The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show is 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.
The award was introduced in 1991, as Best Entertainment, was renamed Best Entertainment and Family in 2012, and changed to its current name in 2020when "Entertainment" was moved to join Best Comedy Play on the renamed Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.
Winners and nominees 1990s Year Production Writer 1991 Five Guys Named Moe Clarke Peters An Evening with Peter Ustinov Peter Ustinov Victoria Wood Up West Victoria Wood 1992 Talking Heads Alan Bennett A Tribute to the Blues Brothers Con O'Neill Lavishly Mounted Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Richard Sisson Tango Argentino Claudio Segovia and Hector Orezzoli 1993 Travels with My Aunt Graham Greene and Giles Havergal Ennio Marchetto Ennio Marchetto and Sosthen Hennekam The Blue Angel Pam Gems The Invisible Man Ken Hill 1994 A Christmas Carol Patrick Stewart Jamais Vu Ken Campbell January Sale Kit and The Widow Stomp Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas 1995 By Special Arrangement Maria Friedman Fascinating Aïda Dillie Keane, Adele Anderson and Issy Van Randwyck Juggle and Hyde The Flying Karamazov Brothers Jack - A Night On the Town with John Barrymore Nicol Williamson and Leslie Megahey 1998 Slava's Snowshow Slava Polunin Maureen Lipman, Live and Kidding Maureen Lipman Marlene Pam Gems She Knows You Know Jean Fergusson 1999 Do You Come Here Often? The Right Size Much Ado About Everything Jackie Mason Steve Coogan is the Man who Thinks He's It Steve Coogan and Henry Normal Shakespeare's Villains: A Masterclass in Evil Steven Berkoff
2000s Year Production Writer 2000 Defending the Caveman Rob Becker Al Murray - The Pub Landlord Al Murray Barefaced Chic Fascinating Aida Soul Train Mark Clements and Michael Vivian 2002 Shockheaded Peter Julian Bleach, Anthony Cairns, Graeme Gilmour and Tamzin Griffin The Pub Landlord - My Gaff, My Rules Al Murray Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim Barbara Cook The League of Gentlemen Jeremy Dyson, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith The Vagina Monologues Eve Ensler 2003 Play Without Words Matthew Bourne Contact Susan Stroman and John Weidman Elaine Stritch at Liberty John Lahr and Elaine Stritch Rory Bremner with John Bird and John Fortune Rory Bremner 2004 Duckie's C'est Barbican! Ursula Martinez, Christopher Green and Marisa Carnesky Jus' Like That John Fisher My Brilliant Divorce Geraldine Aron One Last Flutter Fascinating Aïda The Rat Pack: Live From Las Vegas Mitch Sebastian, Paul Walden and Derek Nicol 2006 Something Wicked This Way Comes Derren Brown Blue Man Group Blue Man Group Ducktastic The Right Size 2009 La Clique La Clique Brief Encounter Noël Coward Maria Friedman: Rearranged Maria Friedman
2010s Year Production Writer 2010 Morecambe Tim Whitnall Arturo Brachetti: Change Sean Foley Derren Brown: Enigma Derren Brown and Andy Nyman 2011 The Railway Children Mike Kenny Beauty and the Beast Lucy Kirkwood Ghost Stories Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman Potted Panto Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner 2012 Svengali Derren Brown Midnight Tango Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace Potted Potter Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner The Tiger Who Came to Tea David Wood 2013 Goodnight Mister Tom David Wood Cinderella: A Fairytale Sally Cookson Hansel and Gretel Lucy Kirkwood Room on the Broom Tall Stories Theatre Company 2014 The Wind in the Willows Will Tuckett Derren Brown: Infamous Derren Brown Eat, Pray, Laugh! Barry Humphries Eric and Little Ern Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel 2015 La Soirée Brett Haylock, Mick Perrin and Mark Rubinstein Dance 'til Dawn Andrew Guerdat and Steven Kreinberg Hetty Feather Jacqueline Wilson and Emma Reeves 2016 Showstopper N/A Alice's Adventures Underground Anthony Spargo and Oliver Lansley The Lorax Dr. Seuss I Want My Hat Back Jon Klassen Peter Pan J. M. Barrie2017 The Red Shoes Matthew BourneCinderella Michael HarrisonDavid Baddiel – My Family: Not the SitcomDavid BaddielPeter PanJ.M. Barrie (devised by the company)2018Dick WhittingtonAlan McHughDavid Walliam's Gangsta GrannyNeal FosterDerren Brown: UndergroundDerren BrownFive Guys Named MoeClarke Peters2019A Monster CallsPatrick Ness (devised by the company)Snow WhiteMichael HarrisonSongs for NobodiesJoanna Murray-SmithThe Wider EarthDavid Morton
2020s Year Production Writer2020The Worst Witch Emma ReevesMr Gum and the Dancing BearJim Fortune (music) and Andy Stanton (lyrics and book)Oi Frog and FriendsEmma Earle, Zoe Squire, Luke Bateman and Richy HughesTo the Moon and BackPaula Manning 2021 Not presented due to extended closing of theatre productions during COVID-19 pandemic2022Wolf Witch Giant FairyLittle Bulb (Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway and Alexander Scott)Billionaire BoyNeal FosterDragons and Mythical BeastsDerek BondWhat the Ladybird HeardJulia Donaldson and Lydia Monks2023Hey Duggee the Live Theatre ShowVikki Stone & Matthew XiaBlippi the MusicalMidsummer MechanicalsBen Hales & Kerry FramptonThe Smartest Giant in TownJulia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, adapted by Barb Jungr & Samantha Lane2024Dinosaur World LiveDerek Bond, Laura Cubitt & Max HumphriesBluey's Big PlayJoe BrummThe House with Chicken LegsSophie Anderson, adapted by Oliver LansleyThe Smeds and the SmoosJulia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, adapted by Tall Stories2025Brainiac LiveMarylebone TheatreMaddie Moate's Very Curious ChristmasMaddie MoateThe NutcrackerPyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyRough MagicShakespeare's Globe - Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
See also Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event
References
External links