The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Fiddler on the Roof each win three prizes at the Olivier Awards 2025

Pictures: Joanne Davidson

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Fiddler on the Roof were among the most awarded shows at the Olivier Awards with Mastercard at London’s Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Beverley Knight and Billy Porter.

Other productions with multiple wins were Giant, Oedipus (Wyndham’s Theatre), Titanique, The Years and the Royal Opera’s Festen.

The ceremony opened with a stunning performance of ‘Luck Be a Lady’ from Guys & Dolls by Knight and Porter, accompanied by the House Gospel Choir. Additional performances throughout the evening included Mastercard Best New Musical nominees The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, MJ The Musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and Why Am I So Single?, Piper-Heidsieck Award for Best Musical Revival nominees Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver! and Starlight Express, and a special 40th anniversary performance from Les Misérables.

Mastercard Best New Musical was won by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, with music and lyrics by Darren Clark, and book and lyrics by Jethro Compton. John Dagleish took home the Best Actor in a Musical award for his performance as the title character, ten years after his first win for Sunny Afternoon in 2015. The musical’s trio of wins was completed by Clark and Mark Aspinall, securing the award for Outstanding Musical Contribution.

This year’s most-nominated show, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof (tying with Hamilton’s 2018 record of 13 nominations) won the Piper-Heidsieck Award for Best Musical Revival, with wins for the Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design for Tom Scutt, and the d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design for Nick Lidster (his second Olivier Award win). The musical returns in May to the Barbican Theatre.

Imelda Staunton received her fifth Olivier Award, and her fourth in the same category, winning Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! The award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical went to Maimuna Memon for her role in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812, following her second nomination.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical was awarded to first-time nominee Layton Williams for his role in Titanique by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, which also secured the Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. Titanique is currently playing at the Criterion Theatre.

In other success for musicals: Christopher Wheeldon took home the Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for MJ The Musical (currently at the Prince Edward Theatre); Paule Constable, who is the most-lauded individual in Olivier Awards history with 17 nominations, won her sixth Olivier Award, winning the White Light Award for Best Lighting Design alongside Ben Jacobs for Oliver! (playing at the Gielgud Theatre); Gabriella Slade won Best Costume Design for Starlight Express (currently at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre).

A video tribute was made during the ceremony to celebrate Special Award recipient Rufus Norris, rounding off his 10-year tenure as director of the National Theatre. Industry Recognition Award recipients Rupert Bielby, Bryan Raven and Sue Uings also received a special acknowledgement during the ceremony, honouring their significant contributions to the theatre industry.

The evening’s In Memoriam paid tribute to some of the industry titans we have lost this year from both on and off stage, including the much beloved Joan Plowright, wife of Laurence Olivier after whom the awards are named.

Kash Bennett, president of the Society of London Theatre, said: “The Olivier Awards have once again been a spectacular celebration of the very best of British theatre, showcasing the incredible talent of our performers and creatives. Huge congratulations to all the brilliant winners and nominees, who embody the creativity, passion, and magic that make our industry so extraordinary.”

Charlie Carrington, senior vice president marketing and communications at Mastercard, said: “The Olivier Awards celebrates the best that London theatre has to offer. The West End’s iconic stages have brought us some of the world’s finest performances and Mastercard is proud to support the awards and the creative industries more broadly, championing all those performing both on stage and behind the scenes. Congratulations to all of tonight’s winners.”

Highlights from the event were broadcast this evening on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player, available on catch-up after broadcast. Magic Radio also broadcast coverage and highlights. For viewers outside the UK, the ceremony was broadcast live on the Official London Theatre YouTube channel and is now available there for catch-up.

Full list of winners for Olivier Awards 2025 with Mastercard: 

Mastercard Best New Musical

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, music and lyrics by Darren Clark, book and lyrics by Jethro Compton at Ambassadors Theatre

Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design

Tom Scutt for Set Design for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

White Light Award for Best Lighting Design

Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs for Oliver! at Gielgud Theatre

TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production

Festen by the Royal Opera at Royal Opera House

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

Allan Clayton for his performance in Festen at Royal Opera House

Best Family Show

Brainiac Live at Marylebone Theatre

Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre

Boys On the Verge of Tears by Sam Grabiner at Soho Theatre

Best New Dance Production

Assembly Hall by Kidd Pivot, Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young at Sadler’s Wells

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

Eva Yerbabuena for her performance in Yerbagüena at Sadler’s Wells

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Elliot Levey for Giant at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Romola Garai for The Years at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre

Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer

Christopher Wheeldon for MJ the Musical at Prince Edward Theatre

Best Costume Design

Gabriella Slade for Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design

Nick Lidster for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Outstanding Musical Contribution

Mark Aspinall for Musical Supervision and Additional Orchestrations for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Maimuna Memon for Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Layton Williams for Titanique at Criterion Theatre

Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play

Titanique by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli at Criterion Theatre

Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director

Eline Arbo for The Years at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter Theatre

Best Actress

Lesley Manville for Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre

Best Actor

John Lithgow for Giant at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre

Cunard Best Revival

Oedipus by Robert Icke at Wyndham’s Theatre

Piper-Heidsieck Award for Best Musical Revival

Fiddler on the Roof, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, book by Joseph Stein at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical

John Dagleish for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Ambassadors Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical

Imelda Staunton for Hello, Dolly! at The London Palladium

The Londoner Award for Best New Play

Giant by Mark Rosenblatt at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre