Best Lighting Design nominations are for PLASA member Simon Corder for his design for Hitchcock Blonde at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and the Lyric; Hugh Vanstone for Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse, and Howard Harrison for Ragtime at the Piccadilly.
For the first time in its 28-year history, the Olivier Awards panel has added a Best Sound Design category to its list of honours, with nominations going to Mike Walker for Jerry Springer - The Opera at the Lyttelton and Cambridge theatres; Nick Lidster for Pacific Overtures; Peter Hylenski for Ragtime and Paul Arditti for The Pillowman at the Cottesloe.
Out of the four Best Sound Design nominations, both Pacific Overtures and Ragtime have sound designs from Autograph Sound Recording (in the last 20 years, the company has designed or supplied 28 of the productions that have won in the Best Musical or Best Play categories). Ragtime's American sound designer, Peter Hylenski, was working for Autograph on this occasion, in conjunction with Autograph's chairman and flagship designer Andrew Bruce who had been asked by the producers to be a consultant on the project. "Peter did a beautiful job on the show," said Bruce. "It was great to be of help and to hear him bring the show's full and vibrant score to life." To complete the strongAutograph team, Hylenski was assisted by Chris Full who took the role of associate designer.
Autograph's Nick Lidster designed sound for Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures. Lidster overcame the problems of amplification in a small venue by using the Swedish LLW LDS700 ribbon loudspeakers, his discreet use of them perfectly suited the subtle requirements of the production and the intimate nature of the Donmar.
Autograph's managing director Terry Jardine is delighted by the addition of the sound design category to the Laurence Olivier Awards, commenting: "We, that is all sound designers, have had to wait a long time for this recognition from a high profile awards body. Sound designers have been making a significant difference to live theatre productions for many years now and it is high time that this vital contribution is recognized and rewarded."
Set Design nominations go to the legendary Franco Zeffirelli for Absolutely! (Perhaps) at Wyndham's Theatre; William Dudley for Hitchcock Blonde and Bob Crowley for Mourning Becomes Electra at the Lyttelton. The awards are being held at London's Hilton Hotel, Park Lane on 22 February.
(Lee Baldock)
