The Society of London Theatre presented their annual theatrical awards, the Laurence Olivier Awards, at a private ceremony at The Hilton Hotel in Park Lane on Sunday, February 26, 2006. The Olivier Awards are the UK's most prestigious theatre awards and considered a highlight of the West End calendar. At this year’s awards ceremony, Sir Ian McKellen was presented with the Society of London Theatre Special Award. The casts of Billy Elliot and Guys And Dolls performed, while Billy Elliot and Hedda Gabler were the big winners on the night.
Below is a list of the production and design winners (for a complete list of winners, click here ):
Best Director: Richard Eyre for Hedda Gabler at the Almeida and Duke of York's
Best Lighting Design: Don Carlos designed by Paule Constable at the Gielgud
Best Set Design: Hedda Gabler designed by Rob Howell at the Almeida and Duke of York's
Best Costume Design: The Dog in the Manger designed by Es Devlin at the Playhouse
Best Sound Design: Billy Elliot – The Musical designed by Paul Arditti at the Victoria Palace
Best New Play: On the Shore of the Wide World by Simon Stephens at the Cottesloe
Best New Comedy: Heroes by Gérald Sibleyras translated by Tom Stoppard at Wyndham's
Best Entertainment: Something Wicked This Way Comes at the Cambridge
Best Revival: Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen in a new version by Richard Eyre at the Almeida and Duke of York's
Best New Musical: Billy Elliot – The Musical book and lyrics by Lee Hall, music by Elton John at the Victoria Palace
Outstanding Musical Production: Guys and Dolls based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows at the Piccadilly
Best New Dance Production: Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant's Push at Sadler's Wells
Best New Opera Production: English National Opera's Madam Butterfly at the London Coliseum