Derek Jacobi, Elena Roger, Patrick Stewart, Margaret Tyzack Among Olivier Award Winners

The 33rd Annual Laurence Olivier Awards were handed out at London`s Grosvenor Hotel on March 8. This year’s ceremony was hosted by actor James Nesbitt.

The Donmar Warehouse, which had earned a total of 13 nominations, picked up four awards, including Best Actress for Margaret Tyzack for her performance in The Chalk Garden. The actress, who has been working on the West End for nearly 60 years, described winning the award as “a nice warm feeling.”

Also representing the Donmar was Sir Derek Jacobi, who won for his work in Twelfth Night. “It’s an honor to have an award in Olivier’s name; I owe him so very much,” said Jacobi. “He found me when I was wet behind the gills and kept me in a job for the next eight years!”

Best Performance in a Supporting Role went to Patrick Stewart for his role as Claudius in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet. The actor, who was rather emotional at winning the award, remarked, “This isn’t even the icing on the cake — it’s the icing and the marzipan and the cake underneath!”

Yazmina Reza’s God of Carnage was named Best New Comedy; Gregory Burke’s Black Watch was named Best New Play, with director John Tiffany also taking home an award; and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Histories won for both Best Revival and Best Company Performance.

On the musical front, Jersey Boys was named Best New Musical; La Cage Aux Folles won for Best Revival and star Douglas Hodge was named Best Actor, and Elena Roger picked up the Best Actress In for her role in Piaf, having been previously nominated for her role in Evita, “I’m so excited and very happy,” she said. “I’ve been here for three years now and I’ve been nominated twice and now I got this!” In addition, Lesli Margherita won the award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for Zorro.

For a complete list of nominees winners, visit www.whatsonstage.com.