Established in 1976 and named after actor Laurence Olivier, the award is Britain's most prestigious theatrical honour.
A critically acclaimed revival of the musical "Cabaret" and a stage adaptation of the hit novel "Life of Pi" were big winners at the Olivier Awards on Sunday, taking home the top prizes at Britain's biggest night for theatre.
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the London theater community reunited for a glittering ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall.
"Cabaret" had a nomination with 11 nominations. It won seven awards, including Best Musical Revival and awards for actors Eddie Redmayne and Jesse Buckley.
Redmayne said, "It's the dream... This was the part I played when I was a kid in school, it was the thing that really fueled my passion for theatre."
"And it was dumb to do that every night with that extraordinary group of people."
"Cabaret" also won Best Supporting Acting Awards for Elliot Levey and Liza Sadowie and Best Director for Rebecca Fracknall.
Originally produced on Broadway in 1966, "Cabaret" follows the lives of characters associated with a seedy Berlin nightclub during the rise of the Nazis, with music by John Kinder and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
Oscar-winner Redmayne played Kit Kat Club's Master of Ceremony and Buckley played Sally Bowles, an English singer with ambition over talent.
Frecknall said the music was poignant "with everything now happening internationally".
"Life of Pi", based on Yann Martel's book about a boy stranded on a lifeboat with a tiger, won five awards, including Best New Drama, Best Actor for Hiran Abasekera and the show's puppet tiger. Best Supporting Actor for seven featured actors. ,
Actor Fred Davis said, "The fact that we've been nominated for a puppet character ... is unprecedented and a historic moment for a puppeteer." "Hopefully this will open the door for more puppets in the theater in the future in central roles."
"Back to the Future - The Musical", based on the 1985 hit sci-fi film, won the award for Best New Musical during the "Constellation" drama about the relationship between a quantum physicist and a beekeeper, by Sheila Atim. Nominated for Best Revival and Best Actress. ,
Liz Carr won Best Supporting Actress for "The Normal Heart", a new production of Larry Kramer's play about the 1980s AIDS crisis in New York.
Like other industries, London's West End was hit by the pandemic when its cinemas were forced to close their doors in March 2020.
They began welcoming audiences last spring, though not all and those who did, returned with smaller productions and 50% capacity. Big production shows resumed in the summer.
Established in 1976 and named after actor Laurence Olivier, the award is Britain's most prestigious theatrical honour. (Reuters)