Sir Kenneth Branagh to Receive Special Award at Oliviers

PLAYBILL
BY MARK SHENTON
MAR 02, 2017

He will receive the award at this year's ceremony April 9 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Previously an Olivier Award winner for Best Newcomer in 1982, the stage and screen star has appeared frequently in the West End, with the RSC and at the National Theatre. Most recently, the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company put on its inaugural West End season, comprising seven plays that were staged at the Garrick Theatre, with three of them, The Winter’s Tale, Romeo and Juliet, and The Entertainer, also broadcast to cinemas across the world, where they were seen by over 430,000 people.

In a press statement, Caro Newling, president of the Society of London Theatre, commented, “The Society of London Theatre is delighted to formally celebrate Kenneth Branagh’s outstanding contribution to London theatre. Whether acting or directing, there is no greater advocate for our industry.”

Past recipients of the Special Award include Kevin Spacey, Stephen Sondheim, Judi Dench, and Ian McKellen.

http://www.playbill.com/article/sir-kenneth-branagh-to-receive-special-award-at-this-years-olivier-awards

Mark Strong and Penelope Wilton scoop top prizes at Olivier Awards 2015

RADIO TIMES
By Huw Fullerton and Kasia Delgado
Sunday 12 April 2015 at 10:28PM



Downton Abbey's Penelope Wilton and veteran film actor Mark Strong have topped the list of winners at this year's Olivier Theatre Awards, winning Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively.

Wilton was honoured for her critically-acclaimed portrayal of the mother of German lawyer Hans Litten – the man who put Hitler on the witness stand in 1931 – in Mark Hayhurst's Taken At Midnight, while Strong won his accolade for playing troubled dock worker Eddie Carbone in the revival of Arthur Miller's 1950s-set A View from the Bridge.

Other screen stars making waves at Britain's biggest theatre awards were Murder She Wrote actress Angela Lansbury, whose return after nearly 40 years to the UK stage in Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit earned her a Best Supporting Actress gong. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries' Nathaniel Parker won Best Supporting Actor for playing Henry VIII in the theatre production of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.

Still, not all the big-name nominees were so lucky – Strong beat James McAvoy, Richard Armitage and Tim Pigott-Smith in the Best Actor category, while Wilton was up against hotly-tipped Gillian Anderson, Kristin Scott Thomas and Imelda Staunton. Elsewhere, Gemma Arterton and Nicole Scherzinger were beaten to the Best Actress and Supporting Actress in a Musical by Katie Brayben and Lorna Want from Carole King-based musical Beautiful.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-04-12/mark-strong-and-penelope-wilton-scoop-top-prizes-at-olivier-awards-2015

Olivier Awards 2015: Nominations in full from Wolf Hall to Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

THE INDEPENDENT
 JESS DENHAM  Author Biography   Monday 09 March 2015



 Lesley Manville and James McAvoy have announced the nominations for this year's Olivier Awards, celebrating the best in theatre.

Memphis The Musical has picked up the most nods with nine, while Beautiful - The Carole King Musical has earned eight.

Here is the list in full:

Best Actress

Gillian Anderson, A Streetcar Named Desire

Kristin Scott Thomas, Electra

Imelda Staunton, Good People

Penelope Wilton, Taken At Midnight

Best Actor

Richard Armitage, The Crucible

James McAvoy, The Ruling Class

Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III

Mark Strong, A View From The Bridge

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Phoebe Fox, A View From the Bridge

The Girls playing Iris, The Nether

Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit

Lydia Wilson, King Charles III

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

David Caldar, The Nether

Richard Goulding, King Charles III

John Light, Taken At Midnight

Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies





READ MORE HERE: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/olivier-awards-2015-nominations-in-full-from-wolf-hall-to-beautiful--the-carole-king-musical-10095566.html

Tom Hiddleston, Martin Freeman, James McAvoy, Judi Dench - The Olivier awards 2014 red carpet – in pictures, plus winners

