Paddington The Musical tipped for glory at Olivier Awards

Paddington The Musical is tipped for success at the Olivier Awards on Sunday although it faces competition from Into The Woods which also has 11 nominations.

The smash-hit musical, written by McFly star Tom Fletcher, recently dominated at the WhatsOnStage awards and has received rave reviews since opening at the Savoy Theatre in London in December.

It is adapted from the books by Michael Bond and the hit films and follows the adventures of the marmalade-loving bear from Peru, starring a life-like puppet of Paddington.

Paddington The Musical has received 11 nominations including best new musical, best actor in a musical for both James Hameed and Arti Shah – who jointly perform the role of the bear – two nominations for best actress in a supporting role in a musical (Amy Booth-Steel and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt), the Sir Peter Hall award for best director (Luke Sheppard), and best set design.

Tom Fletcher wrote the music and lyrics for Paddington The Musical. PA Media

It is up against Into The Woods – currently running at London’s Bridge Theatre – in many categories, including best actor in a musical (Jamie Parker), two nominations for best actor in a supporting role in a musical (Jo Foster and Oliver Savile), and the Sir Peter Hall Award for best director (Jordan Fein).

American film star Rachel Zegler has been nominated for best actress in a musical for her West End debut in the lead role in Evita at the London Palladium.

The critically acclaimed performance drew large outdoor crowds while she sang Don’t Cry For Me Argentina from an outside balcony.

Meanwhile, Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett and Rosamund Pike will battle it out for best actress against Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Julia McDermott and Rosie Sheehy.

Blanchett has received a nod for her role in The Seagull at the Barbican Theatre, while Pike’s is for Inter Alia at the National Theatre, and Sheehy is nominated for Guess How Much I Love You, her second in a row following her nomination for last year’s Machinal.

The most nominated plays are All My Sons, Kenrex and Stereophonic, with six each, while the nominees for best actor include Bryan Cranston, Sean Hayes, Tom Hiddleston, Jack Holden and David Shields.

Hiddleston is up for best actor for Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, while Cranston receives a nod for All My Sons, which is playing at Wyndham’s Theatre.

Rachel Zegler is up for best actress in a musical. PA Media

Nominees also include Paapa Essiedu, who will star as Professor Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter series remake, for best actor in a supporting role for All My Sons.

Tracie Bennett has scored her seventh nomination with a nod for best actress in a supporting role in a musical for Here We Are.

All My Sons has also received nods for best revival, best actress for Jean-Baptiste, best actress in a supporting role (Hayley Squires), and the Sir Peter Hall Award for best director (Ivo van Hove).

Among its six nominations, Kenrex is up for best new play, best actor (Jack Holden), the Sir Peter Hall Award for best director (Ed Stambollouian), and outstanding musical contribution (John Patrick Elliott for composition).

Cate Blanchett is nominated for best actress for her role in The Seagull. PA Media

And Broadway transfer Stereophonic receives a nod for best actress in a supporting role for Lucy Karczewski, and best actor in a supporting role for Zachary Hart (who is double-nominated in the same category for both Stereophonic and The Seagull), among others.

This year’s Olivier Awards will mark the 50th anniversary of the ceremony, and will be hosted by comedian Nick Mohammed at the Royal Albert Hall.

The event, sponsored by Cunard, will be available to watch on BBC Two and iPlayer at 7pm on April 12, with highlights on BBC Radio 2.