Fiddler on the Roof leads 2025 Olivier nominations
Published on 4 March 2025
The Oscars may have dazzled Hollywood last Sunday, but let’s be honest—those golden statues were just the warm-up for the acting awards that matter. And by the awards, we mean the Oliviers, obviously. It’s fitting that, on this Pancake Day, the theatre world has served up a stacked list of nominations. There’s drama, there’s competition, and, in a uniquely theatrical twist, two actresses are nominated for playing the same role, in separate productions, of the same show at different theatres. You won’t find that level of delicious chaos at the Dolby Theatre.
Fresh from winning his second Oscar on Sunday for The Brutalist, Adrien Brody now finds himself in the running for Best Actor for his performance in The Fear of 13 at the Donmar Warehouse. If he wins, it’ll be a rare feat—taking home both an Oscar and an Olivier in the same year is the kind of acting flex only a select few have achieved. But his category is fiercely competitive, and if there’s one thing the Olivier nominations have proved, it’s that London theatre is brimming with powerhouses. Just ask Lesley Manville and Indira Varma, both up for Best Actress for playing the exact same character—Jocasta in Oedipus. Manville’s production ran at Wyndham’s Theatre in the autumn, while Varma is currently delivering her version at The Old Vic, and though they never shared a stage, their performances were so distinct that both have secured their own spots on the shortlist.
Romola Garai, meanwhile, decided that one nomination wasn’t enough and has landed two in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category—one for The Years and the other for Giant. As does Howard Hudson who receives dual Best Lighting Design nominations for Natasha, Pierre and Starlight Express.
The real star of the nomination list is Fiddler on the Roof, which has waltzed ahead of the competition with 13 nominations, making it the most celebrated production of the year. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre's revival of the beloved musical has been widely praised for its fresh, intimate approach to Tevye’s story, and its sweep across multiple categories—Best Musical Revival, Best Actor, Best Director, and a host of design nods— which makes us even more excited for the West End transfer at the Barbican later this year!
In the Best New Musical category, the competition is just as fierce, with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, MJ the Musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, and Why Am I So Single? all vying for the top prize. The variety in this lineup alone proves how diverse London’s musical theatre scene is right now—from the Tony award-winning transfer of MJ to the immersive storytelling of Great Comet and the quirky charm of Benjamin Button, there’s something for every kind of theatre fan. And over in the technical categories, the usual titans are battling it out, with Es Devlin nominated for her striking work on Coriolanus, Tom Scutt earning recognition for Fiddler on the Roof.
With opera, dance, and play categories just as competitive, this year’s Olivier Awards are shaping up to be one of the most thrilling yet. Check out the full list of nominations below:
Mastercard Best New Musical
- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, music and lyrics by Darren Clark, book and lyrics by Jethro Compton at Ambassadors Theatre
- MJ The Musical, book by Lynn Nottage at Prince Edward Theatre
- Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet Of 1812, music, lyrics and book by Dave Malloy at Donmar Warehouse
- Why Am I So Single?, music, lyrics and book by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss at Garrick Theatre
The Londoner Award for Best New Play
- The Fear Of 13 by Lindsey Ferrentino at Donmar Warehouse
- Giant by Mark Rosenblatt at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
- Kyoto by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson at @sohoplace
- Shifters by Benedict Lombe at Duke of York’s Theatre
- The Years adapted by Eline Arbo, in an English version by Stephanie Bain at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
- Ballet Shoes adapted by Kendall Feaver at National Theatre – Olivier
- Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith at Wyndham’s Theatre
- Spirited Away adapted by John Caird and co-adapted by Maoko Imai at London Coliseum
- Titanique by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli at Criterion Theatre
Cunard Best Revival
- The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde at National Theatre – Lyttelton
- Machinal by Sophie Treadwell at The Old Vic
- Oedipus by Robert Icke at Wyndham’s Theatre
- Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Piper-Heidsieck Award for Best Musical Revival
- Fiddler On The Roof, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, book by Joseph Stein at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Hello, Dolly!, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Michael Stewart at the London Palladium
- Oliver!, book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, new material and revisions by Cameron Mackintosh at Gielgud Theatre
- Starlight Express, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Richard Stilgoe at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Best Actor
- Adrien Brody for The Fear Of 13 at Donmar Warehouse
- Billy Crudup for Harry Clarke at Ambassadors Theatre
- Paapa Essiedu for Death Of England: Delroy at @sohoplace
- John Lithgow for Giant at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
- Mark Strong for Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre
Best Actress
- Heather Agyepong for Shifters at Duke of York’s Theatre
- Lesley Manville for Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre
- Rosie Sheehy for Machinal at The Old Vic
- Meera Syal for A Tupperware Of Ashes at National Theatre – Dorfman
- Indira Varma for Oedipus at The Old Vic
Best Actor in a Musical
- John Dagleish for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button at Ambassadors Theatre
- Adam Dannheisser for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Myles Frost for MJ The Musical at Prince Edward Theatre
- Simon Lipkin for Oliver! at Gielgud Theatre
