Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Picture of Dorian Gray has been awarded at the 2024 Olivier Awards held at London’s Royal Albert Hall with Sarah Snook being named Best Actress and Marg Horwell receiving Best Costume Design award for her work on the show.
The annual awards, presented by the Society of London Theatre, recognise excellence in professional theatre in London.
“It’s an incredible honour to be on the stage in the West End and this is not something that I thought would come along with that. It’s billed as a one woman show but it’s not,” said Sarah Snook.
“It’s the crew who are on stage with me all the time every night and they are a vital and constant support and inspirational. So thank you to the crew for being there in this show with me.
“A huge immeasurable thank you to Kip Williams and you’re very big brain and your specificity and precision and your inspiration and I just I thank my lucky stars I get to play inside that mad world you’ve created every night,” said Snook.
The Olivier win is Snook’s third major award this season having earned a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her work in the final season of HBO’s acclaimed series Succession.
The Picture of Dorian Gray marked Snook’s anticipated return to the London stage following her searing debut in Matthew Warchus’ 2016 production of The Master Builder opposite Ralph Fiennes.
Multi-award winning designer Marg Horwell was also acknowledged for her work on the production winning Best Costume Design.
In accepting the award, Horwell acknowledged the creatives she worked with in Australia and in London: “I’d like to thank the creative team of the show; I think we’ll all know each other when we’re very old. It makes your job incredibly easy when every single character is played by Sarah Snook,” she said.
It’s been a joy making the show with you. To writer and director and my friend Kip Williams: thank you for your trust, your ambition, and your brain,” said Horwell.
“What a very special moment to be sitting with the very best of London Theatre with my good friends and collaborators – the genius Kip Williams, phenomenal Sarah Snook, the visionary Marg Horwell and my producing partner Adam Kenwright – as this show was celebrated at the Olivier Awards,” said Producer Michael Cassel.
“This recognition for Sarah and Marg’s work on The Picture of Dorian Gray at this evening’s ceremony, in Oscar Wilde’s home town, recognises the huge contribution and vision of the entire creative team, the Sydney Theatre Company, and all those behind the scenes who bring this show to life – originally in Australia and now on the West End.”
“The response from audiences in London to this phenomenal production has been overwhelming, Adam and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the decision to bring it here. We cannot wait to see what Sarah, and Dorian, do next,” said Mr Cassel.
The smash-hit production of The Picture of Dorian Gray made its UK premiere in February at The Theatre Royal Haymarket, starring the critically acclaimed Snook in a ground-breaking adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s only novel.
This stunning modern reworking of Wilde’s devastatingly brilliant story is adapted and directed by Sydney Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Kip Williams.
Wilde’s timeless text is revolutionised by Williams’ celebrated collision of form employing an explosive interplay of video and theatre through an intricately choreographed collection of on-stage cameras bringing to life a dizzying 26 characters, each brought to life by Snook.
Williams’ interpretation of beauty, excess, and a deal with the devil holds striking resonance in our current era, holding a mirror to 21st century society’s narcissistic obsession with youth.
Enrapturing audiences, the acclaimed Australian premiere season in 2020 was extended twice in Sydney and played to critical and audience acclaim throughout the country.
The Picture of Dorian Gray continues at the Theatre Royal Haymarket (London) until 11 May 2024. For more information, visit: www.doriangrayplay.com for details.
Image: Sarah Snook in The Picture of Dorian Gray – photo by Marc Brenner