OLIVIERS 2015: Liveblog!

This is the 2015 Olivier Awards BWW:UK liveblog! It'll be updated with quotes, comments, tweets throughout the night - have your say by tweeting us @BroadwayWorldUK!

The full list of nominees and winners - catch up here!

12 midnight: Right. That's it for another year. Check back in the morning for more pictures and more reaction from our brilliant reviewers. Thanks for your company this evening!

11.58pm: What a truly odd broadcast that was, with its selective highlights and the Spacey one-man show at the end - once again there'll be lengthy debates about the quality of broadcast coverage of our national theatrical awards. But the focus should really be on the winners and nominees - congratulations to all!

11.54pm: Even the crackling sound cannot detract from how absolutely and literally unbelievable this is.

11.53pm: Beverley Knight joins him and HE STARTS PLAYING THE HARMONICA. NO, REALLY, HE DOES.

When is Nick Hytner doing Delilah?

- Paul Foster (@MrPaulFoster) April 12, 2015

11.51pm: It is both weird and amazing.

11.49pm: Spacey tells everyone to be nice to his successor Matthew Warchus, and then he goes into his song.

11.45pm: Dame Judi Dench does the valedictory speech, including some bizarre in-jokes such as ping-pong tables on heads during thunderstorms and dressing as a lobster in Trafalgar Square.

11.41pm: Final 20 minutes of a 1hr 45 minute-long show, and it's handed over to Kevin Spacey and his special achievement award plus his singalong.

11.35pm: All the casts of the shows are up in the upper echelons of the house, and the cameras can't even pick them out because they're all on the floor.

Like how they keep zooming in on the winning casts who have been carefully placed in the lighting rig #Oliviers

- Chris Adams (@ChrisA) April 12, 2015

11.32pm: Lenny Henry laughs at Brian May's hair for a bit before introducing Dame Angela Lansbury to the stage to present the award for Best New Musical.

STAND FOR DAME ANGELA, YOU SWINES. #Oliviers

- Miss L (@ProResting) April 12, 2015

11.30pm: Gemma Arterton and Beverley Knight both look really happy for Katie Brayben, who seems to knock an earring off in her confusion after her name is read out. "Can't believe it! Thanks very much!" she summarises.

11.25pm: Julian Ovenden sings as the in memoriam montage plays. Presumably to attempt to stop people from clapping the rollcall of the departed.

11.22pm: John Dagleish looks absolutely stunned to win Best Actor in a Musical, and is lost for words on stage. He thanks his castmates, who are isolated up in the gods but leaning over the balcony to yell, "We love you, John!"

11.16pm: Ah, the ovation for Lansbury is beautiful! Standing in every part of the hall as they cheer her win and her career.

11.07pm: Audience Award time - Wicked fans everywhere, this is what you've been waiting for all evening! Emma Hatton, all greened up, does the acceptance speech, and then sings 'The Wizard and I'.

10.57pm: Performance from Miss Saigon. What no helicopter?

@carriesparkle This is like that time I saw Fame and there was no taxi. #wheresthehelicopter

- Natalie O'Donoghue (@Nataliealana87) April 12, 2015

10.55pm: Penelope Wilton's first thing to do when she accepts the Best Actress gong? To ask presenter David Harewood for a kiss. "It was lovely," she concludes.

10.48pm: Whoops from the audience as Memphis's performance is introduced. The sound on these musical numbers is a bit peculiar - even the powerhouse that is Beverley Knight sounds slightly muted.

10.42pm: Obviously Mark Strong is a great actor, but he genuinely seemed gobsmacked to be named as Best Actor. Also, presenter Emilia Fox's dress is beautiful.

10.37pm: Performance from the Sunny Afternoon cast. Awkward segues through the medley, but let's face it, these songs, like Carole King's earlier, are fabulous regardless. Although they do encourage the audience to clap along, which is one of my theatrical pet hates. I loathe enforced jollity.

So so happy for @playgoeswrong #Oliviers

- Claudia Winkleman (@ClaudiaWinkle) April 12, 2015

10.34pm: Lenny Henry made a joke about I Can't Sing! - that seems a bit harsh.

10.29pm: Well, that was...fine apart from the bit where she was half a bar quicker than the orchestra. There was a weird bit where she was basically being a cat in a sparkly evening gown, but otherwise serviceable.

@BroadwayWorldUK I'd much rather she did this dressed as a cat.

- Natalie O'Donoghue (@Nataliealana87) April 12, 2015

10.25pm: Lenny invites us to "go crazy" for La Scherzinger. I am thusly warned and prepared.

