Laurence Olivier Awards 2008
- Posted on March 10, 2008 3:40 PM
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By Zarina Raja
Feeling slightly under dressed, the warmth was greatly appreciated when we were ushered through the Grosvenor Hotel – air thick with expensive perfume – into the press room.
While the Ball Room glimmered with swishing dresses and sharp suits, guests were wined and dined in between a programme of awards and performances.
Sucking in the gaze of winners and presenters with a colourful dress and Aussie accent, Katie Spain quizzed the stars on the pending storm and found out which London theatre they would prefer to shelter in for the night. After all, no-one wants to encounter falling trees and dangerous debris – especially not when you’re wearing diamonds.
Mr ‘I’ll be straight with ya’ Danny Dyer who presented the award for Best Newcomer in a Play kept true to his own:
“I’ve got to be loyal to my mob and say the Almeida Theatre. It’s had a revamp. I’d plod up to the Almeida Theatre with Kenneth Cranham, Jenny Jules, Nigel Lindsay, Neil Dudgeon and Tony O’Donnell – all the people that I’m working with at the moment. We’d sit there and talk about how great the theatre is and how we’re on £400 a week and how we are all skint and all struggling. But, we are doing Pinter so you’ve got to weigh it up.’
Despite choosing the theatrical production as one of his favourites, he apparently felt no loyalty to the film actor Orlando Bloom:
“I’ve got to say - he does drive me mad. I don’t know why. I have never met the man but he couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag! It bugs me a little bit. I don’t know why. It’s a bit of bitterness, a bit of jealousy; he’s earning a pound note and I’m still in the ghetto you know and I’ve been acting for fifteen years.”
Michael Ball, who won Best Actor in a Musical for his role in Hairspray, showed a similarly strong sense of theatrical storm avoidance:
“Shaftesbury – because that’s home at the moment. As someone else in musical theatre said, there’s no place like home.”
Michael’s soft charm and warm presence was rivalled by the daddy of cool, Jeff Goldblum who is currently starring alongside Kevin Spacey in Speed-the-Plow.
“The Old Vic” he said in his delectable deep voice. “The Old Vic” he repeated again. “What a magical place.”
Jeff Goldblum is a man of few words comparatively to Andrew Lloyd Webber who won the Laurence Olivier’s Special Award. He didn’t hold back when chatting to us. The words – undoubtedly like the drink in the Ball Room – flowed like a gushing stream, highlighting his utter dedication and passion for his work.
It looked as though Andrew Lloyd Webber wouldn’t be keen on spending the night in one of London’s West End theatres despite the howling winds that were forecast to rip through London.
“We get a lot of flack about West End theatres being uncomfortable and the truth is yes, a lot of them are but they are listed buildings. When I was a kid, I worshipped John Betjeman because he saved Pancras station. He wrote that the architecture of entertainment is by definition impermanent. What he meant was that fashions changes. I would love to see some of the West End theatres replaced but I don’t think that it will happen. They are wonderful works of art but I argue that no-one comes to the theatre to have a look at the theatre.”
Although surviving on a diet of cold chips and sweaty cheese, we managed to get some exclusive video footage from various winners and presenters. Keep those theatre thirsty peepers peeled for the next instalment.
The 2008 Laurence Olivier Award Winners
Best Actress
Kristin Scott Thomas The Seagull at Royal Court
Best Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor for Othello at Donmar
Best Performance In A Supporting Role
Rory Kinnear The Man of Mode at Olivier, NT
Best Newcomer In A Play
Tom Hiddleston Cymbeline at Barbican
Best New Play
A Disappearing Number by Simon McBurney at Barbican
Best New Comedy
Rafta Rafta by Ayub Khan-Din at Lyttelton. NT
Best Revival
Saint Joan by Bernard Shaw at Olivier,NT
Best New Musical
Hairspray by Shaiman & Wittman at Shaftesbury
Best Musical Revival
Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo adapted from
Best Actress In A Musical
Leanne Jones Hairspray at Shaftesbury
Best Actor In A Musical
Michael Ball Hairspray at the Shaftesbury
Best Performance In A Supporting Role In A Musical
Tracie Bennett for Hairspray at Shaftesbury
Best Director
Rupert Goold Macbeth at Gielgud
Best Theatre Choreographer
Toby Sedgwick War horse at Olivier, NT
Best Lighting Design
Howard Harrison Macbeth at Gielgud
Best Set Design
Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company War Horse at Olivier. NT
Best Costume Design
Vicki Mortimer Man of Mode at Olivier, NT<
Best Sound Design
Paul Arditti Saint Joan at Olivier, NT
Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre
Gone Too Far at Royal Court Upstairs
Best New Opera Production
PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE Royal Opera at Opera House
Outstanding Achievement In Opera
Natalie Dessay for her performance in LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT at the Royal Opera House
Best New Dance Production
The Royal Ballet’s JEWELS at the Royal Opera House
Outstanding Achievement In Dance
The Royal Ballet Company for their performances in JEWELS
Special Award
Andrew Lloyd Webber
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