Paddington The Musical and Into the Woods each received 11 Olivier Award nominations, making them the joint most-nominated productions at this year's ceremony, according to multiple reports. The nominations were announced on Thursday, March 5, setting the stage for a competitive awards season. Other major contenders include All My Sons, Kenrex, and Stereophonic, which each secured six nominations, multiple reports indicate.
Evita followed with five nominations, while Punch and The Producers each received four, according to reports. The 2025 Olivier Awards mark the 50th anniversary of the prestigious theater honors. The ceremony will take place in April at the Royal Albert Hall, with Nick Mohammed serving as host, multiple reports confirm.
The winners are chosen by voting groups of stage professionals and theatergoers, according to reports. Meanwhile, Paddington The Musical recently set a record at the WhatsOnStage Awards, winning nine awards, the most ever for a new musical and equaling the joint record previously set by Miss Saigon and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, multiple reports indicate. The WhatsOnStage Awards were held at the London Palladium; they have been running since 2001 and are voted for by the general public, according to reports.
Amber, this is just one of the reasons why I love you! These reactions are the best! Also congrats @benj0yce!
Rachel Zegler won two WhatsOnStage Awards: best concert event for Rachel Zegler: Live at The London Palladium, and best performer in a musical for Evita, multiple reports indicate. Evita won five WhatsOnStage Awards overall, including best musical revival, according to reports. Amber Davies won the best supporting actor in a musical WhatsOnStage Award for The Great Gatsby, multiple reports confirm.
According to major media, Davies shared a video on social media reacting to Olivier Award nominations, including Corbin Bleu's nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. She is currently touring in the lead role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical, multiple reports indicate. According to major media, Davies participated in Strictly Come Dancing 2025 as a replacement for an injured Dani Dyer and reached the final.
6 million visitors in 2025, 3 million more than Broadway, according to The Society of London Theatre. However, the same organization reports concerns about rising ticket prices and soaring production budgets in West End theaters. It remains unknown who will win the Olivier Awards in key categories like Best New Musical and Best Actor/Actress.
Specific financial challenges West End theaters are facing due to rising costs, and how this might affect future productions, are also unclear, as are plans to address concerns about ticket prices and budgets. The impact of the nominations on ticket sales for the nominated shows, and how the public and critics reacted to specific nominations, especially for controversial or innovative productions, have not been confirmed.