Olivier Awards Statement from Royal Court Artistic Director

Last night the Royal Court Theatre won five awards at the Laurence Olivier Awards. Royal Court Artistic Director Dominic Cooke said:

Whilst I’m thrilled that the Royal Court has received these accolades, there are really two heroes in this story. Firstly, the writers – without whom Mark Rylance could not have enthralled us with his vivid realisation of Johnny Rooster Byron, and Rupert Goold could not have made the collapse of America’s most successful corporation so compellingly theatrical. The second hero is the British taxpayer, whose continued investment in the arts has helped create the most vibrant and engaged theatrical culture in the world. Plays like Jerusalem and ENRON would never have come about were it not for this long term investment, which allows artists the time and space to develop their skills and the freedom to take risks. Long live visionary playwrights and long live public investment in the arts!

The awards were:

Best Actor Mark Rylance, Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth
Best Director Rupert Goold, ENRON by Lucy Prebble
Best Set Design Ultz, Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Cock by Mike Bartlett
Best New Comedy The Priory by Michael Wynne