Like most award ceremonies this year, the Oliviers have had to navigate around the current restrictions in which we all find ourselves. The nominations were initially announced in March, with the ceremony due to take place in April. However, this was postponed until it was eventually decided that the safest way forward was to host an online ceremony. WL’s Managing Director Bryan Raven comments: “The Oliviers are aways a huge occasion for us as a company; not only because we sponsor the Best Lighting Design Award but the fact that we also supply the lighting for the main ceremony as well as the production support for the after party. It’s one of the biggest events in the theatrical calendar so while, like so many others, we were disappointed it couldn’t physically go ahead, we were delighted that Official London Theatre and its partners found a way to make ‘the show go on’ in some way”.

For Best Lighting Design, Paule Constable won her fifth award for her work on The Ocean at the End of the Sea. The other nominees included Howard Hudson for & Juliet, Neil Austin for Rosmersholm and Bruno Poet for Uncle Vanya; with the latter two shows supplied by WL. Bryan comments: “We are absolutely delighted for Paule who now takes her tally up to an incredible five Oliviers! Her design on the show was truly magnificent and it’s fantastic to see her brilliant work once again recognised. We’d also like to say a huge well done to the other designers whose nominations were all thoroughly deserved”.

Other winners on the evening included Sharon D. Clarke who took home Best Actress for her performance in the Young Vic’s Death Of A Salesman. Present Laughter at The Old Vic won two awards, with Andrew Scott winning Best Actor and Indira Varma winning Best Supporting Actress. The Jamie Lloyd Company won Cunard Best Revival for its production of Cyrano De Bergerac whereas Emilia took home three awards, including the Noël Coward Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play for playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Best Costume Design for Joanna Scotcher and Best Sound Design for Emma Laxton.

Ian McKellen was also honoured with his seventh Olivier Award for his 80^th Birthday tour, whilst lyricist Don Black, received a Special Award from Lord Lloyd Webber and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, who, like so many of the award winners, gave an impassioned speech about the importance and resilience of theatre.

Bryan comments: “Whilst it was heartening to see such a wealth of talent recognised for what they do best, what was just as heartening was hearing so many artists acknowledge the plight facing our freelancers and the overall lack of clarity we still face as an industry. For me, the evening marked a celebration of colleagues, peers and friends yet also served as a reminder of how much we are all missing live performance and the huge void that theatre has left; something we hope will be resolved in the very near future”.