Stars of the stage delivered messages of 'faith and hope' at Sunday's Olivier Awards, as most theatres remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ceremony, hosted by Jason Manford at the London Palladium without an audience, celebrated shows that opened in the year to February 2020.
Andrew Scott, named best actor for his performance in Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter', urged those in the industry to 'keep the faith'. 'I can't wait to be back on the boards and having a laugh again as soon as we can,' he said, adding that a sense of humour has helped theatre professionals survive 'during this incredibly arduous time'.
Best actress Sharon D Clarke, who won for 'Death of a Salesman', said theatre professionals must 'know their worth' and that the industry brings 'not only to the coffers, but to the soul of our nation'. Co-director Marianne Elliott noted the bittersweet nature of the event, saying 'none of us know when it will properly return' and highlighting that many freelancers have 'slipped through the cracks'.
Dear Evan Hansen won best new musical, with Sam Tutty taking best actor in a musical for the titular role. & Juliet dominated the musical acting categories, with Miriam-Teak Lee winning best actress in a musical, and David Bedella and Cassidy Janson winning supporting actor and actress respectively.
The Duchess of Cornwall presented a special award to lyricist Don Black, praising theatre as 'a cornerstone of a fertile cultural life' and urging resilience: 'We need you and we have missed you.'
