Last weekend, some of the world’s most glamorous theatre stars gathered at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for the Olivier Awards. Here, stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Damian Lewis and Kim Cattrall talk about their love of the theatre. If they’ve inspired you to see a show, check out our London theatre guide, top 10 musicals, special offers and fun theatre facts.

The National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time won seven awards at last night’s Olivier Awards, equalling the record set last year by Matilda The Musical.

As well as Best New Play, Simon Stephens’ adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel featured the following winners: Luke Treadaway for Best Actor, Nicola Walker for Best Supporting Actress, Marianne Elliott for Best Director, Paule Constable for the White Light Award for Lighting Design, Bunny Christie and Finn Ross for the XL Video Award for Best Set Design and Ian Dickinson and Adrian Sutton for Best Sound Design. The Curious Incident is currently playing at the Apollo Theatre, following a successful West End transfer in March. It’s one of the best shows I’ve seen in recent years, so if you’re able to book a ticket, go! The show is now booking until January 2014.

The Audience, currently playing at the Gielgud Theatre and Sweeney Todd which ran at the Adelphi Theatre in the summer took two actor awards each: Helen Mirren won Best Actress for portraying The Queen and Richard McCabe took Best Supporting Actor for playing Harold Wilson in the former; Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton won Best Actor in a Musical and Best Actress in A Musical for their roles in Sweeney Todd. The brilliant Sondheim musical also won the prize for Best Musical revival.

Elsewhere, there were prizes for Top Hat, currently on at the Aldwych Theatre for Best New Musical, Costume Design and Choreography. Leigh Zimmerman won Best Performance in a Supporing Role in a Musical for A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. And long-runner Billy Elliot won the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award – voted for by the members of the public.

For a full list of winners, go to officiallondontheatre.co.uk

Congratulations to everyone involved. Do you agree with the judges’ choices? Let us know in the comments below.

London Coffee Festival at the Truman Brewery

London has a booming coffee culture, and this festival celebrates the crème de la (café) crème of the coffee world. Visitors can learn about the art of making the perfect cup of coffee, see demonstrations of everything from bean roasting to cutting-edge coffee science, and even find out how to set up their own coffee shop. You can also marvel at the level of skill displayed in the 2013 UK Barista Championships, enjoy live music in the festival zone, and taste a variety of fantastic coffee flavours in the Artisan Market. Adult tickets start from £9.50. 25-28 Apr

The Woman, The Gaze, The World at Hanmi Gallery 

Do women see the world differently than men? Explore the question at this thoughtful exhibition, which pairs photographic artists and writers to demonstrate the myriad variations on perspective and question the very nature of interpretation. The exhibition is open at the Hanmi Gallery from Tuesday-Sunday between 12 and 7pm, and entry is free. 23 Apr-5 May

Thunder and Lightning at York Hall, Bethnal Green

Enjoy a rare chance to see women’s boxing in London at what promises to be a thrilling contest between Britain’s Marianne Marston and Latvia’s Aleksandra Jasjukevica.Taking place as part of an evening of matches, which includes the competition for the International Masters Welterweight title, the fight promises to be especially poignant as Marston has dedicated it to her late mentor, former Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Tickets to the spectacular evening of boxing start at £30. 27 Apr

Secret Cinema 020 

Secret Cinema, which runs popular clandestine film events in interesting locations around London, is running its ‘most important and ambitious’ event to date. Although – for obvious reasons – no details are yet available, Secret Cinema’s 20th production promises to be a treat for all those who love cinema, adventure and the thrill of the unknown. Tickets are £43.50. 24 Apr-9 Jun

The Olivier Awards, Covent Garden 

Theatre-lovers will enjoy this great chance to see all the action from the 2013 Olivier Awards free in Covent Garden. Not only can you watch the glittering ceremony streamed live from the nearby Royal Opera House, but there will also be exclusive live performances from hit West End shows and a variety of very special guests. 28 Apr

This week, there’s news of another extension: My Perfect Mind is actor Edward Petherbridge’s tale about suffering a stroke, and will now run at the Young Vic until 4 May. The Told By An Idiot show features Petherbridge playing himself and Paul Hunter playing all the other characters. The play was inspired by Petherbridge who suffered a stroke as he was rehearsing to play King Lear. At the start of his recovery, he could hardly move his thumb and index finger together, but he could still remember every word of Shakespeare’s complex role.

Derren Brown fans will be pleased to hear the illusionist is returning to the West End in June, bringing a new one-man show called Infamous to the Palace Theatre. Infamous is described as one of Brown’s most personal works and sees the master of mind control reunite with his close collaborator, actor, director and magician Andy Nyman.