- Jamie Muscato for Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet Of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
Best Actress in a Musical
- Chumisa Dornford-May for Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet Of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
- Lauren Drew for Titanique at Criterion Theatre
- Clare Foster for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button at Ambassadors Theatre
- Lara Pulver for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Imelda Staunton for Hello, Dolly! at London Palladium
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Jorge Bosch for Kyoto at @sohoplace
- Tom Edden for Waiting For Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Elliot Levey for Giant at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
- Ben Whishaw for Bluets at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Sharon D. Clarke for The Importance Of Being Earnest at National Theatre – Lyttelton
- Romola Garai for Giant at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
- Romola Garai for The Years at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
- Gina McKee for The Years at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
- Andy Nyman for Hello, Dolly! at London Palladium
- Raphael Papo for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Layton Williams for Titanique at Criterion Theatre
- Tom Xander for Mean Girls at Savoy Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
- Liv Andrusier for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Amy Di Bartolomeo for The Devil Wears Prada at Dominion Theatre
- Beverley Klein for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Maimuna Memon for Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet Of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director
- Eline Arbo for The Years at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
- Jordan Fein for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Nicholas Hytner for Giant at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
- Robert Icke for Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
- Matthew Bourne for Oliver! at Gielgud Theatre
- Julia Cheng for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Hofesh Shechter for Oedipus at The Old Vic
- Christopher Wheeldon for MJ The Musical at Prince Edward Theatre
Best Costume Design
- Hugh Durrant for Robin Hood at London Palladium
- Sachiko Nakahara for Spirited Away at London Coliseum
- Tom Scutt for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Gabriella Slade for Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design
- Jon Bausor for set design, Toby Olié and Daisy Beattie for puppetry design and Satoshi Kuriyama for projection design for Spirited Away at London Coliseum
- Frankie Bradshaw for set design for Ballet Shoes at National Theatre – Olivier
- Es Devlin for set design for Coriolanus at National Theatre – Olivier
- Tom Scutt for set design for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
- Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs for Oliver! at Gielgud Theatre
- Howard Hudson for Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet Of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
- Howard Hudson for Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
- Aideen Malone for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Best Family Show
- Brainiac Live at Marylebone Theatre
- Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas at Apollo Theatre
- The Nutcracker at Polka Theatre
- Rough Magic at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre
- Animal Farm at Theatre Royal Stratford East by George Orwell, adapted by Tatty Hennessy
- Boys On The Verge Of Tears by Sam Grabiner at Soho Theatre
- English by Sanaz Toossi at Kiln Theatre
- Now, I See by Lanre Malaolu at Theatre Royal Stratford East
- What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander at Marylebone Theatre
TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production
- Duke Bluebeard’s Castle by English National Opera at London Coliseum
- Festen by The Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
- L’Olimpiade by Irish National Opera and The Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
- The Tales Of Hoffmann by The Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
- Aigul Akhmetshina for her performance in Carmen at Royal Opera House
- Allan Clayton for his performance in Festen at Royal Opera House
- Jung Young-doo for his direction of Lear at Barbican Theatre
Best New Dance Production
- Assembly Hall by Kidd Pivot, Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young at Sadler’s Wells
- Frontiers: Choreographers Of Canada – Pite/Kudelka/Portner by The National Ballet Of Canada at Sadler’s Wells
- Theatre Of Dreams by Hofesh Shechter Company at Sadler’s Wells
- An Untitled Love by A.I.M by Kyle Abraham at Sadler’s Wells
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
- Sarah Chun for her performance in Three Short Ballets at Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre
- Tom Visser for his lighting design of Angels’ Atlas as part of Frontiers: Choreographers Of Canada – Pite/Kudelka/Portner at Sadler’s Wells
- Eva Yerbabuena for her performance in Yerbagüena at Sadler’s Wells
d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design
- Nick Lidster for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Christopher Shutt for Oedipus at The Old Vic
- Thijs van Vuure for The Years at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre
- Koichi Yamamoto for Spirited Away at London Coliseum
Outstanding Musical Contribution
- Mark Aspinall for Musical Supervision and Additional Orchestrations for Fiddler On The Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Darren Clark for Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements and Mark Aspinall for Musical Direction, Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button at the Ambassadors Theatre
- Dave Malloy for Orchestrations and Nicholas Skilbeck for Musical Supervision for Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet Of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
- Asaf Zohar for Compositions and Gavin Sutherland for Dance Arrangements and Orchestration for Ballet Shoes at National Theatre – Olivier
