Were the Olivier Awards 2020 Televised? A Look at the Winners and Ceremony
The 2020 Olivier Awards, celebrating the best in London theatre, were held on October 25th. But were the Olivier Awards 2020 televised? While not a traditional live broadcast, the ceremony was pre-filmed at the London Palladium and portions were aired, allowing audiences to witness the biggest wins of the night. This article delves into the winners and highlights of the event.
Major Winners of the Night: A Trio of Triumphs
Three productions dominated the 2020 Olivier Awards, each securing three wins: Dear Evan Hansen, & Juliet, and Emilia.
Dear Evan Hansen, the Tony-winning musical by Pasek & Paul, took home Best New Musical, Best Original Score (shared with orchestrator Alex Lacamoire), and Best Actor in a Musical for Sam Tutty’s moving performance. & Juliet, the jukebox musical reimagining Shakespeare’s Juliet, saw wins for its stars: Miriam-Teak Lee for Best Actress in a Musical, David Bedella for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical, and Cassidy Janson for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Emilia, a play celebrating the life of Emilia Bassano, claimed victory in Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, Best Sound Design (Emma Laxton), and Best Costume Design (Joanna Scotcher).
Other Notable Victories at the Olivier Awards
Beyond the triple wins, other significant awards were presented. Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt won Best New Play, a poignant exploration of Jewish identity in Vienna. Cyrano de Bergerac, starring James McAvoy, earned the Best Revival award, with the cast accepting the honor in true beat poet fashion.
Andrew Scott delivered a captivating performance in Present Laughter, winning Best Actor. Sharon D. Clarke, who had won the previous year for Caroline, or Change, triumphed again, this time as Best Actress for her powerful portrayal in Death of a Salesman. The production also earned awards for Best Director (Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell) and Best Revival.
A Unique Ceremony Format for the Olivier Awards
The 2020 Olivier Awards ceremony adopted a hybrid format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of a live audience, the majority of the show was pre-recorded at the London Palladium. While not fully televised in the traditional sense, segments of the pre-recorded ceremony were broadcast, allowing viewers to experience the key moments.
During the broadcast, Sam Mendes and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall highlighted the Theatre Artists Fund, an initiative established to provide financial support to theatre professionals impacted by the pandemic. This underlined the challenges faced by the industry and the importance of supporting its recovery.
Conclusion: The 2020 Oliviers – A Celebration Amidst Challenges
The 2020 Olivier Awards, while presented in a unique format, successfully celebrated the resilience and creativity of London’s theatre community. Although not a completely live televised event, the pre-filmed ceremony and subsequent broadcast captured the essence of the awards, showcasing the outstanding achievements of the year’s theatrical productions. The dominance of Dear Evan Hansen, & Juliet, and Emilia, along with other notable wins, underscored the breadth of talent and innovation on the London stage.
