Four awards for Donmar Warehouse and RSC productions
Black Watch most celebrated individual production with four wins
Sir Alan Ayckbourn recognised for contribution to theatre

The winners of the 33rd Laurence Olivier Awards were announced tonight, Sunday 8 March 2009, at a glamorous ceremony held at Grosvenor House, London, hosted by James Nesbitt. The variety of theatre on offer in London throughout 2008 was highlighted at this year’s awards with 16 different productions sharing the honours.

Michael Grandage’s Donmar Warehouse has produced an innovative combination of work in both the commercial and subsidised sectors to win four awards across the three stages of the Donmar, Vaudeville and Wyndham’s theatres.

In the play categories the hotly contested Best Actress title was won by Margaret Tyzack for her stellar performance as the self-obsessed Mrs St Maugham in THE CHALK GARDEN at the Donmar. Meanwhile, Derek Jacobi’s rich portrayal of Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT at Wyndham’s, which united critics in their praise, was awarded with Best Actor. Elena Roger was recognised for her role as Edith Piaf in PIAF which transferred from the Donmar to the Vaudeville winning Best Actress in a Musical. In addition, THE CHALK GARDEN also picked up the award for Best Lighting Design by Paule Constable.

The smash hit transfer of the National Theatre of Scotland’s BLACK WATCH to London’s Barbican secured the highest number of wins for an individual production. Walking away with the four awards were Gregory Burke for Best New Play; John Tiffany for Best Director; Steven Hoggett for Best Theatre Choreographer and Gareth Fry for Best Sound Design. The production, which has toured across three continents, is taken from the viewpoint of the men of the legendary Black Watch Scottish regiment while on tour in Iraq.

The eight plays in Shakespeare’s History Cycle, directed by RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd at the Roundhouse, took home three honours. The 35-strong cast of THE HISTORIES won the new award for Best Company Performance, Tom Piper and Emma Williams shared Best Costume Design while the production itself beat off stiff competition from the Donmar’s THE CHALK GARDEN and THE NORMAN CONQUESTS to win the Best Revival category.