Olivier Awards 2023: Paul Mescal and Jodie Comer triumph at the biggest night in UK theatre

Paul Mescal and Jodie Comer both won their first Olivier Award at the star-studded ceremony at London’a Royal Albert Hall on Sunday. 

While the Killing Eve star’s one-woman show Prima Facie was awarded Best New Play, A Streetcar Named Desire in which Paul starred triumphed in the Best Revival category.

The Irish actor, 27, won for his powerful perfomance as Stanley Kowalski following a sell-out run at the Almeida Theatre. 

In his his speech Paul thanked his beloved mother Dearbhla, who is receiving treatment for cancer, before adding: ‘I hope you get better.’

Addressing the diagnosis herself on social media, his mum previously told her followers that she was starting to ‘live with cancer’, having been diagnosed with multiple myeloma which is a type of bone marrow cancer in July 2022. 

Meanwhile Killing Eve star Jodie, 30, triumphed and was awarded Best Actress for her role in one woman play Prima Facie – which also bagged Best New Play.

During her speech she told the star-studded audience: ‘I’m so overwhelmed. This play has changed my life. I am so grateful and I have so many people to thank’.

‘To Suzie Miller for writing the most exquisite play I have ever had the pleasure of reading’.

‘One thing I would like to say to any kids who haven’t been to drama school, who can’t afford to go to drama school, who has been rejected from drama school, don’t let anyone tell you that it isn’t possible.

‘It might take the stars to align and you to be met with generous, kind, patient people but it is possible.

‘Mum, Dad, I love you, and my Grandad is 82 today so happy birthday.’

The play which follows the story of a brilliant barrister who has progressed from her working class origins to the top of the profession before an unexpected event change her life.

After receiving critical acclaim for her performance at the Harold Pinter Theatre Jodie  will be taking the play to Broadway later this month.

Ahead of the ceremony she told the PA news agency: ‘It’s incredible. I could never have dreamed of the response and reaction (to the play), it really does feel as though the audience has become so much a part of this as we are.

‘It’s so incredibly heart-warming to be in the theatre every night and feel the presence of everyone and the energy kind of shared so I’m so excited, I feel very lucky that I’m able to revisit it.’ 

When asked if she loved theatre as much as TV and film, Comer told PA: ‘Yes, I’ve definitely got the bug now for sure’.

Next Paul’s Streetcar co-star Anjana Vasan was awarded with The Best Supporting Actress gong for her impressive perfomance as Stella Kowalski. 

While Best Support Actor was presented to Will Keen for Patriots a compelling study of Russian dissidence by The Crown’s Peter Morgan. 

Former Doctor Who actor Arthur Darvill scored Best Actor in A Musical for Oklahoma! alongside Katie Brayben as Best Actress for her role as televangelist Tammy Faye in the self titled show.

The musical was written score was written by Elton John and former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears. 

Daily Mail’s Patrick Marmion wrote about the production: ‘After nearly three hours spent bearing witness to the Elton John musical about American TV evangelist and gay icon Tammy Faye Messner, I said a little prayer’.

‘I prayed that next time I see a musical about Tammy Faye where I might actually learn something about the woman behind the big hair and extra thick mascara.

‘Sadly, the Almeida’s new show is at best an ecstatic but otherwise unholy fusion of TV’s Strictly and Songs Of Praise’.

While Beverly Knight found favour in the Best Supporting Actress In A Musical category for her role as Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia.

Emmeline became the leader of the women’s suffrage movement in Britain, with her actions widely praised for helping women receive the right to vote in 1918.

Speaking about the play on the One Show, Beverley divulged: ‘Most of the show is sung. It’s at the Old Vic so people who go and see shows at the Old Vic would ­expect something a little more ­traditional.

‘This is anything but. I’m not rapping but I am speaking rhythmically as well as ­singing the way that people know me to sing.’

Best Director was awarded to Phelim McDermott for his adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s 1988 animated film My Neighbour Totoro. 

The show was also went on to snag the much sought after Best Entertainment or Comedy named after famed actor and writer Noel Coward.

The best Revival of A Musical went to Oklahoma which is a dark and saucy retelling of the 1943 Rodgers & Hammerstein classic.

MailOnline’s Robert Gore Langton declaring the ‘trail-blazing reboot is a must’. 

Writing: ‘To my mind, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical has always suffered from a teeth-itching wholesomeness’. 

‘This, however, laces the charm with acid. It’s radicalised, sullen as a teenager and pretty right-on. In fact, it’s almost Woke-lahoma!

Yet Daniel Fish’s production, imported from off-Broadway and here co-directed by Jordan Fein, really works’.

Meanwhile, former Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Arlene Phillips said it is ‘incredible’ to receive this year’s Special Award honouring her illustrious stage career.

The 79-year-old told PA: ‘I know, ultimately, it means yes I’m getting old and I’ve done a lot of musicals but actually to come all together for a lifetime award is so so special.

‘I never thought one of the things I would ever hold is an Olivier award, it’s just amazing.

‘My satisfaction is not about getting an award, it’s just knowing the shows I do have the power to make people smile.

‘That has been my treasure, my pleasure. But actually being awarded an Olivier because of the collectively of all those shows means everything.’

Dame Arlene, whose choreography will be seen in the new immersive version of Guys And Dolls, said the theatre is ‘more important than ever’.

She added: ‘To see people come in with whatever worries they’re carrying – having just done Guys And Dolls, it’s another show where people are literally shouting with joy at the end, you know they’re going to take that with them and talk about it and come back if they can.’