10.24pm: Meanwhile, I really love the picture as Katie Brayben spots her colleague Lorna Want in the winners' room.

10.22pm: He keeps saying "PRESenters" rather than "preSENTers".

10.20pm: Lenny Henry makes his entry through the audience in silence. He shills the ceremony sponsor a bit.

10.19pm: Seeing actors' wig lines so very clearly on television is a bit disturbing.

10.16pm: Right, are you all tuned in? The programme is starting with Katie Brayben (who, as we now know is the Best Actress in a Musical) performing a selection of songs from Beautiful.

Inordinately proud of our #CityofAngels #Oliviers2015 tonight. Outstanding cast and a creative dream team. We've been through De Mille.

- Peter Polycarpou (@polywallydoodle) April 12, 2015

10.05pm: Some more pictures for you to enjoy - Lorna Want and the Sunny Afternoon boys among other winners!

@george_maguire YES! So thrilled for you!

- David Hunter (@thedavidhunter) April 12, 2015

Huge congratulations to @Johndagleish and @george_maguire for winning Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at @OlivierAwards

- Hampstead Theatre (@Hamps_Theatre) April 12, 2015

Yes @Lornawant YES!

- Dianne pilkington (@dipelletier) April 12, 2015

I am soooooooooooooooo proud of my gabs @Lornawant xxxxxx

- Ashley Day (@Ashleyday_86) April 12, 2015

9.38pm: OK. That's the end of the ceremony. But don't go to bed! Just make yourself a cup of tea or something, and be back here for 10.15pm - we'll be watching the ITV highlights and I'll be liveblogging. You know you want to join me then.

9.32pm: They have to show this on the telly, right?

Kevin: Because I'm a little crazy, I'm going to do a song, that to me, has everything to do with the Old Vic #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

That's right, for our finale, @KevinSpacey is performing A Bridge Over Troubled Water! WOW. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

And that's not all - he's just been joined onstage by @Beverleyknight! Amazing. #Oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

And Kevin's playing his harmonica. This is too much for me. If the tweets stop, I've fainted. #Oliviers

- OfficialLondonTheatr (@O_L_T) April 12, 2015

9.29pm: If you're just catching up, take a quick look over our full list of nominees and winners - I'll be here for HOURS yet because we head straight from the ceremony to the ITV highlights programme, which is always a treat. And as you probably know, we'll have more pictures from the red carpet, the winners' room, and the aftermath - as well as features and instant reactions from our team of fabulous reviewers.

Dame Judi Dench will be presenting him with his Special Award. He presented her with her #oliviers Special Award in 2004!

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

9.23pm: Final award of the evening goes to Kevin Spacey, the outgoing artistic director of the Old Vic.

Spacey concludes his tenure as @oldvictheatre Artistic Director in Autumn. He won the Best Actor Olivier in 1999, for The Iceman Cometh.

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

9.22pm: So great nights for the Young Vic and for Sunny Afternoon - Memphis will probably be disappointed in their showing, as will Miss Saigon, and Beautiful may have a sneaking regret on missing out on Best New Musical, but Katie Brayben's award will probably make up for that.

9.18pm: Now, the Olivier-winning Dame Angela Lansbury presents Best New Musical to...Sunny Afternoon! Fabulous evening for them. Joe Penhall collects the award.

9.15pm: Best Actress in a Musical to be presented by the combo of Brian May and Anita Dobson - to Katie Brayben for Beautiful! I think that was probably expected. Bit sad for Made in Dagenham, though, and for Gemma Arterton, who I thought was wonderful.

9.11pm: Best Actor in a Musical to be presented by Kimberley Walsh - and John Dagleish wins for Sunny Afternoon! Now, that's a bit leftfield - one suspects that most people were expecting that to be a nailed-on Jon Jon Briones win, with Killian Donnelly second favourite.

The In Memorium VT now plays. A time to remember those who are sadly no longer with us. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

9.06pm: Incidentally, seeing as Best Supporting Actor Nathaniel Parker is missing out on the Covent Garden fun due to, you know, being on Broadway, I had to share this tweet. Adorable.

9.04pm: Best Musical Revival - City of Angels! BOOK THAT TRANSFER NOW PLEASE.Claire Sweeney presented that award. Her dress appears to have a scorpion attached to the front.

9pm: And Lorna Want wins for her performance in Beautiful! That was a tough, big-name category as well - up against Samantha Bond, Haydn Gwynne and La Scherzinger.

8.58pm: George Maguire wins for his performance in Sunny Afternoon! Here's our interview with him from when the show transferred into the West End.

8.57pm: Jamie Campbell Bower and Dianna Agron are presenting the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Musical.

