Paddington leads Olivier wins – from page to stage

The 2026 edition of the Laurence Olivier Awards unfolded at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, marking a milestone 50th anniversary for what is widely regarded as British theatre's highest honour. The awards celebrate excellence across stage, musicals, opera and dance. This year's ceremony, hosted by comedian Nick Mohammed, reflected a year of ambitious storytelling and technical innovation, with productions competing across a crowded and diverse field. Leading the nominations were 'Paddington: The Musical' and 'Into the Woods', each securing 11 nods ahead of the ceremony. By the end of the night, it was 'Paddington: The Musical' that emerged as the clear frontrunner, collecting seven awards including Best New Musical and Best Director for Luke Sheppard. The production also dominated acting categories, with James Hameed and Arti Shah sharing Best Actor in a Musical honours, alongside supporting wins for Tom Edden and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt. Elsewhere, 'Punch' secured Best New Play, while Julie Hesmondhalgh won Best Supporting Actress, reinforcing the production's critical weight. 'All My Sons' claimed Best Revival, with Paapa Essiedu taking Best Supporting Actor, and 'Into the Woods' won Best Musical Revival, continuing its strong showing from nominations. Individual performances also drew attention. Rosamund Pike was awarded Best Actress for 'Inter Alia', while Jack Holden won Best Actor for 'Kenrex'. In musical theatre, Rachel Zegler took Best Actress in a Musical for her role in 'Evita', underscoring a night that balanced star power with ensemble achievement. The ceremony also paid tribute to the wider theatrical ecosystem, with special recognition awarded to veteran performer Elaine Paige for her contribution to the industry, alongside honours in opera and dance categories that highlighted the breadth of London's stage culture.