Last night at a star-studded ceremony at the Royal Opera House, British theatre and film legend Michael White was presented with the Olivier 2014 Special Award for outstanding achievement. Michael's life story is told in our upcoming documentary The Last Impresario, which will be in UK and Irish cinemas on 26th September.
Michael White is famous for producing shows like Oh! Calcutta, which at the time was the longest running show in the history of the West End and Broadway; the award-winning smash hit Sleuth; Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s first major show Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat; critically-acclaimed and Olivier-winning unprecedented box office success Chorus Line; cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which was later turned into a successful film; and hallmark of British filmmaking and humour Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The Special Award was presented by Kate Moss and Nigel Planer.
Together with Mr. White, the Oliver Awards gathered the rest of London’s theatreland crème-dela- crème for a spectacular evening of celebration, award-giving and awe-inspiring live performances. Gemma Arterton and Stephen Mangan hosted the ceremony, which was attended by some of the most prominent names in British theatre, film, television and music.
The Last Impresario is a portrait of Michael White, the enfant terrible of London’s theatre-land in the 70’s, the man responsible for introducing Yoko Ono, Merce Cunningham and Pina Bausch to the international audiences. He challenged censorship with his hit erotic revue Oh! Calcutta!, struck gold with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and A Corus Line and produced Monty Python and the Holy Grail, My Dinner with Andre, and John Waters’ Polyester. Fifty of his closest friends (including Yoko Ono, Kate Moss, Anna Wintour, John Waters and John Cleese) introduce us to one of life’s true originals.