The gender-switched Sondheim classic and 9/11 heartwarmer each received nine nominations for the awards, to be held on 7 April

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A gender-switched revival of a Stephen Sondheim classic and a feelgood 9/11 musical head the nominations for the UK’s most prestigious theatre awards.

The musicals Company and Come from Away each received nine nominations for the 2019 Olivier awards, to be presented at the Royal Albert Hall on 7 April. They were closely followed by The Inheritance, a sprawling two-part, seven-hour play about the lives of gay men in New York that began at the Young Vic before a West End transfer. It received eight nominations.

It was also a strikingly good year for the National Theatre in the nominations, announced online by the actors Sheila Atim and Giles Terera. It had four productions – The Lehman Trilogy, Home, I’m Darling, Nine Night, and Antony and Cleopatra – up for prizes.

Big names in the acting categories include Gillian Anderson, David Suchet, Vanessa Redgrave, Eileen Atkins and Sir Ian McKellen, who could add to his five Olivier acting awards.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Rachel Tucker, centre, in Come From Away. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Julian Bird, the chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, which organises the awards, said the April ceremony, hosted by comedian Jason Manford, would be a celebration of incredible creative talent.

“This year’s nominations really highlight the sheer breadth and diversity of the modern British theatre landscape, with an exciting mix of well-established and new voices.”

The reboot of Company, first performed in 1970, is interesting because it swaps the gender of the main character, originally a 35-year-old single man who sleeps around unable to commit. Bobby has become Bobbie, played by Rosalie Craig, who is nominated for best actress in a musical.

Up against her, in a particularly strong category, are Sharon D Clarke for Caroline, Or Change; Kelli O’Hara for The King and I; and Adrienne Warren for her portrayal of Tina Turner in Tina, a role she will this year reprise on Broadway.

In total four performers from Company are nominated, including the Broadway musical legend Patti LuPone; and Jonathan Bailey and Richard Fleeshman.

The show’s director, Marianne Elliott, picks up the fourth best director nomination of her career. She will be up against Sam Mendes, Rebecca Frecknall, Stephen Daldry and Christopher Ashley.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ian McKellen and Danny Webb in King Lear. Photograph: Manuel Harlan

Ashley is the director of Come From Away, which tells the true story of the kindness and good nature of people in the small Newfoundland community of Gander when 38 passenger planes and 7,000 confused, bewildered passengers ended up there because of the attacks in the US. It was first workshopped and performed in Oakville, Ontario before becoming a phenomenon that opened on Broadway in 2017 and London last month.

Its nine nominations include best new musical, competing against Tina, Fun Home and Six.

Sophie Okonedo will be a favourite to follow up her Evening Standard best actress award with an Olivier for Antony and Cleopatra. She goes up against Gillian Anderson, Eileen Atkins, Patsy Ferran and Katherine Parkinson.

McKellen could add to his haul of Oliviers with another for King Lear, which began at Chichester before its West End transfer. Also nominated are David Suchet, Kyle Soller, Arinzé Kene and three actors jointly nominated for The Lehman Brothers: Adam Godley, Ben Miles and Simon Russell Beale.

In opera, it is a strong year for English National Opera with War Requiem, Porgy and Bess and Paul Bunyan all in the outstanding achievement category.

Full nominations list

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Clive Carter in Come From Away. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Best actor in a supporting role in a musical

Jonathan Bailey for Company at Gielgud theatre

Clive Carter for Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Richard Fleeshman for Company at Gielgud theatre

Robert Hands for Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Pattie Lupone in Company. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Best actress in a supporting role in a musical

Patti LuPone for Company at Gielgud theatre

Ruthie Ann Miles for The King and I at the London Palladium

“The Queens” – Aimie Atkinson, Alexia McIntosh, Millie O’Connell, Natalie Paris, Maiya Quansah-Breed and Jarneia Richard-Noel - for Six at Arts theatre

Rachel Tucker for Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Outstanding achievement in music

Come From Away – Book, Music and Lyrics: David Hein and Irene Sankoff; Music Supervisor, Arrangements: Ian Eisendrath; Orchestrations: August Eriksmoen; Musical Director/UK Music Supervisor: Alan Berry; and the band of Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Fun Home – Composer: Jeanine Tesori; Lyricist/Bookwriter: Lisa Kron at Young Vic

The Inheritance – Composer: Paul Englishby at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

A Monster Calls – Original music composed by Benji Bower and performed live by Benji with Will Bower (The Bower Brothers) at the Old Vic

Six – Original score, orchestrations and vocal arrangements: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss, Tom Curran and Joe Beighton at Arts theatre

Best new dance production

16 + A Room/Solo Echo/Bill by Ballet British Columbia at Sadler’s Wells

Blkdog by Botis Seva at Sadler’s Wells

Playlist (Track 1, 2) by William Forsythe for English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells

The Unknown Soldier by Alastair Marriott for The Royal Ballet at Royal Opera House

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Akram Khan in Xenos. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Outstanding achievement in dance

Akram Khan for his performance in Xenos at Sadler’s Wells

John Macfarlane for his design of Swan Lake at Royal Opera House

Dimitris Papaioannou for his choreography of The Great Tamer at Sadler’s Wells

Best entertainment and family

A Monster Calls at the Old Vic

Snow White at the London Palladium

Songs for Nobodies at Ambassadors theatre

The Wider Earth at Jerwood Gallery, Natural History Museum

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Six, at the Arts theatre. Photograph: Josh Bird

Best theatre choreographer

Kelly Devine for Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Christopher Gattelli based on original choreography by Jerome Robbins for The King And I at the London Palladium

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille for Six at Arts theatre

