Olivier Awards 2025 Winners Announced

The 2025 Olivier Awards have crowned their champions! From Fiddler on the Roof's stunning revival to Giant's powerful storytelling, here are the night’s biggest moments.

London’s Royal Albert Hall was ablaze with excitement on April 6 as the 2025 Olivier Awards honored the best of British theater. While Fiddler on the Roof came in with 13 nominations (tying with Hamilton for the most number of nominations), the night saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Giant steal the limelight with major wins. The ceremony, co-hosted by theater stars Beverley Knight and Billy Porter, celebrated everything from daring revivals to groundbreaking new works.

Best New Play

A Giant leap forward

In a rare moment for theater, debut playwright Mark Rosenblatt beat out strong contenders to win Best New Play with Giant. The Royal Court production explored the controversial legacy of Roald Dahl, warts and all, sparking both praise and heated debate. Giant made history as the first play to win Best New Play, Best Actor (John Lithgow as Dahl), and Best Supporting Actor (Elliot Levey) in the same night since The Ferryman in 2018.

Best New Musical

A Standing Ovation… in Reverse!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is all about aging backwards, but the play saw itself winning forwards at the Oliviers. This adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story left audiences enchanted, earning the title of Best New Musical. John Dagleish’s performance as Benjamin, a man aging in reverse, was hailed as one of the most physically demanding roles of the year, requiring him to transform from an old man to a child in real time on stage. This marks the first time a musical that began at the Southwark Playhouse (a 200-seat venue) went on to win an Olivier. Talk about a glow-up!

Best Revival

Oedipus the King (of the Stage)

The haunting retelling of Oedipus was honored with the award for Best Revival. Lesley Manville took home her third Olivier with Best Actress for her heartbreaking turn as Jocasta in a production that set the ancient tragedy in a modern-day political scandal.

Fun Fact: Manville’s win means she has now won Olivier Awards across three decades (1990s, 2010s, and 2020s).

Best Musical Revival

Matchmaker, matchmaker made a match with 3 Oliviers

Entering the night with the most nominations, Fiddler on the Roof claimed three major wins, including Best Musical Revival. Director Jordan Fein’s stripped-down, intimate staging at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre gave the well-loved musical a fresh, raw intensity. This was Fiddler on the Roof’s first Olivier win since its original West End production in 1968.

Best Actress in a Musical

A coronation for the queen of modern British theater

Imelda Staunton's captivating performance in Hello, Dolly! earned her the Best Actress in a Musical award. The reigning queen of British musical theater secured her fifth Olivier Award for her radiant performance, with critics praising her boundless energy and impeccable comic timing. This ties Staunton with Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen for the most Olivier acting wins ever.

 Best Director

This Year Belongs to The Years

Eline Arbo was celebrated as Best Director for her visionary work on The Years, a production that also saw Romola Garai winning Best Supporting Actress, highlighting the show's profound impact. ​The Years was a masterclass in storytelling, weaving together decades of history in a single, gripping theatrical experience. Her win marked a rare victory for female directors in a category historically dominated by men. This was the first time a female director won for a play since Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) in 2018.

Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play

This sinking ship brought home all the awards

Titanique, a satirical take on the famed maritime disaster, sailed away with the award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play, delighting audiences with its inventive humor. ​Titanique took audiences on a wildly entertaining, self-aware voyage that poked fun at one of history’s most famous disasters without sinking itself. Celine Dion herself sent a video message to the cast, joking that she was “deeply honored” to inspire such “a ridiculous but fabulous masterpiece.”

Best Family Show

An awards-season banger, literally!

Brainiac Live electrified younger audiences and was rightfully recognized as Best Family Show, blending education with high-energy entertainment. The kid-friendly science extravaganza proved that theater isn’t just about drama, it’s about blowing things up (safely, of course).With high-voltage experiments, exploding dustbins and a Mythbusters-esque love for outrageous tests, it proved that theater can teach and thrill (for those brave enough to watch).

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

Spotlight on flamenco at the awards

Spanish dance icon Eva Yerbabuena set the stage ablaze with her performance in Yerbagüena. Her powerful, soul-stirring flamenco routine earned her the Outstanding Achievement in Dance award, bringing Spanish passion to the Oliviers. 2025 was the first time a flamenco artist won an Olivier since Antonio Gades in 1982.