Nine Olivier Award Nominations for Royal Court Theatre

The shortlist for the 2011 Olivier Awards has been announced today with the Royal Court nominated for nine awards, including three for Best New Play.

Bruce Norris’ Clybourne Park, which opens in the West End this week is up for four awards: Best New Play; Best Director for Royal Court Artistic Director Dominic Cooke; Best Actress for Sophie Thompson and Best Supporting Actress for Sarah Goldberg.

Roy Williams’ Sucker Punch, about being young and Black in 1980s London in which the entire Jerwood Theatre Downstairs was transformed into a 1980s boxing ring, complete with ringside seating is also up for Best New Play and Leon Baugh who choreographed the show is nominated in the Best Theatre Choreographer category.

Nina Raine’s Tribes about Billy, a young deaf man, growing up in his fiercely intelligent and unconventional family is also nominated for Best New Play and Michelle Terry who played Billy’s girlfriend Sylvia is also up for Best Supporting Actress.

DC Moore’s The Empire, a co-production with the Drum Theatre Plymouth, which played in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs last summer is nominated for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre.

The awards will be announced on Sunday 13 March in a ceremony at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane