Britain’s most prestigious stage honours, the Olivier Awards celebrated 43 years this year.

Here are a few interesting facts that you might not know about the awards:

1. Stephen Sondheim is the Most Awarded Composer and Lyricist

Stephen Sondheim’s musicals have won ‘Best New Musical’ awards five times:

• Sweeney Todd (1980)
• Follies (1987)
• Candide (1988)
• Sunday in the Park with George (1991)
• Merrily We Roll Along (2001)

2. Four Directors are Tied for the Most Awards

Each having won three awards, the directors Sam Mendes, Howard Davies, Richard Eyre, and Declan Donnellan are all tied for the most awarded director of the Olivier Awards.

3. Judi Dench is the Most Decorated Performer

Did you know that Judi Dench has won 7 Olivier awards? In addition to this impressive record, she’s also the only performer to win dramatic and musical Olivier awards in the same year. Her double win was in 1996 with Absolute Hell and A Little Night Music.

4. 40 Performers Have Won the Special Olivier Award

Since 1976, there have been 40 special awards given. The first winner was the ‘Save London Theatre Campaign’, which was created to make sure that the West End theatres weren’t demolished.

5. Hamilton and Matilda are Tied for Most Wins

Both Matilda (2012) and Hamilton (2018) are tied for the record of the musical with the most Olivier award wins, with 7 wins each.

6. Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett are the Most Nominated

These two characters from Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim have won their respective actors and actresses three Olivier nominations. Most recently, Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball were nominated (2013) with nominations in 01980 and 1994.

7. Hamilton Has the Most Nominations

Hamilton holds another astonishing record: it received 13 nominations across nine categories:

• Best Costume Design
• Delta Live Award for Best Sound Design
• White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
• Best Director
• Outstanding Achievement in Music
• Best Theatre Choreographer
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (three nominations)
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
• Best Actor in a Musical (two nominations)
• Mastercard Best New Musical

8. There Were 11 Categories in the Awards’ First Year

When the awards were first held in 1976, there were only 11 categories. Eight awards were given to plays, two were given to comedies, and one to musical theatre.

9. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the Play with the Most Wins

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2017) holds the record for the play with the most Olivier award wins, with 9 awards:

• White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
• Best Sound Design
• Best Costume Design
• Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Best Actor
• Virgin Atlantic Best New Play
• Best Director

10. The Olivier Statuette Weighs 1.6kg

The award is now cast from bronze, taking approximately five days to make.