The 2025 Olivier Awards lit up the Royal Albert Hall with glamour, applause, and unforgettable moments, celebrating the very best of British theatre. This year’s star-studded ceremony, hosted by the ever-charismatic Billy Porter and the soulful Beverley Knight, brought the magic of the stage to life as fans, critics, and performers united under one roof.
From riveting dramas to mesmerizing musicals, the night honored a rich spectrum of talent, both on stage and behind the scenes. Productions like Fiddler on the Roof, Giant, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button led the winners list, with each sweeping multiple categories.
Major Winners of the Night
- Fiddler on the Roof – 3 Awards (Best Musical Revival, Best Sound Design, Best Set Design)
- Giant – 3 Awards (Best New Play, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor)
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – 3 Awards (Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Outstanding Musical Contribution)
- The Years – 2 Awards (Best Director, Best Supporting Actress)
- Oedipus – 2 Awards (Best Revival, Best Actress)
Let’s dive into the full list of winners from theatre’s biggest night:
Performance Awards
Best Actor
- Winner: John Lithgow – Giant
Nominees: - Paapa Essiedu – Hamlet
- Mark Strong – A View from the Bridge
- Michael Sheen – Faith Healer
Best Actress
- Winner: Lesley Manville – Oedipus
Nominees: - Sophie Okonedo – Antigone
- Ruth Wilson – The Glass Menagerie
- Patsy Ferran – Portia Coughlan
Best Supporting Actor
- Winner: Elliot Levey – Giant
Nominees: - Alfred Enoch – Othello
- Rory Kinnear – King Lear
- Tom Glynn-Carney – Dear England
Best Supporting Actress
- Winner: Romola Garai – The Years
Nominees: - Lia Williams – The Homecoming
- Hayley Atwell – Rosmersholm
- Indira Varma – A Doll’s House
Musical Performance Awards
Best Actor in a Musical
- Winner: John Dagleish – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Nominees: - Eddie Redmayne – Cabaret
- Julian Ovenden – South Pacific
- Jamie Muscato – Bonnie & Clyde
Best Actress in a Musical
- Winner: Imelda Staunton – Hello, Dolly!
Nominees: - Samantha Barks – Frozen
- Anoushka Lucas – Oklahoma!
- Jessie Buckley – Sunset Boulevard
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
- Winner: Layton Williams – Titanique
Nominees: - Hugh Coles – Back to the Future
- Alistair Brammer – Miss Saigon
- Matt Henry – The Drifters Girl
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
- Winner: Maimuna Memon – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Nominees: - Beverley Knight – Sylvia
- Grace Hodgett Young – Cabaret
- Laura Pitt-Pulford – The Secret Garden
Play and Musical Categories
Best New Play
- Winner: Giant
Nominees: - Dear England
- The Motive and the Cue
- The Hills of California
Best New Musical
- Winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Nominees: - Sylvia
- Rebecca
- The Time Traveller’s Wife
Best Revival
- Winner: Oedipus
Nominees: - Faith Healer
- A View from the Bridge
- Hamlet
Best Musical Revival
- Winner: Fiddler on the Roof
Nominees: - Cabaret
- Oklahoma!
- Hello, Dolly!
Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
- Winner: Titanique
Nominees: - One Woman Show
- Peter Pan Goes Wrong
- The Play That Goes Wrong
Best Family Show
- Winner: Brainiac Live
Nominees: - The Tiger Who Came to Tea
- Zog and the Flying Doctors
- Stick Man
Creative and Technical Awards
Best Director
- Winner: Eline Arbo – The Years
Nominees: - Nicholas Hytner – Giant
- Michael Grandage – The Motive and the Cue
- Sam Mendes – The Hills of California
Best Theatre Choreographer
- Winner: Christopher Wheeldon – MJ The Musical
Best Set Design
- Winner: Tom Scutt – Fiddler on the Roof
Best Costume Design
- Winner: Gabriella Slade – Starlight Express
Best Lighting Design
- Winner: Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs – Oliver!
Best Sound Design
- Winner: Nick Lidster – Fiddler on the Roof
Outstanding Musical Contribution
- Winner: Darren Clark and Mark Aspinall – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Opera and Dance Awards
Best New Opera Production
- Winner: Festen
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
- Winner: Allan Clayton – Festen
Best New Dance Production
- Winner: Assembly Hall
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
- Winner: Eva Yerbabuena – Yerbabuena
Affiliate Theatre and Emerging Talent
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre
- Winner: Boys on the Verge of Tears – Soho Theatre
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Olivier Awards were not just an award show—they were a celebration of what makes theatre magical: powerful performances, boundary-pushing storytelling, and the unique ability to move audiences night after night.
From John Lithgow’s commanding performance in Giant to Eline Arbo’s visionary direction in The Years, this year’s winners proved that British theatre is as dynamic and daring as ever. Here’s to another incredible year on stage!