The amazing performances keep coming; up next is the cast of Porgy & Bess with It Ain't Necessarily So #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

8.51pm: Ray Davies wins! No disrespect to Sunny Afternoon, but this feels a little like a lifetime achievement/recognition award, almost.

8.48pm: Outstanding Achievement in Music to be presented by Lorna Luft! Not sure she could bowl or rock'n'roll in this dress though.

8.45pm: Ivo van Hove wins Best Director for A View From The Bridge. The Young Vic are having an absolutely marvellous night.

8.41pm: Best Director is up next - after a performance from the cast of City of Angels. That was a fantastic show. Shame there seems to be no word of a transfer - maybe it's dependent on its success tonight...?

8.38pm: Best Choreography is presented by Pixie Lott, who is now officially a Dance Expert thanks to her run on Strictly Come Dancing - and it goes to Sergio Trujillo for Memphis!

8.36pm: Best Entertainment/Family goes to La Soiree! Terrific show - slightly odd category. You probably wouldn't take your kids to see La Soiree, would you?

Best New Musical #oliviers nominee Here Lies Love is now taking to the stage, with a performance from David Byrne & Natalie Mendoza

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

8.29pm: And Outstanding Achievement In Dance Award winner is Crystal Pite.

8.26pm: Dance awards! To be presented now by Adam Garcia and Lauren Cuthbertson. Best new dance production is a split decision - 32 Rue Vandenbranden at Barbican and Mats Ek's Juliet And Romeo share the award. There were only three nominees in that category - you'd have to be a bit gutted if you were involved with the non-winner, Tabac Rouge by Compagnie Du Hanneton/James Thiérrée at Sadler's Wells.

Congratulations to @WickedUK. Thank you to absolutely everyone who voted for us, your support has been unbelievable. #WhoLovesYou #Oliviers

- Jersey Boys (@JerseyBoysUK) April 12, 2015

Congratulations to @WickedUK on winning the @itvthismorning #Oliviers Audience Award from all at Matilda. Thanks all who voted Matilda!

- Matilda The Musical (@MatildaMusical) April 12, 2015

8.20pm: Back to the show. Audience Award is first up! Always passionately fought...and Wicked triumph. That'll be a popular one.

8.15pm: Want some more pictures? Some snaps from the winners' room.

Fingers and toes crossed for @WickedUK tonight. Hope we win!! #OlivierAwards ??

- Savannah Stevenson (@SavannahSt) April 12, 2015

8pm: Let's look at some more pictures while we wait for all the beautiful people to finish quaffing their complimentary champagne. Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical nominee, anyone?

7.56pm: Right, so we're an hour and a half in - basically halfway - and now it's time for the interval. Miss Saigon are singing the ceremony guests out into the break - you can get the kettle on now.

7.53pm: Best Actress is Penelope Wilton, for Taken at Midnight. Suspect the internet will now explode as Gillian Anderson's fans take to Twitter.

Up next is the Best Actress award, which will be presented by Chiwetel Ejiofor. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

Mark: I really wasn't expecting this. I'm in such a strong category with such incredible actors. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

Mark Strong looks genuinely bemused at having won. Took a moment in his seat #Oliviers

- OfficialLondonTheatr (@O_L_T) April 12, 2015

7.49pm: We're approaching the interval - time for Best Actor - which goes to Mark Strong for his performance in A View From The Bridge!

A stunning performance now from Akram Khan, in honour of Sylvie Guillem's award. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

7.35pm: First special award of the night goes to dancer Sylvie Guillem - we already knew she'd be honoured tonight.

King Charles III wins Best New Play, with playwright Mike Bartlett accepting the award - his second of the night after Bull. #OlivierAwards

- The Stage (@TheStage) April 12, 2015

7.33pm: Ooh, and the winner is King Charles III! Didn't expect that.

Our next award is the @VirginAtlantic Best New Play and here to present is @DavidHarewood! #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

7.31pm: And Outstanding Achievement in Opera goes to Richard Jones for direction of The Girl Of The Golden West, Mastersingers Of Nuremberg & Rodelinda.

7.28pm: Winner is The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg at the London Coliseum! (Wasn't that the third-placed group in the Salzburg Festival?)

Our Best New Opera Production & Outstanding Achievement In Opera awards are up next, presented by Christine Rice. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

7.24pm: Best Musical nominee Memphis is the next performance on stage.

Someone should put 'Blithe Spirit' on TV so Dame Angela Lansbury can finally add an (overdue) Emmy to her list of gongs. #Oliviers

- Kevin Daly (@kevinddaly) April 12, 2015

Angela: This is so incredible. I simply can't believe it. I am infinitely grateful to have this baby in my hands. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

7.20pm: Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Dame Angela Lansbury for Blithe Spirit. It couldn't be anyone else, really.