THE GUARDIAN
Mark Brown, arts correspondent
The Guardian, Sunday 13 April 2014

Host Stephen Mangan and Louise Delamere on the red carpet. Photograph: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

The winners

Best actor Rory Kinnear for Othello at the National theatre, Olivier

Best actress Lesley Manville for Ghosts at the Almeida theatre & Trafalgar studios

Best actor in a supporting role Jack Lowden for Ghosts at the Almeida theatre & Trafalgar studios

Best actress in a supporting role Sharon D Clarke for The Amen Corner at the National theatre, Olivier

American Airlines best new play Chimerica at the Almeida theatre & Harold Pinter theatre

Best new comedy Jeeves & Wooster In Perfect Nonsense at the Duke of York's theatre

Best director Lyndsey Turner for Chimerica at the Almeida theatre & Harold Pinter theatre

Best actor in a musical Gavin Creel for The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales theatre

Best actress in a musical Zrinka Cvitešić for Once at the Phoenix theatre

Best performance in a supporting role in a musical Stephen Ashfield for The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales theatre

Mastercard best new musical The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales theatre

Best revival Ghosts at the Almeida theatre & Trafalgar studios

Best musical revival Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter theatre

Best theatre choreographer Casey Nicholaw for The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales theatre

Best entertainment and family The Wind In The Willows at the Duchess theatre

Autograph sound award for outstanding achievement in music Once – Martin Lowe for composition & arrangements, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for music and lyrics

White Light award for best lighting design Tim Lutkin & Finn Ross for Chimerica at the Almeida theatre & Harold Pinter theatre Paul Pyant and Jon Driscoll for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Best sound design Carolyn Downing for Chimerica at the Almeida theatre & Harold Pinter theatre Gareth Owen for Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter theatre

Best costume design Mark Thompson for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Xl video award for best set design Es Devlin for Chimerica at the Almeida theatre & Harold Pinter theatre

Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre Handbagged at the Tricycle theatre

Best new dance production Eastman – Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui & Sadler's Wells for Puz/zle at Sadler's Wells

Outstanding achievement in dance Michael Hulls for his body of lighting work including Ballet Boyz – The Talent at Sadler's Wells

Best new opera production Les Vêpres Siciliennes at the Royal Opera House

Outstanding achievement in opera English Touring Opera for its brave and challenging touring productions at the Linbury studio theatre, Royal Opera House

BBC Radio 2 audience award Les Misérables at the Queen's theatre

READ MORE HERE; http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/apr/13/almeida-theatre-wins-olivia-awards-chimerica-west-end

Olivier Awards 2014 nominees

THE GUARDIAN
theguardian.com, Monday 10 March 2014 08.01 EDT

Best actor

Henry Goodman – The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Duchess theatre

Tom Hiddleston – Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse

Rory Kinnear – Othello at the National Theatre, Olivier

Jude Law – Henry V at the Noël Coward theatre

Best actress

Hayley Atwell – The Pride at the Trafalgar Studios

Anna Chancellor – Private Lives at the Gielgud theatre

Judi Dench – Peter and Alice at the Noël Coward theatre

Lesley Manville – Ghosts at the Almeida theatre & Trafalgar Studios

Best actor in a supporting role

Ron Cook – Henry V at the Noël Coward theatre

Mark Gatiss – Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse

Jack Lowden – Ghosts at the Almeida theatre & Trafalgar Studios

Ardal O'Hanlon – The Weir at the Donmar Warehouse & the Wyndham's theatre

Best actress in a supporting role

Sharon D Clarke – The Amen Corner at the National Theatre, Olivier

Sarah Greene – The Cripple Of Inishmaan at the Noël Coward theatre

Katherine Kingsley – A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Noël Coward theatre

Cecilia Noble – The Amen Corner at the National Theatre, Olivier

American airlines best new play

1984 at the Almeida theatre

Chimerica at the Almeida theatre & Harold Pinter theatre

The Night Alive at the Donmar Warehouse

Peter and Alice at the Noël Coward theatre

Best new comedy

The Duck House at the Vaudeville theatre

The Full Monty at the Noël Coward theatre

Jeeves & Wooster In Perfect Nonsense at the Duke of York's theatre

The Same Deep Water As Me at the Donmar Warehouse

COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/mar/10/olivier-awards-2014-full-list-nominations

Tom Hiddleston, Jude Law: Stars compete for Olivier Awards

INDEPENDENT WOMAN
UPDATED 10 MARCH 2014 02:02 PM



Tom Hiddleston and Jude Law will compete for the best actor honour at this year's Olivier Awards, but there is no room for fellow Hollywood star Daniel Radcliffe on the shortlist.

Other nominees for the prestigious theatre awards include Dame Judi Dench who is shortlisted for best actress and Sherlock star Mark Gatiss whose performance in Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse sees him nominated for best supporting actor.

Dame Judi is nominated for Peter And Alice in which she starred opposite fellow Bond cast member Ben Whishaw.

Sam Mendes' musical of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along lead the field with seven nominations each.

Law and Hiddleston, nominated for the title roles in Henry V and Coriolanus respectively, face competition from Henry Goodman and another of Dame Judi's 007 co-stars Rory Kinnear.

Goodman is recognised for his performance in The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui at the Duchess Theatre, while Kinnear's Iago in the National Theatre production of Othello sees him shortlisted.

Radcliffe, who won best actor at the What's On Stage Awards for The Cripple of Inishmaan, is not shortlisted.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/stars-compete-for-olivier-awards-30078823.html

Rupert Penry-Jones, Nicola Walker at Olivier Awards

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Nicola Walker with the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award with Rupert Penry Jones (L) and Romola Garai during The Laurence Olivier Awards at the Royal Opera House on April 28, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/getty/article/ALeqM5jYHImH_9n0sKt7z0bRTO7CAq4SAg?docId=167721476

Michael Fassbender, Justin Kurzel attached to new version of Macbeth, from the producers of The King’s Speech. (SCREEN DAILY)

Michael Fassbender is attached to play Macbeth in a new version of Shakespeare’s classic, which will be produced by The King’s Speech and Shame producers See Saw.

Snowtown director Justin Kurzel is attached to direct the film, which is expected to shoot later this year. Writers are Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff.

The script has been one of the most in-demand ahead of the Cannes Film Festival with a number of sales outfits keen to work on the film.

Development and production backing on the UK-Australian co-production comes from Film4.

The part of Lady Macbeth is currently being cast and talks are underway with at least one Hollywood leading actress.

The production sees Fassbender reunited with Shame producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman and Film4, with whom the actor worked on Hunger, Shame and the upcoming Frank.

The new take on Shakespeare’s classic - about a ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord who siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and three witches - is set in the 11th century and in the original language.

The script is understood to be a visceral approach to the story including significant battle scenes.

The play has been recently staged in London’s West End starring James McAvoy, who was nominated for an Olivier Award for his turn. Famous film versions include Roman Polanski’s 1971 version and Orson Welles’ from 1948.


READ MORE: http://www.screendaily.com/news/michael-fassbender-see-saw-partner-on-macbeth/5054372.article?blocktitle=Latest-News&contentID=1846

Helen Mirren reigns at London's Olivier awards April 28, 2013 | 11:22 pm JILL LAWLESS Associated Press The Washington Examiner

LONDON (AP) -- Helen Mirren was crowned queen of the London stage at the Olivier Awards Sunday, while compelling, canine-titled teen drama "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" emerged as best in show with seven trophies.

Mirren, 67, was a popular and expected best actress choice for her regal yet vulnerable Queen Elizabeth II in "The Audience," Peter Morgan's behind-palace-doors drama about the relationship between Britain's queen and its prime ministers.

