Former EastEnder Anita Dobson will have some formidable challengers for the best actress gong, it was revealed this week with the announcement of the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award nominations. The ex-Queen Vic landlady will be up against Hollywood's Gwyneth Paltrow and fellow Brit Emily Watson at next month's ceremony.
Gwyneth's performance in Proof made the play one of London's most popular productions of 2002, while Emily Watson was nominated for her part in Uncle Vanya. Anita, meanwhile, won great critical acclaim for her work in the stage work Frozen.
The Donmar Warehouse, which was behind both Proof and Uncle Vanya, picked up nine nominations in total. And the company's outgoing artistic director Sam Mendes is expected to take best director for his interpretation of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
Also facing off on the night will be Eighties pop stars Boy George and Madness. The Culture Club singer has been nominated for his musical Taboo while the ska legends made the cut with their production Our House. Needless to say, they will also be facing some stiff competition as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bombay Dreams are also in the running.
"It has been a strong year for London theatre," said Sir Stephen Waley of the London Theatre Society, which is responsible for the awards. "It is fantastic to see such a diverse range in this year's nominations, from new musicals by Eighties icons Boy George and Madness, to classic productions of Shakespeare and Chekov."
The Laurence Olivier Awards will be presented at London's Lyceum Theatre on February 14.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
