| Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera | |
| Awarded For: | Outstanding Achievement in Opera |
| Presenter: | Society of London Theatre |
| Year: | 1977 |
| Holder: | Antonio Pappano for music directing the Royal Opera House (2024) |
The Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
This award was first presented in 1977, and covers the breadth of a commingled group of specialties, including individual or combinations of: opera companies, orchestras, conductors, composers, singers, stage directors, theatre directors and libretto translators. It served as the only Olivier Award focused solely on opera until the 1993 introduction of the award for Best New Opera Production.
| Year | Nominee | Category | Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | |||
| The Children's Ensemble | Performers | Noye's Fludde | |
| Martyn Brabbins and James Henshaw | Conductors | The Mask of Orpheus | |
| The Jette Parker Young Artists | Performers | Berenice, Death in Venice and Phaedra | |
| 2021 | Not presented due to extended closing of theatre productions during COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2022 | |||
| Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra | Artistic director and orchestra | Bajazet, Irish National Opera and Royal Opera | |
| Christine Rice | Performer | 4/4 | |
| takis | Set and costume designer | H.M.S. Pinafore | |
| 2023 | |||
| William Kentridge | Concept & Direction | Sybil | |
| Sinéad Campbell-Watson | Performer | Tosca by English National Opera | |
| Antony McDonald | Designer | Alcina by The Royal Opera | |
| 2024 | |||
| Antonio Pappano | Music Director | The Royal Opera | |
| Belarus Free Theatre Company | Theatre Company | King Stakh's Wild Hunt | |
| Marina Abramović | Concept & Design | 7 Deaths of Maria Callas |