The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play was an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of the "world-class status of London theatre." The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
This commingled award, covering all roles and responsibilities in a production, was introduced in 1980, and was last presented at the 2008 ceremony, after which it was retired. During its existence, the award was not used for 1991–2003, nor 2005–2007.
On the 12 occasions that this award was given, it was presented eight times to a performer (actor/actress), twice to a director, once to a writer and once to an entire theatre company. The company, and one of the two directors, were honoured based on a collection of works during their award-winning year.
Winners and nominees 1980s Year Actor Play Role 1980 Edward Duke Jeeves Takes Charge Various Characters Alfred Molina Oklahoma! Jud Fry Gavin Richards Accidental Death of an Anarchist Maniac Robert Walker Pal Joey Director 1981 Alice Krige Arms and the Man Raina Catherine Hall Naked Robots Gemma Jeremy Nicholas Three Men in a Boat Various Characters Eric Peterson Billy Bishop Goes to War Billy Bishop 1982 Kenneth Branagh Another Country Tommy Judd Rupert Everett Another Country Guy Bennett Terry Johnson Insignificance Playwright Imelda Staunton The Beggar's Opera Lucy Lockit 1983 John Retallack Quixote and The Provok'd Wife Director Arturo Brachetti Y Producer Billy McColl The Slab Boys Trilogy Phil Abigail McKern As You Like It Celia 1984 Tim Flavin On Your Toes Junior Henry Goodman The Comedy of Errors Dromio of Ephesus Hilary Blecher, Sandra Kotzé and Elsa Joubert Poppie Nongena Directors Clare Leach 42nd Street Peggy Sawyer 1985 Cheek by Jowl Andromache, Pericles and Vanity Fair Company Frances Barber Camille Marguerite Druid Theatre Company The Playboy of the Western World Company Clive Mantle Of Mice and Men Lennie 1986 Sally Dexter Dalliance Mizi Simon Curtis Road and Ourselves Alone Director Anne Devlin Ourselves Alone Writer Janet McTeer The Grace of Mary Traverse Mary Traverse 1987 Suzan Sylvester A View from the Bridge Catherine Rudi Davies A Penny for a Song and A Lie of the Mind Dorcas Bellboys / Sally Nick Dear The Art of Success Writer Imogen Stubbs Two Noble Kinsmen and The Rover Gaoler's Daughter / Helena 1988 Richard Jones Too Clever by Half Director Andrew Castell Journey's End Raleigh Alan Cumming The Conquest of the South Pole Slupianek Tim Luscombe Easy Virtue, The Browning Version and Harlequinade Director 1989/90 Jeremy Northam The Voysey Inheritance Edward Voysey Glen Goei M. Butterfly Song Liling Charlotte Keatley My Mother Said I Never Should Writer Georgia Slowe Romeo and Juliet Juliet
2000s Year Actor Play Role 2004 Debbie Tucker Green Born Bad Writer Tom Hardy In Arabia We'd All Be Kings Skank Ruth Negga Duck Cat Lucy Prebble The Sugar Syndrome Writer 2008 Tom Hiddleston Cymbeline Posthumus Leonatus / Cloten David Dawson The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Smike Tom Hiddleston Othello Cassio Stephen Wight Dealer's Choice Mugsy
See also Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
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