The Olivier Awards winners born in Salford and Manchester

If you saw the Olivier Awards screened on ITV on Sunday night, you may have found it inspiring to think about the effect that theatre can have on an audience and the immense talent and hard work that goes into getting a show on stage.

The pandemic might seem like a long time ago now, but think back to what life was like when our live venues were closed.

You may have also watched thinking it’s all about London and not the regions. But think again, as two of the night’s big winners started out right here in Greater Manchester.

Operation Mincemeat

The hit musical Operation Mincemeat won Best New Musical at the Oliviers and was nominated in six categories overall. I was lucky enough to see the show earlier this month in the West End.

I sat there giggling at the great gags, moved by the poignant moments and thrilled by the incredibly athletic performances. I felt a real sense of pride. Why?

Because Operation Mincemeat started life at The Lowry as a scratch performance. In other words, it was a work in progress and it needed audience feedback in order to evolve and improve.

From there it went to the New Diorama, runs at the Southwark Playhouse and the Riverside Studios. It has been honed, adapted and developed into the brilliant award winning West End musical you see today. And it all began in Salford.

Rent

If you think back to when we started to come out of lockdown, you might remember the Hope Mill Theatre production of the hit Broadway musical Rent. It closed due to the second lockdown which was announced right at the last minute. The show then returned as a live streamed version and then it came back to the Hope Mill when we were let out again.

The cast were fantastic and they have all gone on to wow audiences in other shows such as Grease, Cabaret and The Cher Show. Tom Francis made his stage debut as Roger and you felt like a star was being born in Luke Shepherd’s beautiful and intimate production.

Tom has since gone on to win best actor in a musical for his role as Joe Gillis in the West End hit revival of Sunset Boulevard opposite another Olivier Award winner, Nicole Scherzinger. This new production was directed with real panache by Jamie LIoyd. Tom only graduated in 2020 and he cut his musical theatre teeth in Ancoats at the Hope Mill and went on to star in & Juliet, another Olivier Award winner that began here in Manchester.

With 42 Balloons, (cast pictured) the new musical which has been developed at The Lowry, opening soon, we could be looking at another Olivier Award winning success from Greater Manchester. Catch it while you can.

42 Balloons is at The Lowry from 18th April-19th May. Book tickets here.