Veteran actress Angela Lansbury made her debut on stage at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane as she paid tribute to American composer Stephen Sondheim.
The 85-year-old, who was born and bred in London but has spent most of her career in the US, returned to the capital for this year’s Olivier Awards which were held in the Covent Garden venue.
She joined theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh on stage to present the Society of London Theatre’s Special Award to Mr Sondheim. The British-born actress said she presented the award with “great, great pride and deep affection”.
Mr Sondheim, whose hits include West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and A Little Night Music, received a standing ovation. He spoke about the influence of British theatre on his career and paid tribute to Sir Cameron, saying he was a man “whose friendship I treasure, who is the best producer I’ve ever worked with and one of the best people”. Ms Lansbury then performed one of his songs, Liaisons, from A Little Night Music. A revival of Terence Rattigan’s After the Dance picked up the first prize of the night.
Presenting the award for best revival, Sir Patrick Stewart admitted revivals had been something of “a dirty word” in the past but said the nominated plays represented the “extraordinary diversity of London theatre”.
After the Dance, which played at the National Theatre on London’s SouthBank, beat three other nominees including King Lear and Arthur Miller’s All My Sons.
It also picked up awards for Nancy Carroll for best actress, Adrian Scarborough for best actor in a supporting role and best costume design.
Sunday night’s other big success was Legally Blonde – The Musical.
Former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny won the best performance in a supporting role in a musical for her part in it and the star of the show, Sheridan Smith, won the award for best actress in a musical.
The tearful actress thanked “everyone who let a chav play an American rich girl”. She said the show was “pink and fluffy” and offered two-and-a-half hours of escapism to its audience. Ms Smith said she never thought her career, which started when she moved to London aged 16 to star in Bugsy Malone, would go this far.
The star also revealed she was in discussions about appearing in a musical version of the best-selling book and hit film Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Legally Blonde also won the best musical award which was presented by Barry Manilow.
Roger Allam carried off the best actor award for his performance as Falstaff in Henry IV Parts one and two at Shakespeare’s Globe.
The Audience Award, voted for by Radio 2 listeners, went to the Queen musical We Will Rock You.
The winner of the best entertainment award was a version of The Railway Children produced at London’s Waterloo Station.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden also appeared and presented David Thaxton with the award for best actor in a musical for his part in Passion.
Full list of winners
Society of London Theatre Special Award: Stephen Sondheim
Best actress: Nancy Carroll for After the Dance
Best actor: Roger Allam for Henry IV Parts One and Two at Shakespeare’s Globe
Best actress in a supporting role: Michelle Terry for Tribes at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Best actor in a supporting role: Adrian Scarborough for After the Dance
Best new play: Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Best musical revival: Into The Woods at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Best new musical: Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre
Best entertainment: The Railway Children at the Waterloo Station Theatre
Best actress in a musical: Sheridan Smith for Legally Blonde
Best actor in a musical: David Thaxton for Passion
Best performance in a supporting role in a musical: Jill Halfpenny for Legally Blonde
Best director: Howard Davies for The White Guard
Best revival: After the Dance
Best theatre choreographer: Leon Baugh for Sucker Punch at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Best lighting design: The White Guard designed by Neil Austin
Best set design: The White Guard designed by Bunny Christie
Best costume design: After the Dance designed by Hildegard Bechtler
Best sound design: King Lear designed by Adam Cork
BBC2 Audience Award for most popular show: We Will Rock You
Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre: Lyric Hammersmith for Blasted
Best new opera rroduction: Opera Up Close and Soho Theatre’s La Bohème
Outstanding achievement in opera: Christian Gerhaher for his performance in theRoyal Opera’s Tannhauser
Best new dance production: Babel (words)
Outstanding achievement in dance: Antony Gormley for set design in Babel (words).