More Oliviers news this week: an influx of American stars are bringing a touch of US glamour to the Royal Albert Hall ceremony, with Broadway stars and Glee co-actors Matthew Morrison and Idina Menzel both performing solo. Other stars whose attendance is confirmed include Kim Cattrall, Daniel Radcliffe, Damian Lewis, Petula Clark, Will Young and Heather Headley.

If you’re able to get to the free public Oliviers event stage in Covent Garden, you’ll be treated to special live performances from shows including Billy Elliot, Matilda, The Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked, Burn The Floor, Potted Potter and Some Like It Hip Hop, before seeing the ceremony on the live big screen relay.

London Theatre Cast News

• One of my favourite actors, Stephen Campbell Moore is to lead the cast in Lucy Kirkwood’s Chimerica at the Almeida Theatre from 20 May. He’ll be joined by Sean Gilder, Trevor Cooper and Claudie Blakley
• Game of Thrones star Joe Dempsie will appear in the upcoming production of Even Stillness Breathes Softly Against A Brick Wall at the Soho Theatre from 28 May
• Good news for Bonnie Langford fans! She’s returning to the role of the Lady of the Lake in Monty Python’s Spamalot from 6 May
• The ever-brilliant Clive Rowe and John Heffernan are to join the previously announced Simon Russell Beale and John Simm in Jamie Lloyd’s production of The Hothouse at the Trafalgar Studios from 4 May

This year’s Olivier Award nominations have been announced, with the National Theatre’s hit show The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time leading the way with eight possible prizes, including Best New Play.

Simon Stephens’ adaptation is also in the running for Best Actor for Luke Treadaway, Nicola Walker for Best Supporting Actress, as well as its creative team, with nominations for director Marianne Elliott, sound designer Ian Dickinson, lighting designer Paule Constable and set designers Bunny Christie and Finn Ross.

Two other productions scoring highly in the nominations are Top Hat and The Bodyguard with seven and four nominations each. Both have received nods in the coveted Best New Musical accolade alongside Loserville and Soul Sister. The lovely Tom Chambers, star of Top Hat, fights for the Best Actor in a Musical against six-time nominated Sweeney Todd star Michael Ball; Kiss Me, Kate’s Alex Bourne; and musical theatre newcomer and star of Cabaret, Will Young. For full details, go to the Official London Theatre website. The winners will be announced at a star-studded ceremony, hosted by double Olivier Award-winner Sheridan Smith and Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, on 28 April at the Royal Opera House.

The Young Vic has announced three new productions for their Maria theatre later this year. The venue’s smaller auditorium will host Trash Cuisine, a co-production with Belarus Free Theatre; The Secret Agent co-produced with theatre O; and new David Greig play The Events between May and November this year. The three shows are linked by dark themes of political violence and terror. As if in contrast, Fevered Sleep’s acclaimed show for 3 to 5-year-olds, Brilliant, returns to the venue from 3 to 13 July, with its dreamlike world made of light.

In addition, the Soho Theatre has news of two new dramas with an international flavour as part of its summer programme. Kathrine Kressmann Taylor’s classic pre-war drama Address Unknown will be performed in a new French-and-English version in June with Belgian theatremaker Valentijn Dhaenens’ look at the manipulative nature of rhetoric, Bigmouth, following in July. The new pieces join a spring/summer line-up that includes The Life And Sort Of Death Of Eric Argyle, Verity Bargate Award winner Pastoral, and tale of returning soldiers developed with former servicemen, Glory Dazed.

Finally, Northern Broadsides critically acclaimed production of Rutherford & Son will transfer to the St James Theatre this summer. Directed by Jonathan Miller, Rutherford & Son will play at the Victoria-based theatre from 4 to 29 June with the Northern Broadsides Artistic Director Barrie Rutter in the lead role of John Rutherford.

In other news, the National Theatre’s West End transfer of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has extended its run at the Apollo Theatre by 14 weeks, following huge demand for tickets. It now runs from 1 March to 31 August.

After a sell-out run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Private Lives is coming to the Gielgud Theatre this summer. Starring Toby Stephens and Anna Chancellor as the divorced couple who fall in love again, this classic Noel Coward comedy is directed by Jonathan Kent and runs from 22 June. Anthony Calf and Anna-Louise Plowman reprise their roles as the pair’s newly hitched and soon-to-be-spurned other halves.

