Paddington: The Musical emerged as the standout winner at the Olivier Awards on Sunday, taking home seven prizes including best new musical. The West End production, based on Michael Bond's beloved bear, earned the highest number of nominations alongside Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods, with 11 each.
The award for best actor in a musical was shared by James Hameed, who provides the bear's voice and operates the puppet, and Arti Shah, who performs in the furry costume. Tom Edden and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt won best supporting actor and actress in a musical for their roles as the show's antagonists. Luke Sheppard was named best director, while Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar received the costume design prize, and Tom Pye and Ash J Woodward won for set design.
Rachel Zegler won best actress in a musical for her performance in Evita, praising director Jamie Lloyd for creating an 'accessible moment' of theatre. Fabian Aloise took the best theatre choreographer award for the same production. Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Eva Perón in 1978, received a special award for her stage career, presented by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Rosamund Pike won best actress for her role in Inter Alia, beating nominees including Cate Blanchett. The play, which will transfer to Broadway in November, lost in the best new play category to James Graham's Punch, based on a true story of a one-punch death. Julie Hesmondhalgh won best supporting actress for her role in Punch, while Paapa Essiedu won best supporting actor for All My Sons, which also won best revival.
The ceremony, hosted by Nick Mohammed at the Royal Albert Hall, included performances from several nominees. Into the Woods won best musical revival and best lighting design, rounding off a night that celebrated London theatre's finest.
