The Laurence Olivier Awards are a series of awards presented annually by The Society of London Theatre. They are presented in recognition of achievements in commercial British theatre, most notably plays and musicals in the West End of London, an area commonly referred to as "Theatreland". The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976 and, in 1984 they we renamed in honour of the renowned British actor Lord Olivier. The Olivier Awards are the most prestigious theatrical awards in the United Kingdom and are the UK equivalent of the Tony Awards. In the history of the awards Philip Quast has been the most decorated, receiving three Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, the most one person has even been awarded.
Famous quotes containing the words laurence, award, actor and/or musical:
“It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his hearts deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings
I know why the caged bird sings!”
—Paul Laurence Dunbar (18721906)
“The award of a pure gold medal for poetry would flatter the recipient unduly: no poem ever attains such carat purity.”
—Robert Graves (18951985)
“I suspect there isnt an actor alive who was able to truthfully answer his familys questions after his first days activity in his future profession.”
—Simone Signoret (19211985)
“Hell is full of musical amateurs: music is the brandy of the damned.”
—George Bernard Shaw (18561950)