The actress, who won an Academy Award in 2007 for playing Britain's monarch in "The Queen," quipped that it was 87-year-old Elizabeth who deserved an award, "for the most consistent and committed performance of the 20th century, and probably the 21st century."

Backstage, it turned out she wasn't kidding. Mirren, who has been Olivier-nominated three times before, said that finally winning "doesn't mean that I was the best actor. There were so many incredible performances out there."

"I was making a joke about the queen winning, but I think actually it is a reflection of the kind of respect the queen is held in," she said.

Her "Audience" co-star, Richard McCabe, who won the supporting actor trophy for playing 1960s and 70s Prime Minister Harold Wilson, said Mirren was a joy to work with.

"It's important as an actor to be absolutely fearless, and she is," he said.

While the queen herself hasn't been to see the Stephen Daldry-directed show -- rumored to be Broadway-bound -- McCabe said "a lot of people in the royal household have been coming in and watching incognito, and they must be reporting back."

The surprise of the awards ceremony at London's Royal Opera House was "Curious Incident," an adaptation of Mark Haddon's best-selling young-adult novel about a teenage math prodigy with Asperger's Syndrome who sets out to find the killer of his neighbor's dog, with destabilizing results.

The show, which premiered at the state-subsidized National Theatre last year before transferring to a commercial West End playhouse, has won praise for its creative use of movement and technology to make the leap from page to stage.

The Simon Stephens-scripted drama was named best new play, and 28-year-old Luke Treadaway was crowned best actor, beating a strong list of contenders including Rupert Everett, Mark Rylance and James McAvoy.


READ MORE: http://washingtonexaminer.com/helen-mirren-reigns-at-londons-olivier-awards/article/2528386

Tom Hiddleston & James McAvoy - Olivier Awards 2013 Red Carpet (JUST JARED)

Tom Hiddleston suits up on the red carpet at the 2013 Olivier Awards held at the Royal Opera House on Sunday (April 28) in London, England.

The 32-year-old actor was joined at the show by James McAvoy with his wife Anne Marie Duff, and Rafe Spall with his wife Elize du Toit.

READ MORE: http://www.justjared.com/2013/04/28/tom-hiddleston-james-mcavoy-olivier-awards-2013-red-carpet/

James McAvoy, Hugh Bonneville: Nominees for Olivier AWards 2013 (ZIMBIO)

Nominees for the Olivier Awards 2013 with MasterCard pose on stage for a celebratory group photo, back row stage standing (L to R) Jon Morell, Lee Curran, Nica Burns, Kyle Soller, Dawn Reid, Emma Turner, Marianela Nunez, Hattie Morahan, Stephen Boswell, Alex Gaumond, Bill Deamer, Hildegard Bechtler, Gareth Owen, Paul Chahidi, Jenny Tiramani, Adrian Sutton, Miriam Buether, Nick Payne, Ked Mather, Olivia Jacobs, Annette McLaughlin and Alexandra Isaacs, front row stage sitting (L to R) David Wood, Kim Poster, John Miller, Billy Piper, Elliot Davis, David Garrud, Scott Graham, Luke Treadaway, Rafe Spall, James McAvoy, Hayley Flaherty, Leigh Zimmerman, James Graham, Deka Walmsley and Marcus Lovett, back row stalls standing (L to R) Caroline Horton, Debbie Kurup, Edward Snape, Matthew Mitchell, Heather Headley, Tom Chambers, Morgan Lloyd, Kate Bond and Anthony Ward, front row stalls sitting (L to R) Louise Dearman, Gina Beck, Summer Strallen and Kenny Wax, at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket on April 9, 2013 in London, England. The ceremony hosted by Sheridan Smith and Hugh Bonneville will take place at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 28 April.

