Barbican’s enchanting coming-of-age story, My Neighbour Totoro, leads the pack at this year’s Olivier Awards with a staggering 9 nominations. Brought to the life by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this adaptation utilises music from the legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, to create a mythical, magical world. This heartfelt story of two siblings competes for a range of awards at this year’s ceremony, including Best Director, Best Actress, Best Theatre Choreographer, and Best Original Score.

The National Theatre boasts its strongest set of Olivier Awards in years, securing 16 nominations across six of its productions. Standing at the Sky’s Edge, is the theatres most nominated piece, receiving 8 nods - the most for any musical this year. Will the Sheffield-based musical ‘steel’ the show? With contenders in the Best New Musical, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories, it will certainly try to.

From new pieces to reinventions of American classics, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! earns 7 nominations, with 4 of these coming from acting categories. Liza Sadovy and Marisha Wallace for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical, Anoushka Lucas for Best Actress in a Musical, and Arthur Darvill for Best Actor in a Musical.

Also competing in the musical acting categories are Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells for their roles in the evangelical musical Tammy Faye. Two-time Olivier Award nominee, Beverley Knight, for her performance in the suffragette musical Sylvia at The Old Vic Theatre, and three-time Olivier Award nominee Clive Rowe for his performance in Sister Act.

Although this is Rowe’s fourth nomination, he is a relative newcomer to the awards compared to Janet McTeer, who today received her sixth nomination, this time for her performance as Phaedra at the National Theatre. Today also saw sound designers Max and Ben Ringham, costume designer Hugh Durrant, and choreographer Crystal Pite all receive their 5th nominations.

On the other end of the scale, 27 actors received their first-ever Olivier nomination today, including household names: Paul Mescal, Caroline Quentin, Jodie Comer, Rose Ayling-Ellis, and legendary fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

The winners of this year’s Olivier Awards will be announced at the star-studded ceremony, hosted by three-time Olivier Award nominee, and star of Ted Lasso, Hannah Waddingham, on the 2^nd April 2023. A full list of those hoping to collect the award at the Royal Albert Hall can be found below.

It was a night like no other at the 23rd annual WhatsOnStage Awards, as some of the most renowned names in theatre gathered together to host a spectacular ceremony. The red carpet was rolled out, the buzz of chatter and applause filled the air and once again the WhatsOnStage Awards brought together an electric mix of up-and-coming and established stars, proving that the awards are the epitome of celebration and theatrical brilliance. Theatre-goers nationwide once again had the opportunity to nominate their firm favourites from the stage, and this year the commitment to inclusivity was dialled up a notch, with the addition of gender-neutral performance categories!

The 23rd WhatsOnStage Awards were graced by the presence of iconic presenters such as Jake Shears, George Takei, Bonnie Langford, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Arlene Phillips and Lisa Scott-Lee. Here’s a rundown of the night's events!

The 23rd annual WhatsOnStage Awards are here, and this year the competition includes an incredible display of theatre talent. It has been an awe-inspiring year for shows, and the awards are back to celebrate the industry in all of its glory, including everyone who makes theatre thrive - those on stage, those backstage and those offstage, as well as the audiences who make it all possible by attending shows!

The announcement of this year's nominations means the opening of the final voting stage. Winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony, which will be held on 12 February 2023 at the Prince of Wales Theatre!

October is the ultimate time to wind down. Amidst the scenic autumn colours and all things pumpkin spice, the theatre is the perfect place to be. Here is a compiled list of the most highly-anticipated shows coming to the West End this October: