OLIVIERS 2014: Preview - Best New Play

The best new play category is as varied as ever!

The first nomination is a famous tale with a futuristic twist; '1984' at the Almeida Theatre. This George Orwell classic was reinvented by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan. This sell out show was full of visual effects, but will that be enough to win an Olivier Award?

Also having been at the Almeida Theatre was Lucy Kirkwood's new drama 'Chimerica', a complex play about politics, mystery and the story of a photojournalist obsessed with an iconic picture from the Tiananmen Square protests. It received a great response in London, moving onto the Harold Pinter Theatre after its premiere run.

'Peter and Alice' at the Noel Coward theatre, written by Tony Award winner John Logan; starring Judi Dench and Ben Whishaw as part of the Michael Grandage season. This fairytale-like play imagines the meeting of the inspirations for the literary successes Alice In Wonderland and Peter Pan: a real heart-wrenching tale that appealed to the childlike characteristics that every grown-up still has.

The final nomination is 'The Night Alive' at the Donmar Warehouse; set in one grubby Dublin flat which is haunted by the past. Having previously won an Olivier Award for 'The Weir' will Conor McPherson take it again this year?

Keep up-to-date on Oliviers night (Sunday 13th April) with BWW:UK's live coverage!