READ MORE:http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/-n6GbSg5Xh7/Nominees+Laurence+Olivier+Awards/oSC-NCk0_iC/Hugh+Bonneville

Hugh Bonneville: Olivier Awards ceremony details announced (LONDON THEATER)

Details of some of the performances and guests planned for the Olivier Awards ceremony on Sunday 28 April 2013, at the Royal Opera House, to be broadcast on television on ITV in an extensive highlights package that night, and live on radio on BBC Radio 2.

As previously mentioned, Hugh Bonneville and Sheridan Smith will host proceedings with voiceover by Julia McKenzie.

The Nominations for the 37th Olivier Awards are.

Best Actor
Rupert Everett - The Judas Kiss at Hampstead/Duke of york's
James McAvoy – Macbeth at Trafalgar Studios
Mark Rylance – Twelfth Night at Globe/Apollo
Rafe Spall – Constellations at Royal Court/Duke of York's
Luke Treadaway – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo

Best Actress
Helen Mirren – The Audience at Gielgud
Hattie Morahan – A Doll’s House at Young Vic
Billie Piper – The Effect at Cottesloe, NT
Kristin Scott Thomas – Old Timesat Harold Pinter

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Paul Chahidi – Twelfth Night at Globe/Apollo
Richard McCabe – The Audience at Gielgud
Adrian Scarborough – Hedda Gabler at Old Vic
Kyle Soller – Long Day’s Journey Into Night at Apollo

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Janie Dee – NSFW at Royal Court
Anastasia Hille – The Effect at Cottesloe, NT
Cush Jumbo – Julius Caesar at Donmar Warehouse
Helen McCrory – The Last Of The Haussmans at Olivier, NT
Nicola Walker – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo

Best New Play
Constellations by Nick Payne at Royal Court/the Duke of York's
The Audience by Peter Morgan at Gielgud
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo
This House by James Graham at Cottesloe/ Olivier, NT

Best Revival
Long Day’s Journey Into Night at Apollo
Macbeth at Trafalgar Studios 1
Old Times at Harold Pinter
Twelfth Night at Globe/Apollo

Best Director
Stephen Daldry – The Audience at Gielgud
Marianne Elliott – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo
Jeremy Herrin – This House at Cottesloe/ Olivier, NT
Simon McBurney – The Master And Margarita at barbican

Best Actor in a Musical
Michael Ball – Sweeney Todd at Adelphi
Alex Bourne – Kiss Me, Kate at Old Vic
Tom Chambers – Top Hat at Aldwych
Will Young – Cabaret at Savoy

Best Actress in a Musical
Heather Headley – The Bodyguard at Adelphi
Imelda Staunton – Sweeney Todd at Adelphi
Summer Strallen – Top Hat at Aldwych
Hannah Waddingham – Kiss Me, Kate at Old Vic

Best Performance in A Supporting Role in a Musical
Adam Garcia – Kiss Me, Kate at Old Vic
Debbie Kurup – The Bodyguard at Adelphi
Sian Phillips – Cabaret at Savoy
Leigh Zimmerman – A Chorus Line at Palladium

Best New Musical
Loserville at Garrick
Soul Sister at Savoy
The Bodyguard at Adelphi
Top Hat at Aldwych

Best Musical Revival
A Chorus Line at Palladium
Cabaret at Savoy
Kiss Me, Kate at old Vic
Sweeney Todd at Adelphi

Best Entertainment & Family
Cinderella at St James Theatre
Goodnight Mister Tom at Phoenix
Hansel And Gretel at Cottesloe, NT
Room On The Broom at Lyric

Best Theatre Choreographer
Scott Ambler – Chariots Of Fire at Hampstead at Hampstead/ Gielgud
Bill Deamer – Top Hat at Aldwych
Scott Graham & Steven Hoggett – The Curious Incident of the dog in the Night-Time at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo
Stephen Mear – Kiss Me, Kate at Old Vic

Best Set Design
Hildegard Bechtler – Top Hat at Aldwych
Miriam Buether & Wang Gongxin – Wild Swans at Young Vic
Bunny Christie & Finn Ross – The Curious Incident of the dog in the Night-Time at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo
Tim Hatley – The Bodyguard at Adelphi

Best Lighting Design
Paul Anderson – The Master And Margarita at Barbican
Paule Constable – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo
Lee Curran – Constellations at Royal Court/Duke of York's
Mark Henderson – Sweeney Todd at Adelphi

Best Costume Design
Bob Crowley – The Audience at Gielgud
Jon Morrell – Top Hat at Aldwych
Jenny Tiramani – Twelfth Night at Globe/Apollo
Anthony Ward – Sweeney Todd at Adelphi

Best Sound Design
Ian Dickinson – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at Cottesloe, NT/Apollo
Paul Groothuis – Sweeney Todd at Adelphi
David McSeveney – Constellations at Royal Court/Duke of York's
Gareth Owen – Top Hat at Aldwych

Audience Award for Most Popular Show
Billy Elliot The Musical
Matilda The Musical
The Phantom Of The Opera
Wicked

Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre 
Caroline Horton for You’re Not Like The Other Girls Chrissy at the Bush Theatre
The production of Red Velvet at the Tricycle Theatre
The season of new writing at the Royal Court Upstairs
Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd for You Me Bum Bum Train, presented by Theatre Royal Stratford East

Best new Opera Production
Billy Budd, English National Opera at the London Coliseum
Caligula, English National Opera at the London Coliseum
Einstein On The Beach at the Barbican Theatre
La Traviata, English National Opera at the London Coliseum

Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Edward Gardner for his conducting of The Flying Dutchman and Billy Budd at the English National Opera, London Coliseum
Bryan Hymel for his performances in Les Troyens, Robert Le Diable and Rusalka at the Royal Opera House
Music Theatre Wales for In the Locked Room/Ghost Patrol at the Linbury Theatre, the Royal Opera House
The Stage Management teams at English National Opera, London Coliseum and the Royal Opera House

Best New Dance Production
Aeternum by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, choreographed by Christoper Wheeldon
Cacti by Nederlands Dans Theatre 2 at Sadler’s Wells, choreographed by Alexander Ekman
A Streetcar Named Desire by Scottish Ballet at Sadler’s Wells

Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Lez Brotherston for the set and costumes for Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, New Adventures at Sadler’s Wells
ILL-Abilities company in Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells
Marianela Nunez for Aeternum, Diana & Actaeon and Viscera, The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House

Special Award
Former Olivier Award winners Gillian Lynne and Michael Frayn are to be honoured with Special Awards for their outstanding contributions to theatre.

READ MORE: http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/ap13/olivierawardsceromony111664.htm

Eileen Atkins wins an award for off-West End work Upstairs Downstairs actress Eileen Atkins has won the OffWestEnd award for best actress for her role in All That Fall at Jermyn Street Theatre. (TELEGRAPH)

By Daisy Bowie-Sell
6:00PM GMT 24 Feb 2013

She is a Dame, has been awarded a CBE and won many awards including Baftas, Tonys, Oliviers and Emmys for her film, theatre and television work.

Now, the 78-year-old actress Eileen Atkins has been recognised for her work on London's fringe theatre scene.

At a ceremony at Battersea Arts Centre today, Atkins picked up the best actress award at the Offies – the Off West End theatre awards.

She was recognised for her role in a Beckett radio play All That Fall, which was staged for the first time at the Jermyn Street Theatre last year. Atkins starred alongside Michael Gambon in the show, which earned a four star review from The Telegraph's Charles Spencer.

Atkins attended the ceremony along with other theatre greats including Simon Callow, Toby Jones and Richard Bean who appeared alongside a long list of up and coming theatre names.


READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/9888032/Veteran-actress-Eileen-Atkins-wins-an-award-for-off-West-End-work.html

Brendan Coyle of Downton Abbey Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of Origin Theatre Company at British Residence 04 June 2012 (UK IN USA)

On 23 May, British Consul-General to New York Danny Lopez hosted a night celebrating European theatre at the British Residence to mark the ten year anniversary of Origin Theatre Company, and to salute its founder George Heslin. The dinner was co-hosted by the Northern Ireland Bureau and was attended by Origin board members, and long-term supporters including representatives of the American Ireland Fund, Mutual of America and 59 E 59 Theatre. The night’s guest of honour was Brendan Coyle, also known as the ill-fated valet Mr. Bates in smash television series Downton Abbey.

Coyle, a Olivier and New York Theatre Critic Award-winning actor, provided some behind-the-scenes quips about Downton Abbey. Coyle remained tight-lipped about plot developments for season three, but admitted his delight at the fan base for his character, manifested in the fan-generated  “Free Mr. Bates Campaign.” Earlier in the week, Origin announced Coyle's appointment as Honorary Patron of the company.

"Theatre is my passion and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with George and the board to develop our shared vision of nurturing talent" said Coyle. "Through Origin, New York audiences can experience the depth and breadth of exciting European theatre."


READ MORE:  http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=772277482

Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller and Matilda share honours at Olivier Awards Joint wins for the two stars of Frankenstein, and for four young actresses, as Matilda sweeps the board Paul Jones 9:31 AM, 16 April 2012 (RADIO TIMES)

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller shared the best actor gong, while four young stars were named joint best actress in a musical, as Matilda swept the board at last night's annual Olivier Awards, which celebrate achievements in theatre.

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller (soon to appear in Elementary, a modern-day US take on the great detective) collected a joint best actor prize for their dual roles as Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation in director Danny Boyle’s stage version of Mary Shelley’s Gothic horror classic.


Read more:  http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-04-16/benedict-cumberbatch,-jonny-lee-miller-and-matilda-share-honours-at-olivier-awards

Dan Stevens, Celia Imrie, Zoe Wanamaker,Hayley Atwell, David Suchet, James McAvoy: STYLE AT 2012 OLIVIER AWARDS April 15, 2012 What they wore: 2012 Olivier Awards Examiner.com by Sofia Ambrosia Atlanta Fashion Examiner

Celia Imrie

Zoe Wannamaker

James McAvoy & wife

David Suchet

Hayley Atlwell

Dan Stevens and Wife plus best of all accessories - a baby bump

Atlanta fashionistas and British expats, Londoners held their 2012 Olivier Awards at The Royal Opera House on Sunday April 15, 2012 in London, England. Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey fame, playing the role of heir apparent “Matthew Crawley” was attending with wife Susie Hariet, who looked lovely in her maroon gown with bared shoulders, though very advanced in her pregnancy.


 Continue reading on Examiner.com What they wore: 2012 Olivier Awards - Atlanta Fashion | http://www.examiner.com/fashion-in-atlanta/what-they-wore-2012-olivier-awards

Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch win Best Actor at Olivier Awards (MAIL ON LINE)

Triumphant: Ruth Wilson with her Best Actress accolade for Anna Christie and Jonny Lee Miller holding his shared Best Actor trophy with Benedict Cumberbatch (not pictured) for their performance in Frankenstein

Scots actor James McAvoy looked dapper in a black suit as he arrived with actress wife Anne-Marie Duff. The Last King Of Scotland star was at the ceremony to present the Best Revival Award to Anna Christie.

READ More:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2130114/Olivier-Awards-2012-Downton-Abbey-star-Dan-Stevens-shows-blooming-wife-Susie.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

DAN STEVENS: SPECIAL REPORT: Olivier Awards to Stream Globally; Zach Braff, Laurie Metcalf, Patrick Stewart Among Presenters By Andy Propst • Apr 10, 2012 • London, New York City (THEATER MANIA)

The 2012 Olivier Awards ceremony, honoring the best of British theater, will be streamed live to audiences around the world on both BBC Radio 2 (www.bbcco.uk/radio2 and the official site for the awards, www.olivierawards.com, on Sunday, April 15. Coverage will begin on the BBC broadcast at 12:30pm (EST), with coverage from the red carpet.

