Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Play

The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Play was introduced in 1991 and later withdrawn in 1995.

Award winners

Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director

1976–2000	Jonathan Miller (1976) · Clifford Williams (1977) · Terry Hands (1978) · Michael Bogdanov (1979) · Trevor Nunn / John Caird (1980) · Peter Wood (1981) · Richard Eyre (1982) · Terry Hands (1983) · Christopher Morahan (1984) · Bill Bryden (1985) · Bill Alexander (1986) · Declan Donnellan (1987) · Deborah Warner (1988) · Michael Bogdanov (1989) · Michael Bogdanov (1990) · Richard Jones (m)/David Thacker (p) (1991) · Simon Callow (m)/Deborah Warner (p) (1992) · Nicholas Hytner (m)/Stephen Daldry (p) (1993) · Declan Donnellan (m)/Stephen Daldry (p) (1994) · Scott Ellis (m)/Declan Donnellan (p) (1995) · Trevor Nunn (1995) · Sam Mendes (1996) · Des McAnuff (1997) · Richard Eyre (1998) · Howard Davies (1999) · Trevor Nunn (2000)

2001–present	Howard Davies (2001) · Michael Boyd (2002) · Sam Mendes (2003) · Michael Grandage (2004) · Nicholas Hytner (2005) · Richard Eyre (2006) · Dominic Cooke (2007) · Rupert Goold (2008) · John Tiffany (2009) · Rupert Goold (2010) · Howard Davies (2011)

Complete list · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Separate awards for play and musical between 1991 and 1995 depicted by (p) and (m)

Laurence Olivier Awards

Drama	Best New Play Best Revival Best New Comedy Best Actor Best Actress Best Performance in a Supporting Role Best Newcomer in a Play

Musical	Best New Musical Best Musical Revival Best Actor in a Musical Best Actress in a Musical Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Production/Creatives	Best Director Best Theatre Choreographer Best Costume Design Best Set Design Best Lighting Design Best Sound Design

Dance/Opera	Best New Dance Production Outstanding Achievement in Dance Best New Opera Production Outstanding Achievement in Opera

Special/Other	Society of London Theatre Special Award Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Best Entertainment Audience Award for Most Popular Show

Retired	Actor of the Year in a New Play Actor of the Year in a Revival Actress of the Year in a New Play Actress of the Year in a Revival Best Actor in a Supporting Role Best Actress in a Supporting Role Director of a Play Director of a Musical Best Set Designer Outstanding Achievement in a Musical

Ceremonies	1976 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989/90 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011