It’s a Hamilton face-off after record 13 stage nominations

THE stars of Hamilton are to compete against one another at this year’s Olivier Awards, after the show was nominated a record-breaking 13 times.

Five of the eight nominees for best actor and best supporting actor in a musical come from Hamilton, the American juggernaut which has dominated the stage awards designed to honour the best of London theatre.

The musical, which transferred from Broadway last year, will see three of its stars go head to head in the best supporting actor category. Ross Noble, star of Young Frankenstein, is their only external competition.

Jamael Westman and Giles Terera, who play the lead roles of Hamilton and Burr, will also vie for best actor, against Ciaran Hinds from Girl From the North Country and John Mccrea from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

The latter production is considered the “underdog” of this year’s awards, plucked from the stage in Sheffield for a West End run and starring previously unknown actors.

Elsewhere, the National Theatre is up for 22 awards for productions including Follies, Angels in America and Network, a significant comeback after several low-key years.

Hamilton’s 13 nominations, including for backstage roles, make it the most nominated production in Oliviers history, replacing Harry Potter And The Cursed Child in 2017) and Hairspray in 2008, which had 11 apiece.

The ceremony will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, April 8.