Theatre

The Drifters Girl at Garrick Theatre

Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at Lyric Theatre

Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre