Gillian Lynne Headshot

Gillian Lynne

Get Gillian Lynne Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Gillian Lynne BIO

Gillian Lynne was a leading soloist with Sadler’s Wells Ballet, the star dancer at the Palladium, played opposite Errol Flynn in the movies and danced with all the greats on TV. She became instrumental in the development of jazz dance in Britain and her distinctive style – a fusion of classical and jazz – led to her groundbreaking work on the world-famous Cats, which was recognised with a new category of Olivier Award, specially created for her to acknowledge Outstanding Achievement of the Year in a Musical. Cats continues to be produced worldwide Gillian’s 50-plus Broadway and West End shows include: Tonight at 8.30, Love on the Dole, The Match Girls, TomFoolery, Jeeves Takes Charge, Cabaret, The Roar of the Greasepaint, Pickwick, The Card, Phil The Fluter, Hans Christian Andersen, My Fair Lady, Songbook, The Phantom of the Opera and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

For the Royal Shakespeare Company: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Comedy of Errors, The Way of the World, As You Like It, Once in a Lifetime and The Boy Friend. She has previously worked with Adrian Noble on the RSC production The Secret Garden.

Gillian’s opera productions include the direction of Bluebeard, The Trojans, The Midsummer Marriage, The Flying Dutchman and Parsifal. Among Gillian’s ballets are Breakaway, Lippizaner, The Brontes and Journey for the Bolshoi.

On television, Gillian has directed The Various Ends of Mrs F’s Friends, Easy Money, The Look of Love, The Morte d’Arthur, which won the Samuel G Engel Award in America, and A Simple Man, which won a 1987 BAFTA.

She staged many of The Muppet Shows for ATV and her 11 feature films include A Wonderful Life, Half a Sixpence, Man of La Mancha and Yentl. Gillian’s most recent productions include the staging of a special gala in New York to celebrate The Phantom of the Opera overtaking Cats as the longest-running show on Broadway and Phantom – the Las Vegas Spectacular.

She was awarded the Austrian Silver Order of Merit for her production of Cats in Vienna, a Moliere award for Cats in Paris, and in 2001 she was honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance with the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award. Gillian was awarded the CBE in 1997.

Gillian Lynne Photos

Gillian Lynne STAGE CREDITS

[London Fringe]
Original London Production, 1960
Performer

[West End]
London Production, 1954
Claudine

Gillian Lynne Productions

 
[West End, 2021]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 2016]
Original Choreographer
 
[West End, 2014]
Associate Director and Choreographer
 
[Las Vegas, 2006]
Choreographer
 
[Regional (UK), 2005]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 2005]
Choreographer
Choreographer
Choreographer
 
[West End, 2002]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1990]
Choreographer
 
[West End, 1989]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1988]
Choreographer
Musical Staging
 
[West End, 1986]
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1982]
Associate Director
Choreographer
 
[West End, 1981]
Choreographer
 
[West End, 1974]
Choreographer
 
[West End, 1971]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1967]
Choreographer
 
[West End, 1966]
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1965]
Choreographer

Gillian Lynne Awards and Nominations


winner
Olivier Awards - 2013 - Special Award

Gillian Lynne

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2005 - Outstanding Choreography

Gillian Lynne , Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Olivier Awards - 2000 - Outstanding Musical Production

Gillian LynneDick Whittington

Drama Desk Awards - 1988 - Outstanding Choreography

Gillian Lynne, Phantom of the Opera

Tony Awards - 1988 - Best Choreography

Gillian Lynne, The Phantom of the Opera

Tony Awards - 1983 - Best Choreography

Gillian Lynne, Cats


winner
Olivier Awards - 1981 - Outstanding Achievement of the Year in a Musical

Gillian Lynne, Cats

Gillian Lynne Videos

Gillian Lynne News


Olivier Awards 2024: The Full List of Winners


The biggest stars of London theatre gathered today at the Royal Albert Hall for the Olivier Awards 2024, hosted by Hannah Waddingham. Find out about Sunset Boulevard and the night's other big winners!

BroadwayWorld's Olivier Awards 2024 Predictions


The 2024 Olivier Awards are fast approaching on April 14. Ahead of one of the most exciting nights in theatreland, our critics – Aliya Al-Hassan, Mica Blackwell, Alexander Cohen, Katie Kirkpatrick, Kat Mokrynski, Gary Naylor, Kerrie Nicholson, Matthew Paluch and Christiana Rose share their thoughts about who and what will triumph on the night, as well as who should twin each category.

Presale Tickets Available For THE WIZARD OF OZ at the Gillian Lynne Theatre


Tickets are available for presale now for The Wizard Of Oz at Gillian Lynne Theatre! Tickets are available for performances running 15 August 2024 - 08 September 2024.

THE DRIFTERS GIRL Comes to The King's Theatre, Glasgow This Month


THE DRIFTERS GIRLS comes to The King's Theatre, Glasgow from 9-13 April 2024. Learn more about the cast here!