The broadcast of the ceremony will begin on both sites at 1pm (EST). The awards, which will be held at London's Royal Opera House, will be hosted by West End stars Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. Presenters will include Hayley Atwell, Douglas Booth, Zach Braff, Jim Carter, Tom Chambers, Tyne Daly, Jack Davenport, Agyness Deyn, Jonathan Edwards, Susannah Fielding, Vittorio Grigolo, Lenny Henry, Ronan Keating, Katherine Kelly, Harry Lloyd, James McAvoy, Natascha McElhone, Laurie Metcalf, Elaine Paige, Dan Stevens, Sir Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Kara Tointon, Will Young, Zoe Wanamaker, Jodie Whittaker and Barbara Windsor.


READ MORE:  http://www.theatermania.com/london-theater/news/04-2012/special-report-olivier-awards-to-stream-globally-z_54378.html

Danny Boyle: Benedict Cumberbatch is "one of the leading actors in the world" And the Frankenstein director gives Sherlock fans a new mystery to solve... (RADIO TIMES)

Jack Seale
 8:30 PM, 09 April 2012

 The film and theatre director Danny Boyle has sung the praises of Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, calling the 35-year-old actor "extraordinary" and "one of the leading actors in the world". Boyle directed Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller last year in Frankenstein at the National Theatre.

Their alternating roles as Dr Frankenstein and his terrifying creature have earned them a joint nomination for Best Actor at the 2012 Olivier Awards, the winners of which will be announced this Sunday, 15 April, at the Royal Opera House in London.

 Talking to Radio Times for the new issue's Olivier Awards picture special, Boyle recalled the casting of Cumberbatch – who had just been seen on BBC1 in the first series of Sherlock – in the play. "I didn’t really know him as a stage actor," Boyle said.

"I knew what a fine screen actor he is. But there's a physicality involved in the theatre. It's not just about mannerisms or impersonation, which screen often is: it's about sustaining a narrative with mind and body. When I saw him for Frankenstein, that was the only thing I wanted to know. Did he have that physical capacity? And of course he does.

READ MORE:  http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-04-09/danny-boyle-benedict-cumberbatch-is-one-of-the-leading-actors-in-the-world

Tom Hiddleston is perfect. What else is new? We thought a man with a double first from Cambridge and an astonishing start to his acting career would have something interesting and articulate to say about himself. We were right. (OH NO THEY DIDN'T)

'As an actor, the labels that are so easily attachable to me - like Old Etonian or Cambridge graduate or Rada alumnus - are, in a way, the least interesting things about me,' said Tom Hiddleston

 'You know how tennis players raise each other’s game, how Nadal plays his best tennis when he’s up against Federer? Well, acting with Robert Downey Jr is like playing Agassi. You never know what he’s going to do next. Unless, of course, you happen to be throwing him out of a window and he’s shouting, “Throw me harder, baby. Let’s make it real.”’

Tom Hiddleston shakes his head and laughs. It’s been some journey from the darkness of a cinema in Malmo, Sweden, where four years ago, during a break from filming the first season of Wallander, he spent an evening watching Downey Jr signal his spectacular return to form in the first instalment of Iron Man.

 Now, in The Avengers, the superhero film to end them all, this charming Old Etonian and Cambridge graduate reprises his role as Loki, the baddie from Thor, and gets to do battle with a line-up of Marvel Comics’ most iconic characters: Iron Man (Downey Jr), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

But first, back to that evening in 2008. Hiddleston was in Sweden having landed a small part as the sidekick to Kenneth Branagh’s brow-beaten detective. Up to that point, he’d made a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearances in TV dramas, starred in a small British film and won rave reviews for his stage work, collecting an Olivier Award in the process.


 Read more at ONTD:  http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/68015104.html