Guide to the 2020 Olivier Awards: how to watch, nominees, and more

Since 1976, the whos-who of London's theatre world has come together to celebrate the creme de la creme of West End performances at the Olivier Awards. Over the years, it's become the biggest event of the London theatre calendar, with individual wins offering a guaranteed career boost.

Even though the West End has been quiet for the majority of the year, we can't wait for the 2020 Olivier Awards to champion British theatre. Here's everything you need to know about this year's event, taking place at the end of October.  

What day are the Olivier Awards?

The 2020 Olivier Awards will take place on 25 October 2020.

Originally, the ceremony was due to take place on 5 April 2020, however on 17 March of this year, it was announced that the event would be cancelled due to the global pandemic. A spokesperson for Official London Theatre said: "Following the government's new advice on social distancing yesterday and the subsequent closing of many theatres and public venues, we no longer feel that it is feasible to host the ceremony that we had planned to deliver."

Usually, the Olivier Awards take place in early April. The ceremony celebrates London's theatre scene in the 12 months prior to the event.

What time are the Olivier Awards?

The full timings of the 2020 Olivier Awards are currently unknown. The ceremony is likely to take place in the evening; however times of live performances and specific awards aren't confirmed yet.

In 2019, the ceremony promptly started at 6pm, lasting a few hours. So,if you're going to be following the ceremony online, you can expect to know all the award winners before you go to sleep on 25 October.

Where are the Olivier Awards taking place?

The 2020 Olivier Awards will be broadcast from the London Palladium. However, the majority of attendees will be livestreaming the event from their own homes, in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

In previous years, the Olivier Awards have been held at the Royal Albert Hall and numerous theatres including, but not limited to: Victoria Palace Theatre, Dominion Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House. The Grosvenor House Hotel has also hosted the Olivier Awards on four separate occasions.

How can I watch the Olivier Awards?

The 2020 Olivier Awards will be broadcast on ITV this year. The broadcast time is currently unknown. The television show will be hosted by Jason Manford, who has also starred in West End shows including Curtains at the Wyndham's Theatre and a national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

A special Olivier Awards inspired radio show will be broadcast on Magic Radio. Audiences can listen live from 8-10pm on 26 October.

Who is nominated for the 2020 Olivier Awards?

The 2020 Olivier Award nominations were announced on 3 March 2020.

In the musicals category, & Juliet leads the nominations with nine nods, including best new musical. After the thrilling revival at the Playhouse Theatre, Fiddler on the Roof is bound to make an impression at this year's ceremony, with eight nominations.

For the plays, Rosmersholm, Cyrano de Bergerac and Death of a Salesman are all tied with five nominations each. It's also tight in the comedy plays category too, with Emilia, Fleabag, Magic Goes Wrong and Upstart Crow all up for Best Comedy Play.

Check out this list for a full roundup of the 2020 Olivier Award nominations. 

Who will win the 2020 Olivier Awards?

Who knows? We're not mindreaders! You'll have to keep your eyes peeled on Londontheatre.co.uk on 26 October to find out the winners of the 2020 Olivier Awards.

^{Photo credit: (Courtesy of Olivier Awards)}