Krysta Rodriguez & More to Perform at Signature Theatre Gala Honoring Nathan Lane


On April 29, 2024, Signature Theatre will honor icon of stage and screen Nathan Lane with the company’s thirteenth Stephen Sondheim Award. Learn more!

Additional Cast Revealed For UK and Ireland Tour of & JULIET


West End actor, Matt Cardle, will play the role of Shakespeare in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of & Juliet. He joins the previously announced Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet, Sandra Marvin as Angélique and Lara Denning as Anne.

How Often Are Musicals Revived with Their Original Director?


This time, the reader question was: How often is a musical revived on Broadway directed by its original director?

Review: IN CLAY, Upstairs At The Gatehouse


After an outstanding run at the last VAULT Festival, Rebecca Simmonds and Jack Miles’ project has been garnering a steady foundation of favourable reviews. Its journey is simply the latest proof we needed to understand the impact of the loss of a grassroot program such as VAULT. In Clay tells a touching tale of existing within the ruthlessness of the field of fine art.

THE WIZARD OF Oz Returns To The West End This Summer


The Wizard of Oz will conclude its major UK and Ireland tour with a season in London this summer, playing a strictly limited run of 38 performances only from Thursday 15 August – Sunday 8 September 2024 at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

Video: Watch An All New Trailer For STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE in the West End


An all new trailer has been released for the West End premiere of Sheffield Theatres’ Standing at the Sky’s Edge.  Check out the video here!

Nina Wadia, Sinitta, Sonia, and More Will Lead NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A MUSICAL UK Tour


Nina Wadia will star as Gemma in the world premiere of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, a brand-new British musical written by award-winning comedian Pippa Evans and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood.

SUNSET BOULEVARD, PLAZA SUITE, and More Nominated For Olivier Awards; Full List!


The nominations are in for this year's Olivier Awards! Among those nominated are Sunset Boulevard, Plaza Suite, The National Theatre, and many more. Check out the full list of nominations here!

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Extends Booking Until 29 March 2025


Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty's Theatre has extended its booking until Saturday 29 March 2025. Find out how to get tickets here!

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, A DOLL'S HOUSE, and More Set For Sheffield Theatres 2024-25 Season


Robert Hastie has announced his final season at Sheffield Theatres, as he steps down after eight years as Artistic Director. New productions will be running from summer 2024 to spring 2025 in the Crucible Theatre and Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse. Learn more about the season lineup here!

Full Cast and Production Team Set For The European Premiere of A SONG OF SONGS


The full cast and production team are announced for the European premiere of A Song of Songs. The production will open at the Park Theatre, Thursday 9 May to Saturday 15 June 2024.

Review Roundup: Did STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE Impress in the West End?


The multi-award winning new musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge – winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production, and the South Bank Sky Arts Award – transfers to the West End following sold-out runs at the National Theatre and Sheffield Theatres.

Rialto Chatter: Could STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE Move to Broadway Next?


Could Standing at the Sky's Edge be headed for Broadway in the future? The production, currently playing in London's West End, was recently visited by The Shubert Organization's chairman and CEO, Robert E. Wankel. 

Review: STANDING AT SKY'S EDGE, Gillian Lynne Theatre


Through the lens of three households living in Sheffield’s Park Hill housing estate, Chris Bush examines family and politics in modern Britain.

Photos: Inside Opening Night of STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE


Photos have been released from opening night of Sheffield Theatres' production of Standing at the Sky's Edge at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Check out the photos here!

Interview: 'This is An Insane Feat': Actors Elizabeth Ayodele and Baker Mukasa on the Epic STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE


Standing at the Sky’s Edge has arrived at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on the West End after runs at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and the National Thetare. Recently, we had the chance to speak with Baker Mukasa (George) and Elizabeth Ayodele (Joy) about their roles within the show.

Gillian Lynne FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Gillian Lynne been in?

Gillian Lynne has not appeared on Broadway.

How many West End shows has Gillian Lynne been in?

Gillian Lynne has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.

What was Gillian Lynne's first West End show?

Gillian Lynne's first West End show was Can-Can which opened in 1954

What awards has Gillian Lynne been nominated for?

Gillian Lynne has been nominated for several awards throughout her career: Special Award at the Olivier Awards for Cats, Outstanding Choreography at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Outstanding Musical Production at the Olivier Awards for Dick Whittington, Outstanding Choreography at the Drama Desk Awards for Phantom of the Opera, Best Choreography at the Tony Awards for The Phantom of the Opera, and Best Choreography at the Tony Awards for Cats. Additionally, she received the Outstanding Achievement of the Year in a Musical at the Olivier Awards for Cats.

What awards has Gillian Lynne won?

Gillian Lynne has won the Special Award at the Olivier Awards and the Outstanding Achievement of the Year in a Musical at the Olivier Awards for Cats.

Get Gillian Lynne Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos