The five individuals who have been honoured with this year’s Olivier Special Recognition Awards 2022 with Mastercard have been announced.

Selected for their outstanding contribution to the theatre industry, all of the nominees will be walking the ‘green’ carpet on Sunday 10 April at Royal Albert Hall. Sustainability is taking centre stage alongside our nominees with stars walking a green carpet made out of reusable real grass, with Mastercard pledging to plant a tree for every public ticket sold.  

The first honoured individual is Lisa Burger, who has been Executive Directive and Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre for the past 20 years. She has played a key part in the industry’s pandemic recovery with the creation of schemes such as NT At Home. It is for initiatives like this, along with her role in expanding the theatres reach and forging UK wide partnership, that she has been awarded.

Influential theatre school founder Sylvia Young is also among the five recipients, having been responsible for countless household names breakthrough into the industry since she first started teaching in 1972.

Designer Bob King will be receiving an award for creating some of theatre’s and the West End’s most iconic visuals, having worked on artwork for shows such as Oliver!, Back To The Future, Frozen, Mary Poppins, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical  and many more.

Having used her knowledge, passion and dedication to inspire young people from all backgrounds to have a career in the arts, Gloria Louis is awarded for this and her trailblazing career. Beginning front of house at the now Novello Theatre, she progressed into theatre management and now to her role as inclusion and diversity lead for Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. 

Receiving the fifth award is Susie Sainsbury, who founded The Backstage Trust to fund live arts projects, was instrumental in the creation of Theatre Artists Fund during the pandemic. She is notable for her long-time philanthropy and support of the arts and the impact that this has made on theatre in London and beyond.   

Chief Executive of Society of London Theatre and Executive Producer of the Olivier Awards, Julian Bird, said: “The Special Recognition Olivier Awards shine a spotlight on inspirational individuals doing vital work, often behind the scenes, who have been a force for good and helped shape our industry in a wide range of ways. The five people we are honouring this year have all inspired generations of colleagues and theatre audiences, been pioneers in their fields and are hugely deserving of this long-due recognition. It is a privilege to celebrate their achievements as part of this year’s Olivier Awards.”

To watch the interviews with the special recognition winners, please click here.