Olivier Awards 2013 Best Dressed

I adore the theatre. Having been a part of my school's stage crew for 5 years I gained a real appreciation for the stage. I still experience a certain thrill and a spine-tingle every time I enter a theatre that takes me back to hours spent following scripts by torch-light in the wings, frantically changing sets between scenes and cursing the cast's innate ability to break and lose props with no knowledge as to how they managed it. These memories are some of my most cherished (ignoring how stressful they were at the time!) and helped to develop a special and unique adoration towards theatre that I really can't explain properly, but hope will never fade.

Unfortunately I don't get to go as often as I'd like to, so have decided that as a mid-year's resolution (not a thing, but it is now...) I'm going to make a substantial effort to go more. Living in London is a dream come true, and being so close to so many world-class productions and not seeing them is a total crime, so come 30th May and the end of my exams I'll start working my way down my list of shows. I'm excited already!

Back on topic, last night saw Covent Garden transformed as the Royal Opera House hosted the annual Olivier Awards. A celebration of the best of British theatre, the awards were as glamorous and spectacular as expected, with hosts Hugh Bonneville and Sheridan Smith entertaining those inside while the piazza was filled with theatre fans watching on a large screen.

Clear success story of the evening and coming away with a massive seven awards was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, an adaptation of Mark Haddon’s award-winning 2003 novel. It's been on my radar for a while but now I really want to see it!

 

As ever the sartorial stakes were high on the red carpet, so here's my take on the Best Dressed of the evening.

***DAME HELEN MIRREN***

Without doubt Helen Mirren deserves a special mention on the Best Dressed list, not only because she looks amazing but because she's the best example that it's possible to dress age-appropriately and still look utterly sensational.

Taking her first Best Actress Olivier Award for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience, Mirren has become the first actress to win an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Olivier for the same role. What a ridiculously talented and inspirational lady!

 

LARA PULVER

 Maria Grachvogel

Lara Pulver is my Best Dressed of the evening. I adore pretty much everything about this dress, but particularly the colour: so understated and simple but so effective. Love it (and her).

LILY JAMES

Dolce & Gabbana

JAMES MCAVOY AND ANNE-MARIE DUFF

 How very Great Gatsby-esque...

TOM HIDDLESTON

Armani

 

WILL YOUNG
Hardy Amies

[Images sourced from vogue.co.uk; marieclaire.co.uk; dailymail.co.uk; mirror.co.uk; justjared.com; digitalspy.co.uk; huffingtonpost.co.uk]

Here's a list of the winners in full:

Best Actor: Luke Treadaway for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best Actress: Helen Mirren for The Audience

Best Actor In A Musical: Michael Ball for Sweeney Todd

Best Actress In A Musical: Imelda Staunton for Sweeney Todd

Best Actor In A Supporting Role: Richard McCabe for The Audience

Best Actress In A Supporting Role: Nicola Walker for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best Performance In A Supporting Role In A Musical: Leigh Zimmerman for A Chorus Line

Best Director: Marianne Elliott for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best New Play: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best New Musical: Top Hat

Best Entertainment & Family Award: Goodnight Mister Tom

Radio 2 Audience Award: Billy Elliott

Best Musical Revival: Sweeney Todd

Best Revival: Long Day's Journey Into Night

Best Lighting Design: Paule Constable for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best Sound Design: Ian Dickinson and Adrian Sutton for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best Set Design: Bunny Christie and Finn Ross for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best Costume: Jon Morrell for Top Hat

Best Choreographer: Bill Deamer for Top Hat

Outstanding Achievement In Dance: Marianela Núñez for the Royal Ballet

Outstanding Achievement In Affiliate Theatre: Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court

Outstanding Achievement In Opera: Bryan Hymel

Best New Opera Production: Einstein On The Beach at The Barbican

Special Award: Michael Frayn

What are your thoughts on the red carpet fashion and the winners? I've added a number of shows to my list now, but do you have any recommendations for something I simply MUST see? Let me know...