Olivier Awards 2015: A View from the Bridge and Sunny Afternoon lead winners

See all the Olivier Awards 2015 news, analysis and interviews

Mark Strong and Ivo van Hove fronted a triumphant night for the Young Vic Theatre at the 2015 Olivier Awards, with the theatre winning four gongs including best actor, best director and best revival for A View from the Bridge.

The Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon also walked away with four prizes – the most wins of the night by a single production.

It was a rewarding evening for playwright Mike Bartlett, with King Charles III named best new play and Bull’s run at the Young Vic winning the prize for outstanding achievement at an affiliate theatre.

Penelope Wilton fought off competition from Kristin Scott Thomas, Imelda Staunton and Gillian Anderson to be named best actress for her role in Taken at Midnight.

Collecting her first Olivier award after five previous nominations, Wilton praised her co-stars and described acting as a “collaborative art”, adding: “I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been surrounded by some of the most wonderful, talented, generous people”.

The evening also saw Angela Lansbury pick up her first Olivier for her supporting role in Blithe Spirit at the Noel Coward Theatre – her first West End part in over 40 years – while Nathaniel Parker won best supporting actor for his role in both Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.

In the musical categories, Sunny Afternoon scooped the best new musical prize, with John Dagleish and George Maguire named best actor and supporting actor respectively.

In addition, Kinks frontman Ray Davies received the award for outstanding achievement in music.

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical also picked up two big awards in the musicals category, with Katie Brayben winning best actress and Lorna Want named best supporting actress.

The Donmar Warehouse’s production of City of Angels beat Miss Saigon, Cats and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess to be named best musical revival, and also won the prize for best lighting design.

Though nominated for nine awards, Memphis the Musical only picked up two gongs for best choreographer and best sound design.

Elsewhere, best comedy went to Mischief Theatre for The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre, and Wicked won the publicly voted Audience Award for a second time following a win in 2010.

Kevin Spacey was also presented with a special award by Judi Dench to celebrate his tenure at the Old Vic, which will come to an end later this year.

The prizes were presented at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London – a full list of winners is below.

Best revival

A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic and Wyndham’s Theatre

Best actor in a supporting role

Nathaniel Parker for Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies at the Aldwych Theatre

Best actress in a supporting role

Angela Lansbury for Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre

Best lighting design

Howard Harrison for City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse

Best sound design

Gareth Owen for Memphis the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre

Best entertainment and family

La Soiree at La Soiree Spiegeltent

Best costume design

Christopher Oram for Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies at the Aldwych Theatre

Best set design

Es Devlin for The Nether at the Duke of York’s Theatre

Best new dance production

32 Rue Vandenbranden by Peeping Tom at the Barbican
Mats Ek’s Juliet and Romeo by Royal Swedish Ballet at Sadler’s Wells

Outstanding achievement in dance

Crystal Pite for her choreography in the productions of The Associates – A Picture Of You Falling, The Tempest Replica and Polaris at Sadler’s Wells

Best new play

King Charles III at the Almeida Theatre and Wyndham’s Theatre

Best actor

Mark Strong for A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic and Wyndham’s Theatre

Best actress

Penelope Wilton for Taken At Midnight at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Audience award

Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

Best new comedy

The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre

Best musical revival

City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse

Best new opera production

The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg at the London Coliseum

Outstanding achievement in opera

Richard Jones for his direction of The Girl of the Golden West, The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg and Rodelinda at the London Coliseum

Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre

Bull at the Maria at the Young Vic

Best theatre choreographer

Sergio Trujillo for Memphis The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre

Best director

Ivo van Hove for A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic and Wyndham’s Theatre

Outstanding achievement in music

Ray Davies for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and the Harold Pinter Theatre

Best actor in a supporting role in a musical

George Maguire for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and the Harold Pinter Theatre

Best actress in a supporting role in a musical

Lorna Want for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre

Best actor in a musical

John Dagleish for Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and the Harold Pinter Theatre

Best actress in a musical

Katie Brayben for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre

Best new musical

Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre and the Harold Pinter Theatre