Finally, don’t miss all the excitement building around the Olivier Awards. Firstly, theatre fans are being called on to vote for their favourite long-runner. Then there’s the news that Sheridan Smith (one of my favourite actresses) is going to be hosting the event. And not only is the show being broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, there’ll be highlights on ITV following the ceremony AND a live event for theatre fans in Covent Garden on the night. Put 28 April in your diaries now for a lot of theatrical fun.

London Casting News:

• Mariah Gale, Jamie Parker, Emma Cunniffe and Matthew Marsh will star in Proof at the Menier Chocolate Factory from March
• Jennifer Ellison is donning her wellingtons to join the cast of Singin’ In The Rain next month, when it splashes into its second year at the Palace Theatre
• Olivier Award winner Henry Goodman leads the cast of Lindsay Posner’s forthcoming production of The Winslow Boy at the Old Vic, opening in March
• Singer songwriter Declan Bennett and Croatian actress Zrinka Cvitešić are going to lead the cast of the Tony Award-winning musical Once when it opens at the Phoenix Theatre from 16 March

The 2012 Olivier Awards with MasterCard will take place on 15 April with a glamorous, star-studded ceremony at the Royal Opera House. 

The cream of British theatre will enjoy a spectacular night of awards and unique entertainment. It might feel like a long wait until April, but you can get involved now by voting for your favourite show in the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award. On the night, you’ll be able to watch on a giant screen in Covent Garden, listen live on Radio 2, or watch on the BBC’s red button service.

For more information about the Oliviers, visit www.olivierawards.com

If you’re not able to catch Ruby Wax at the Menier Chocolate Factory, where she’s currently performing Losing It (until 19 March), you’ll be pleased to hear she’s coming back in the summer.

You can now catch her show, which deals with the darkest moments of depression through poignant prose and funny songs for five weeks from 17 May.

Second up: great news about a return London journey for The Railway Children. The hit London show is back at its unique venue inside the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo Station from 18 June until 4 September. If the you know anyone who’s a fan of E Nesbit’s book, trains, or just fantastic family entertainment, I’d thoroughly recommend taking them along to this show…

Finally, another fantastic family hit gets a cast refresh. Nicola Stephenson and Patrick Robinson join the cast of War Horse next week. The actors are best known for inhabiting the hallways of Holby General; they’ll now be playing in Michael Morpurgo’s Second World War drama at the New London Theatre.

Stephenson will play the protagonist’s mother, left worrying for her son’s life when he runs away to worn-torn France in search of his beloved horse, Joey. The actress’s numerous TV credits include Clocking Off, Law And Order and Larkrise To Candleford. Robinson plays German soldier Friedrich Muller. In addition to Casualty, Robinson is well known for his work on ITV drama The Bill. The pair joins War Horse as it enters its fifth year; the show’s recently celebrated its one millionth customer.

Finally, have you voted for your favourite show in the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award? The shortlist makes decisions difficult, with 4 fantastic musicals fighting it out for this year’s prize:

• Billy Elliot
• Les Miserables
• Jersey Boys
• We Will Rock You

Have your say now at www.olivierawards.com/vote. The winner will be announced at the Olivier Awards on 13 March.

The Laurance Olivier Awards last night celebrated London’s thriving theatre scene in a ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

You probably know who the winners are by now, but do you agree?

It was no surprise that Mark Rylance continued his run of award success by picking up Best Actor for his portrayal of Johnny “Rooster” Byron in Jerusalem.

Rachel Weisz beat off strong competition from Gillian Anderson, Imelda Staunton and Juliet Stevenson to take the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Katori Hall became the first black female playwright to win Best New Play for The Mountaintop (proving that the spirit of International Women’s Day lives on.)

Spring Awakening, despite closing early due to low ticket sales, received the Best New Musical Award.

And congratulations to Rupert Goold who won Best Director for Enron (which we rather liked too.)

Have you seen any of the award-winners? Did the Oliviers get it right, or is there a theatrical gem they missed? We’d love to hear your views.

On 21 March at the Grosvenor House Hotel, the Laurence Olivier Awards 2010 will be announced.

The annual award ceremony is the most prestigious in London theatre, and the highlight of the theatrical year in London.

You can read a full list of the runners and riders on the Official London Theatre website. The judging panel consists of dedicated theatregoers and experts.

But there’s an exciting new award for 2010 where YOU can vote for the winner. The Audience Award goes to the long-running London show with the most votes from the following shortlist:

• Wicked
• The Phantom Of The Opera
• We Will Rock You
• War Horse
• Billy Elliot The Musical

Vote for your favourite, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win four tickets to the winning show. You’ve got until 5pm on 17 March to have your say.