LONDON • Lyricist Don Black won the Special Olivier Award at a virtual ceremony on Sunday, for a body of work including the James Bond theme songs he co-wrote with composer John Barry for Thunderball (1965) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971).

Among recipients of Olivier awards, Britain's most prestigious stage honours, Ian McKellen was recognised for his 80th birthday solo tour while Sharon D. Clarke was named Best Actress.

Clarke won for her performance in the Young Vic theatre's production of Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman, while Best Actor was Andrew Scott in Noel Coward's Present Laughter at the Old Vic theatre.

Dear Evan Hansen, the story of a lonely student who fabricates a friendship with a dead boy, won the Best New Musical award. The Jamie Lloyd Company won Best Revival for its production of Cyrano De Bergerac at the Playhouse Theatre.

McKellen's one-man touring show includes a reading from Lord Of The Rings, anecdotes about his Shakespeare days and a revival of his pantomime dame Widow Twankey. It was his seventh Olivier award.

Another repeat winner was choreographer Matthew Bourne who collected his ninth, making him the individual with the most Olivier awards. Bourne won Best Theatre Choreographer alongside Stephen Mear for Mary Poppins.

Established in 1976, the awards are named after legendary actor Laurence Olivier.

Britain's Duchess of Cornwall, who presented an award, urged theatre actors to stay strong in the face of pandemic adversity as she presented. "I should like to thank those of you whose profession is in the theatre for your determination and your flexibility," she said.

Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles, said: "Please remain resilient - we need you and we have missed you." London's theatres have in theory been able to open to socially distanced audiences since mid-August, but only a handful have done so.

REUTERS