OLIVIERS 2013: Presenter Michael Xavier Previews Sunday's Ceremony And Celebration!

Michael Xavier, twice an Olivier nominee himself, will be well and truly outside the ceremony this year.

He'll be presenting alongside Claudia Winkleman on the stage in Covent Garden Piazza in what's becoming an annual free event for theatre fans, where people can watch a live stream of what's going on inside the Royal Opera House as well as enjoy live performances from Audience Award contenders Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot and Matilda.

"It's a great opportunity for people to come down and see their favourite shows - and maybe some shows they've not seen before," he explains. "It's the only place you'll be able to see the Oliviers live, and we'll be there until the ceremony finishes."

Surprisingly, he confesses to some nerves. "It's completely different! But I have presented at concerts - I've introduced people, and I speak to the audience, so this is like that, really; it's not really broadcast presenting, I'll be presenting to the audience in Covent Garden."

He's diplomatic about who he wants to win - although he admits he'll be cheering on his Hello, Dolly! co-star Janie Dee in Best Actress in a Supporting Role - but highlights the brilliant work going on across London theatre over the past year, enthusing particularly about Chichester/Old Vic's Kiss Me, Kate, and the National's Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

As Society of London Theatre chief executive Julian Bird says, these are "exciting times" for the West End. The party in the Piazza to mark the Olivier Awards is well deserved.

The Olivier Awards 2013 take place on Sunday. They will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, and highlights will be screened later on ITV.

The Covent Garden Piazza Oliviers event, presented by Michael Xavier and Claudia Winkleman, begins at 4pm on Sunday.

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