Paddington and Into the Woods lead Olivier nominations with 11 each

Paddington: The Musical and Into the Woods top this year’s Olivier nominations, each collecting 11 spots. Paddington, which opened at the Savoy, is up for best new musical and picks up nods for Luke Sheppard as best director and Ellen Kane for best theatre choreographer, while the pair who bring the bear to life — James Hameed providing the voice and remote puppetry and Arti Shah in the costume — are nominated for best actor in a musical.

Supporting nominations include Tom Edden, Amy Booth-Steel and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, with design recognition for Gabriella Slade (costumes), Tahra Zafar (puppet designs), Tom Pye (set), Ash J Woodward (video), Gareth Owen (sound) and Matt Brind (orchestrations and arrangements).

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods is similarly prominent, vying for best musical revival and a best director nomination for Jordan Fein.

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