London theatres’ OLIViER AWARDS  (the British equivalent of the Tony’s) were handed out last night into well deserving hands that had the LGBT community dancing for joy.

Matthew Lopez’s acclaimed stage epic The Inheritance that has been universally recognised as one of the most important gay dramas of a generation won ‘Best New Play’, ‘Best Lighting Design’ and ‘Best Director’ for Stephen Daldry.  Kyle Soller  swept up the Best Actor Award  for his portrayal of Eric Glass, the comfortable mid-thirties professional who begins to question his life and beliefs after the breakdown of his relationship and election of the United States’ 45th President.

In his impassioned acceptance speech Soller, paid tribute to the gay men who lost their lives during the height of the Aids crisis and those who continue to risk death in countries such as Brunei as he collected his award.

The new gender-swap version on Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical COMPANY also picked up 4 Tony Awards including Best Supporting Actor for JONATHAN BAILEY who in his delightful and charming acceptance speech highlighted the importance of LGBT representation in the arts .

 

 

Despite saying that she would never star in a musical again (!) the iconic gay diva Patti Lupone won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Company.. Miss Lupone who has already announced that she will be in the next series of Pose, said that she is supposed to go into rehearsals for the all-female revival of David Mamet’s GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS beginning in August. If this happens it would be her fourth collaboration with Mamet on Broadway, It may also affect the possibility of this production being transferred to Broadway too.  It’s a real wait and see moment.