1996 Laurence Olivier Awards

The 1996

Laurence Olivier Awards were held in 1996 in London celebrating excellence in West End theatre by the Society of London Theatre

.

Winners and nominees

Details of winners (in bold) and nominees, in each award category, per the Society of London Theatre.[1]

Play of the Year	Best New Musical
Skylight by David Hare – National Theatre Cottesloe / Wyndham's Pentecost by David Edgar – RSC at the Young Vic Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood – Criterion The Steward of Christendom by Sebastian Barry – Royal Court	Jolson – Victoria Palace Fame – Cambridge Hot Mikado – Queen's Mack and Mabel – Piccadilly
Best Comedy
Mojo by Jez Butterworth – Royal Court Communicating Doors by Alan Ayckbourn – Gielgud / Savoy Funny Money by Ray Cooney – Playhouse
Best Actor	Best Actress
*Alex Jennings as Peer Gynt in Peer Gynt* – RSC at the Young Vic** Michael Gambon as Tom Sergeant in Skylight – National Theatre Cottesloe / Wyndham's Daniel Massey as Wilhelm Furtwängler in Taking Sides – Criterion Donal McCann as Thomas Dunne in The Steward of Christendom – Royal Court	*Judi Dench as Christine Foskett in Absolute Hell* – National Theatre Lyttelton** Diana Rigg as Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children – National Theatre Olivier Zoë Wanamaker as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie – Donmar Warehouse / Comedy Lia Williams as Kyra Hollis in Skylight – National Theatre Cottesloe / Wyndham's
Best Actor in a Musical	Best Actress in a Musical
*Adrian Lester as Robert in Company* – Donmar Warehouse** Brian Conley as Al Jolson in Jolson – Victoria Palace Ross Lehman as Koko in Hot Mikado – Queen's Clarke Peters as Nat King Cole in Unforgettable – Garrick	*Judi Dench as Desirée Armfeldt in A Little Night Music* – National Theatre Olivier** Elizabeth Mansfield as Marie Lloyd in Marie – Fortune Mack and Mabel – Piccadilly Elaine Paige as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard – Adelphi
Best Supporting Performance	Best Supporting Performance in a Musical
*Simon Russell Beale as Mosca in Volpone* – National Theatre Olivier** Ben Chaplin as Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie – Donmar Warehouse / Comedy Geraldine McEwan as Lady Wishfort in The Way of the World – National Theatre Lyttelton Claire Skinner as Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie – Donmar Warehouse / Comedy	*Sheila Gish as Joanne in Company* – Donmar Warehouse** John Bennett as Louis Epstein in Jolson – Victoria Palace Siân Phillips as Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music – National Theatre Olivier Sophie Thompson as Amy in Company – Donmar Warehouse
Best Director	Best Theatre Choreographer
*Sam Mendes for Company* – Donmar Warehouse and The Glass Menagerie – Donmar Warehouse / Comedy** Richard Eyre for La Grande Magia – National Theatre Lyttelton and Skylight – National Theatre Cottesloe / Wyndham's Adrian Noble for A Midsummer Night's Dream – RSC at the Barbican Matthew Warchus for Henry V – RSC at the Barbican and Volpone – National Theatre Olivier	*Dein Perry for Tap Dogs* – Sadler's Wells** Lars Bethke for Fame – Cambridge Wayne McGregor for A Little Night Music – National Theatre Olivier
Best Set Designer	Best Costume Designer
*John Napier for Burning Blue* – Theatre Royal Haymarket** John Gunter for Absolute Hell – National Theatre Lyttelton, Skylight – National Theatre Cottesloe / Wyndham's and Twelfth Night – RSC at the Barbican Rob Howell for The Glass Menagerie – Donmar Warehouse / Comedy Anthony Ward for A Midsummer Night's Dream – RSC at the Barbican, La Grande Magia and The Way of the World – National Theatre Lyttelton	*Anthony Ward for A Midsummer Night's Dream* – RSC at the Barbican, La Grande Magia and The Way of the World – National Theatre Lyttelton** Deirdre Clancy for Absolute Hell – National Theatre Lyttelton and Twelfth Night – RSC at the Barbican Nicky Gillibrand for A Little Night Music – National Theatre Olivier Richard Hudson for Volpone – National Theatre Olivier
Best Lighting Designer
*David Hersey for Burning Blue* – Theatre Royal Haymarket, The Glass Menagerie – Donmar Warehouse / Comedy and Twelfth Night – RSC at the Barbican** Mark Henderson for Absolute Hell and La Grande Magia – National Theatre Lyttelton and Indian Ink – Aldwych Peter Mumford for Mother Courage and Her Children, Volpone – National Theatre Olivier and Richard II – National Theatre Cottesloe Chris Parry for A Midsummer Night's Dream – RSC at the Barbican and The Way of the World – National Theatre Lyttelton
Outstanding Achievement in Dance	Best New Dance Production
Siobhan Davies Dance Company – Sadler's Wells Steptext, The Royal Ballet – Royal Opera House Sylvie Guillem in Episodes, Béjart Ballet Lausanne – Sadler's Wells Marion Tait in Pillar of Fire, Birmingham Royal Ballet – Royal Opera House	Adventures in Motion Pictures – Sadler's Wells Saints and Shadows, Arc Dance Company – Sadler's Wells SH-BOOM, 10 Dancers Ensemble – Sadler's Wells Les Ballets de Monte Carlo – Sadler's Wells
Outstanding Achievement in Opera	Outstanding New Opera Production
*Bernard Haitink for conducting Götterdämmerung* and Siegfried, The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House** Jonathan Miller for directing Carmen, English National Opera – London Coliseum Bryn Terfel in Salome, The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House John Tomlinson in Billy Budd and Siegfried, The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House	Billy Budd, The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House A Midsummer Night's Dream, English National Opera – London Coliseum Salome, The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House Siegfried, The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House
Society Special Award
Harold Pinter

Productions with multiple nominations and awards

The following 20 productions, including two operas, received multiple nominations:

6: The Glass Menagerie
5: Skylight
4: A Little Night Music, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Absolute Hell, Company, La Grande Magia, The Way of the World and Volpone
3: Jolson, Siegfried and Twelfth Night
2:
Mack and Mabel, Mother Courage and Her Children, Salome, Taking Sides and The Steward of Christendom

The following three productions received multiple awards:

3: Company
2: Burning Blue and The Glass Menagerie

References

^ "Olivier Winners 1996". officiallondontheatre.com. Society of London Theatre. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2022.

External links

Previous Olivier Winners – 1996

[1] "Olivier Winners 1996". officiallondontheatre.com. Society of London Theatre. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2022.

v t e Laurence Olivier Awards
Drama	New Play Entertainment or Comedy Play Revival Actor Actress Actor in a Supporting Role Actress in a Supporting Role
Musical	New Musical Musical Revival Actor in a Musical Actress in a Musical Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical Musical Contribution
Production/Creatives	Director Theatre Choreographer Set Design Costume Design Lighting Design Sound Design
Dance/Opera	New Dance Production New Opera Production Achievement in Dance Achievement in Opera
Special/Other	Special Award Family Show Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre
Retired	Actor of the Year in a New Play Actress of the Year in a New Play Actor of the Year in a Revival Actress of the Year in a Revival Comedy Performance Performance in a Musical Supporting Artist of the Year Performance in a Supporting Role Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical Newcomer in a Play Most Promising Performer Company Performance Director of a Play Director of a Musical Most Promising Playwright Achievement in a Musical Audience Award
Ceremonies	1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 ~~1989 (see 1989/90)~~ 1989/90 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 ~~2021 (COVID-19)~~ 2022 2023 2024

Winners and nominees

Productions with multiple nominations and awards

See also

References

External links