LONDON — The 2014 Olivier Awards, marking the best of theatre to open in London’s West End over the last 12 months, were presented April 13, at the Royal Opera House. The Best Lighting Design award, supported by entertainment lighting supplier White Light, was awarded jointly to four designers across two shows: to Paul Pyant and Jon Driscoll (pictured here), who were responsible for lighting and projection design on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and to Tim Lutkin and Finn Ross, lighting and projection designers for Chimerica, at the Almeida and then the Harold Pinter Theatre.
More details from White Light (www.WhiteLight.Ltd.uk):
Another lighting designer was also recognized during the evening: Michael Hulls, presented with the Outstanding Achievement in Dance award for his body of lighting work, including Ballet Boyz – The Talent at Sadler’s Wells.
In the other production categories, Es Devlin received the Best Set Design award for Chimerica at the Almeida and then the Harold Pinter Theatre, Mark Thompson the Best Costume Design award for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while the Best Sound Design category was also awarded jointly, to Carolyn Downing for Chimerica and Gareth Owen for Merrily We Roll Along. Lyndsey Turner collected the Best Director prize, another award for Chimerica, while Casey Nicholaw received the Best Theatre Choreographer prize for The Book of Mormon.
The production awards went to The Book of Mormon, named Best New Musical, to Merrily We Roll Along, named Best Musical Revival, Jeeves & Wooster In Perfect Nonsense, Best New Comedy; Les Vêpres Siciliennes, Best New Opera Production; Puz/zle, Best New Dance Production; Chimerica, Best New Play, and to Les Misérables, which collected the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award.
The Olivier Awards Ceremony has become a major production in itself. Staged once again this year at the Royal Opera House, with highlights shown later on television, the show was designed by Es Devlin with lighting by Ben Cracknell. White Light supplied the lighting rig to the show, to a tight production schedule working around the Opera House’s busy performance schedule.
“The last year has been quite a year of theatre,” comments White Light’s Managing Director, Bryan Raven, “with a whole range of fantastic shows including musicals like Once, Book of Mormon, Charlie and Merrily, countless plays as part of the Michael Grandage season, at the National, the Donmar, the Royal Court, the Almeida and much, much more. The Oliviers have reflected that brilliantly, and the fantastic show put together by the Olivier Awards team has honored all involved. Congratulations from White Light to the winners, the nominees and to everyone else who’s been working in the West End over the last twelve months. We look forward to collaborating with you all again in the year ahead.”
Further information about the Olivier Awards, including a full list of winners, can be found online at www.olivierawards.com.