Liam Steel for Company at Gielgud theatre

Magic radio best musical revival

Caroline, or Change at Playhouse theatre

Company at Gielgud theatre

The King And I at the London Palladium

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Adrienne Warren as Tina and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Ike in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. Photograph: Manuel Harlan

Best actor in a musical

Marc Antolin for Little Shop of Horrors at Regent’s Park open air theatre

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith for Tina - The Tina Turner Musical at Aldwych theatre

Zubin Varla for Fun Home at Young Vic

Ken Watanabe for The King And I at the London Palladium

Best actress in a musical

Sharon D Clarke for Caroline, Or Change at Playhouse theatre

Rosalie Craig for Company at Gielgud theatre

Kelli O’Hara for The King And I at the London Palladium

Adrienne Warren for Tina - The Tina Turner Musical at Aldwych theatre

Cunard best revival

King Lear at Duke of York’s theatre

The Lieutenant of Inishmore at Noël Coward theatre

The Price at Wyndham’s theatre

Summer And Smoke at Almeida theatre and Duke of York’s theatre

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Cecilia Noble as Aunt Maggie and Ricky Fearon as Uncle Vince in Nine Night. Photograph: Helen Murray

Best new comedy

Home, I’m Darling at National theatre - Dorfman and Duke of York’s theatre

Nine Night at National theatre - Dorfman and Trafalgar Studios 1

Quiz at Noël Coward theatre

Outstanding achievement in affiliate theatre

Moe Bar-El for his performance in Every Day I Make Greatness Happen at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs

Flesh and Bone at Soho theatre

Jonathan Hyde for his performance in Gently Down the Stream at Park theatre

The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs

Athena Stevens for Schism at Park theatre

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Nancy Crane in Summer and Smoke Photograph: Marc Brenner

White Light award for best lighting design

Neil Austin for Company at Gielgud theatre

Howell Binkley for Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Jon Clark for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

Lee Curran for Summer and Smoke at Almeida theatre and Duke of York’s theatre

Royal Albert Hall award for best sound design

Paul Arditti and Christopher Reid for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

Mike Beer for A Monster Calls at the Old Vic

Carolyn Downing for Summer and Smoke at Almeida theatre and Duke of York’s theatre

Gareth Owen for Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Nick Powell for The Lehman Trilogy at National theatre - Lyttelton

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Sharon D Clarke and Abiona Omonua in Caroline, or Change. Photograph: Marc Brenner

Best costume design

Fly Davis for Caroline, or Change at Playhouse theatre

Anna Fleischle for Home, I’m Darling at National theatre - Dorfman and Duke of York’s theatre

Gabriella Slade for Six at Arts theatre

Catherine Zuber for The King and I at the London Palladium

Blue-I Theatre Technology award for best set design

Bunny Christie for Company at Gielgud theatre

Bob Crowley for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

Es Devlin for The Lehman Trilogy at National theatre - Lyttelton

Anna Fleischle for Home, I’m Darling at National theatre - Dorfman and Duke of York’s theatre

Best actor in a supporting role

Keir Charles for Quiz at Noël Coward theatre

Adam Gillen for Killer Joe at Trafalgar Studios 1

Adrian Lukis for The Price at Wyndham’s theatre

Malcolm Sinclair for Pressure at Ambassadors theatre

Chris Walley for The Lieutenant of Inishmore at Noël Coward theatre

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Vanessa Redgrave in The Inheritance. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Best actress in a supporting role

Susan Brown for Home, I’m Darling at National theatre - Dorfman and Duke of York’s theatre

Monica Dolan for All About Eve at Noël Coward theatre

Cecilia Noble for Nine Night at National theatre - Dorfman and Trafalgar Studios 1

Vanessa Redgrave for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

Best new opera production

Katya Kabanova at Royal Opera House

Lessons in Love and Violence at Royal Opera House

The Turn of the Screw at Regent’s Park open air theatre

Outstanding achievement in opera

David Butt Philip and Roderick Williams for their performances in War Requiem at London Coliseum

The English National Opera chorus for Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall

Andris Nelsons for his conducting of Lohengrin at Royal Opera House

The ensemble of Porgy and Bess at London Coliseum

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Arinzé Kene in Misty. Photograph: Helen Murray

Best actor

Adam Godley, Ben Miles and Simon Russell Beale for The Lehman Trilogy at National theatre - Lyttelton

Arinzé Kene for Misty at Trafalgar Studios 1

Ian McKellen for King Lear at Duke of York’s theatre

Kyle Soller for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

David Suchet for The Price at Wyndham’s theatre

Best actress

Gillian Anderson for All About Eve at Noël Coward theatre

Eileen Atkins for The Height of the Storm at Wyndham’s theatre

Patsy Ferran for Summer and Smoke at Almeida theatre and Duke of York’s theatre

Sophie Okonedo for Antony and Cleopatra at National theatre - Olivier

Katherine Parkinson for Home, I’m Darling at National theatre - Dorfman and Duke of York’s theatre

Sir Peter Hall award for best director

Christopher Ashley for Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Stephen Daldry for The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

Marianne Elliott for Company at Gielgud theatre

Rebecca Frecknall for Summer and Smoke at Almeida theatre and Duke of York’s theatre

Sam Mendes for The Lehman Trilogy at National theatre - Lyttelton

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Clare Perkins and Martha Plimpton in Sweat. Photograph: Johan Persson

American Airlines best new play

The Inheritance at Young Vic and Noël Coward theatre

The Lehman Trilogy at National theatre - Lyttelton

Misty at Trafalgar Studios 1

Sweat at Donmar Warehouse

Mastercard best new musical

Come From Away at Phoenix theatre

Fun Home at Young Vic

Six at Arts theatre

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at Aldwych theatre

• This article was amended on 7 March 2019. An earlier version said that Ian McKellen’s five Olivier awards set a record, which they didn’t.