7.18pm: Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Nathaniel Parker for Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies.

The Best Actor & Best Actress In Supporting Role awards will be presented by @MarkGatiss & Amanda Abbington. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

7.13pm: Best Actor in a Supporting Role is about to be presented - first acting award of the evening.

@xlvideo Award for Best Set Design goes to Es Devlin for The Nether! Winner of the award for the second year running! Congrats! #Oliviers

- BritishTheatre.com (@British_Theatre) April 12, 2015

7.07pm: And set design goes to Es Devlin for The Nether.

7.05pm: Costume design goes to Christopher Oram for Wolf Hall & Bring Up The Bodies! Kind of think the ladies of the cast should get some kind of prize for wearing the costumes - Lydia Leonard, who plays Anne Boleyn, estimated that some of the elaborate gowns weighed as much as two stone...

Next up is @zandra_rhodes & @therealgokwan presenting Best Costume & Best Set awards. #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

7.02pm: Speaking of classic bands...

The cast of Sunny Afternoon are now on stage, treating us all to a Kinks medley! #oliviers

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

6.57pm: Gareth Owen takes the award for sound design thanks to his work on Memphis.

Jemima Rooper and James Norton will present the next two awards #Oliviers

- OfficialLondonTheatr (@O_L_T) April 12, 2015

6.54pm: Lighting Design won by Howard Harrison for his work on City Of Angels.

6:52pm: Great snaps from the red carpet!

6.50pm: Next performance - nominee Nicole Scherzinger!

6.47pm: Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre: Bull at The Maria, Young Vic.

6.45pm: More snaps from Jamie Scott-Smith from the evening's red carpet - full gallery to follow tonight!

6:43pm: Best Comedy to be presented by Michael Urie - and won by The Play That Goes Wrong.

Not to laugh at cross-cultural differences, but this tweet, explaining to an American audience who the Oliviers host is, really made me giggle:

.@OlivierAwards host @LennyHenry won a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for his performance in Fences last yea& is also a comedian. #Oliviers????

- Broadway Girl NYC (@BroadwayGirlNYC) April 12, 2015

6.40pm: First winner - A View From The Bridge wins Best Revival.

That was sensational. We are now delighted to welcome the #oliviers host, @LennyHenry!

- Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) April 12, 2015

Best Actress in a Musical nominee Katie Brayben is giving the show a big start with her performance. Already feeling the tingles #Oliviers

- OfficialLondonTheatr (@O_L_T) April 12, 2015

ANGELA FRICKIN' LANSBURY is sat behind us! Would she come here to not win? #OlivierAwards

- Time Out Theatre (@TimeOutTheatre) April 12, 2015

6.30pm: The red carpet is officially closed - and the ceremony, to be hosted by Lenny Henry, is about to begin. The first performance of the ceremony comes courtesy of Beautiful.

Talented ladies @NicoleScherzy, Gemma Arterton and Gillian Anderson have stopped traffic on the #Oliviers red carpet tonight!

- The Corner Shop (@tcspr) April 12, 2015

We're wishing #TheCrucible company, @RCArmitage and Kristin Scott Thomas all the best of luck for the #Oliviers tonight!

- The Old Vic Theatre (@oldvictheatre) April 12, 2015

Very best of luck to all the nominees at tonight's #Oliviers! #FF @OlivierAwards to keep up with all the action.

- Equity (@EquityUK) April 12, 2015

My Olivier Award predictions: Best revival: A View From The Bridge Best musical revival: Miss Saigon #dear #Oliviers

- westendproducer (@westendproducer) April 12, 2015

5.30pm: Our photographer Jamie Scott-Smith is on the red carpet tonight - he'll be sending us through shots of the glamorous, the great and the good!

And the attendees are also starting to tweet their red carpet selfies...

5pm: Good afternoon, all - I'm BWW:UK editor-in-chief Carrie Dunn, and I'll be your host this evening as we have a party in the Piazza (compered by Michael Xavier and Alison Hammond), head inside to the Oliviers ceremony itself at around 6.30pm BST, and then enjoy the highlights on ITV this evening at 10.15pm BST. It's a long shift, so get yourself comfortable now.

And no, the event isn't being screened or streamed (unless you can see the big screen in Covent Garden), so whether you're in the UK, US or anywhere else in the world, you won't be able to see the ceremony live...

The fun in Covent Garden has already begun, with live performances this afternoon - and the weather is decent so lots of folk are enjoying the freebies. Here's a taste of what's been going on...