Olivier Awards 2016: Dame Judi Dench, Mark Gatiss and Imelda Staunton win big at star-studded ceremony

A host of stars were honoured at the 40th anniversary of the prestigious ceremony
Award winners: Mark Gatiss and Dame Judi Dench
Anthony Harvey/Getty
Emma Powell4 April 2016
The Weekender

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Dame Judi Dench, Mark Gatiss and Imelda Staunton were among the winners at Sunday night’s Olivier Awards.

A star studded audience filled London’s Royal Opera House to honour the great and good of theatre.

Dench, 81, was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Winter's Tale. Her win marked her title as the actress with the most Olivier Awards to their name. Gatiss picked up the male equivalent for his role in Three Days in the Country.

Gypsy was the night's big winner taking home four awards, the most for a single production, including Best Actress in a Musical for Staunton who plays Mama Rose. Lara Pulver picked up the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her role in the Jonathan Kent directed show.

The Olivier Awards 2016 - red carpet

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Denise Gough fought off tough competition from Nicole Kidman, Gemma Arterton, Janet McTeer and Lia Williams to be crowned Best Actress for her performance in People, Places and Things while Kenneth Cranham beat Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Rylance, Adrian Lester and Kenneth Branagh to take the title of Best Actor.

Hangmen was crowned Best New Play while Kinky Boots scooped Best New Musical and saw Matt Henry awarded Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Lola.

Staunton opened the prestigious bash with a performance of Everything's Coming Up Roses from Gypsy. Other musical performances came from the casts of Guys and Dolls, Bend it Like Beckham and Mrs Henderson Presents aswell as Cyndi Lauper who entertained with a rendition of True Colours.

Hosted by two-time Olivier Award winner Michael Ball, the night also saw Rory Kinnear honour William Shakespeare to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death.

Full list of nominees:

Best New Play

Best Actress in a Play

Best Actor in a Play

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Actress in a Musical

  • Imelda Staunton – Gypsy

Best Actor in a Musical

  • Matt Henry – Kinky Boots

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

  • LaraPulver – Gypsy

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

Best New Musical

Best Musical Revival

Best Director

Best Revival

Best New Comedy

Best Costume Design

  • Gregg Barnes – Kinky Boots

Best Set Design

  • Anna Fleischle - Hangmen

Best Lighting Design

  • Mark Henderson – Gypsy

Best Sound Design

  • Tom Gibbons – People, Places and Things

Best Theatre Choreographer

  • Drew McOnie – In The Heights

Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music

  • In The Heights – Tristan Baker

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

  • Alessandra Ferri – Cheri and Woolf Works

Best New Dance Production

  • Wayne McGregor – Woolf Works

Best Entertainment and Family

  • The Showstoppers

Best New Opera Production

  • Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

  • ENO Chorus and Orchestra

Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre

  • Pat Kinevane & Fishamble – Silent

Magic FM Audience Award

  • Phantom of the Opera

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