The West End cast of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button dance on a stage decorated to look like a barn.

Olivier Award-winning London shows 2025

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Olivier Award winners 2025

Discover this year's biggest winners of the prestigious Olivier Awards in London's West End. Held annually in honour of legendary British actor Laurence Olivier, this celebrated ceremony shines a spotlight on the very best in theatre – from outstanding productions and performances to design, creativity, and even the audience's choice for most popular show.

Showstopping productions that stole the spotlight this year include Fiddler on the Roof, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and the play Giant – each scooping up three awards.

Fiddler on the Roof

The innovative show won Best Musical Revival, Best Sound Design and Best Set Design. The musical is coming back to London this summer at the Barbican Theatre, don't miss!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The F Scott Fitzgerald adaptation grabbed three awards including Best New Musical, Outstanding Musical Contribution and Best Actor in a Musical win for John Dagleish.

Giant

Rosenblatt’s play made its debut, wowing audiences and scooping up three Oliviers – Best Actor for John Lithgow, Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Elliot Levey and Best New Play.

Oliver! The Musical

Mackintosh's revival of the Dickens classic picked up Best Lighting Design, with a showstopping live performance of "Reviewing the Situation" by Simon Lipkin, who was also nominated for Best Actor.

The Olivier Awards have celebrated the very best of British theatre since 1976, with newcomers on the London West End raffling some of the top awards. The Olivier Awards are one of the highest theatre honours, recognising world class theatre shows, including musicals, theatre plays, operas and dance productions – very often shows premiering on the West End that same year, set to be long-run productions.

This year's Olivier Awards delivered an electrifying night of live performances, from Fiddler on the Roof and Why Am I So Single? to Oliver! — plus a showstopping tribute celebrating 40 years of Les Misérables. On the night, brand-new productions making waves in the West End stole the spotlight, with top wins across major categories.

Standouts included the three-times winner The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, earning a nod for Best New Musical, and groundbreaking revivals breathing new life into beloved classics — led by Fiddler on the Roof, which topped the night as the most-nominated production and three wins at the 2025 Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival.

The prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards took place at the iconic Royal Albert Hall on 6 April 2025, with Olivier Award-winning musical legend Beverley Knight co-hosting alongside Grammy and Tony award-winning performer Billy Porter, who is currently playing the Emcee in the Olivier-winning Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

 

2025 nominations and wins: This year's showstoppers

It's awards season again! Don't miss your chance to see this year's most nominated shows at the Olivier Awards – where the best of theatre takes centre stage!
Jade Mavin, who plays the role of Momma in Starlight Express, is at the centre of the action with other members of the cast dancing on stage.

Starlight Express

Andrew Lloyd Webber's show-stopping production won Best Costume Design (Gabriella Slade) and was nominated for Best Musical Revival and Best Lighting Design.

From £37.00
The actors who play the ambassadors in the Kyoto play are holding signs with names of the countries on them.

Kyoto the play

The thought-provoking play has brought to the stage the climate conversation, nominated for two Olivier awards: Best New Play and Best Actor (Jorge Bosch).
Michael Jackson, played by Miles Frost, performs a dance routine with his backup dancers during a scene in MJ the Musical.

MJ The Musical

MJ The Musical won Best Theatre Choreographer for Christopher Wheeldon, with additional nominations for Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Musical.

From £31.25
The actress who plays Céline Dion in Titaníque, dressed in a long sequined dress, shares the stage with Rose and Jack, who stand awkwardly close to her.

Titaníque

The fringe comedy brought fresh energy to the stage, winning two awards, including Best New Entertainment and Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Layton Williams.

From £35.50
Five actresses are on stage wearing black and white outfits and black sunglasses during a scene in the stage production of The Years.

The Years

Based on Annie Ernaux's masterpiece, the production earned Romola Garai an Olivier for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, along with Best Director for Eline Arbo.
A staged classroom with three teenage girls that sit at a table and one other girl standing next to them all look at each other with a lion head symbol and the blue text lion pride on a yellow wall.

Mean Girls

The high-energy musical adaptation made its London debut this year, earning Tom Xander a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Past Olivier Award-winners of Best Musical

Head to London’s West End and enjoy some of the best theatre by seeing shows that have won the Olivier Award for Best Musical. Many of these shows are still popular today, offering top-quality performances. 
Save up to 46%
Marty McFly plays electric guitar while a machine explodes in the background.

Back to the Future

Awarded Best Musical in 2022, in addition to six nominations that same year.

From £24.50
Reuben Joseph playing the role of Alexander Hamilton is standing at the centre of the stage and is surrounded by other cast members of Hamilton the Musical, all dressed in brown and beige uniforms.

Hamilton

The show won a total of seven awards plus six nominations in 2018.

From £25.00
The cast of The Book of Mormon smiling together in front of a background of an old cathedral.

The Book of Mormon

The show won a total of four awards plus two nominations in 2014.

From £25.00
Special offer
A group of school kids are surrounding one of their classmates seating on a chair during the show Matilda The Musical.

Matilda The Musical

The RSC musical collected seven awards and two nominations in 2012.

From £25.00
The actresses playing Donna and her friends Rosie and Tanya are dancing on the stage of Mamma Mia! The Musical.

Mamma Mia!

Nominated for Best Musical and winner of Best Supporting Performance in 2000.

From £18.75
Tudor queens are dressed with sequin modern dresses performing on the stage of the Vaudeville Theatre.

SIX The Musical

Five nominations in 2019, including Best Musical.

From £43.25

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Olivier Award-winning shows for Best Actor

Discover top performances on London's West End, featuring performers who have been honoured with the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Actor. These award-winning productions, ranging from dramas to uplifting musicals, have captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike.

Billy Porter plays The Emcee in the musical Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, wearing a red clown outfit with white confetti flying around.

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Seven Olivier awards, including Eddie Redmayne for Best Actor in 2022.

From £37.50
Last chance to see
west end theatre stage with red and blue atmospheric lights; a man playing the guitar and a woman crouched over singing alongside him

TINA – Tina Turner The Musical

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith won Best Actor in 2019.

From £25.00
Always sells out
The actress, who plays Rose Weasley in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, wears the Hogwarts uniforms and stands proudly on stage, smiling as classmates stand behind her.

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

Eight Olivier Awards, including Jamie Parker for Best Actor, Best New Play and Set Design in 2017.

From £37.50
The Phantom of the Opera, wearing a mask hiding half of his face, stands above Christine, a young opera singer.

Phantom of the Opera

Michael Crawford won Best Actor in 1986. Olivier Award for Best Musical in 1986, Most Popular Show in 2002 and 2016.

From £31.25
A man wearing long blue and brown trousers in a military style is holding a bottle and is surrounded by other members of the cast of Les Misérables.

Les Misérables

Olivier Award-winner for Most Popular Show in 2012 and 2014. Patti LuPone won Best Actress in a Musical playing Fantine in 1985.

From £31.25
Top seller
Four dancers leap across the stage in lion costumes in The Lion King on stage in the West End of London.

The Lion King

Rob Edwards nominated for Best Actor in 1999 and the show was awarded Best Costume Design that same year.

From £43.75

Other Oliver Award-winning West End shows to see in 2025

Alongside Best Actor and Best Musical winners, other categories of Olivier Awards showcase outstanding achievements in acting, direction, choreography, set design and more. These productions, recognised for their excellence, promise an unforgettable time in London's West End.

My Neighbour Totoro

The most successful show in 2023 with five awards including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.

The Play That Goes Wrong

Winner of Best New Comedy at the Olivier Awards in 2015.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Two Olivier Awards 2024: Best New Entertainment and Best Set Design.

Wicked The Musical

Awarded the Audience Award for Most Popular Show prize in 2010.

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What theatre show has the most Olivier Awards?

With a record of 11 nominations and nine wins, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child dominated the Olivier Awards ceremony in 2017, claiming the prestigious title of Best New Play. The production also claimed awards in other categories, including Best Actor for Jamie Parker, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Noma Dumezweni, and Best Director for John Tiffany. Additionally, it won awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Anthony Boyle), Best Set Design (Christine Jones), Best Costume Design (Katrina Lindsay), Best Sound Design (Gareth Fry), and Best Lighting Design (Neil Austin).

In second place, top London musicals Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, along with Hamilton and Matilda, have secured a total of seven Olivier Awards each.

How prestigious is an Olivier Award?

The Olivier Awards are considered to be the highest award in British theatre, equivalent of the Broadway Tony Awards. The Oliviers highlight outstanding performances and achievements across various categories in the London West End. Winning an Olivier Award is a significant achievement for production teams, highlighting outstanding acting, directing, design and choreography.

Which Olivier Award shows are playing in the West End?

Olivier Award-winning shows are currently playing on the London West End, with 2024 winners including Stranger Things: The First Shadows for Best New Comedy Play.

2025 sees the return of six-time Oliver Award-winner My Neighbour Totoro, as the spectacular adaptation of this original Studio Ghibli global hit transfers to the West End.

How to book Olivier Award-winning theatre tickets in London?

Explore our curated selection of top London theatre tickets, featuring a range of musicals and bestselling plays currently showing in the West End. You can easily choose your preferred tickets through the Visit London website. Since popular Olivier Award-winning shows often sell out quickly, it’s wise to book your tickets in advance to ensure you secure the best dates and seats.