The 36th Olivier Awards - the most prestigious theatre awards in theatre in the UK - will be announced on 15 April, at the Royal Opera House, London. Incidentally, this will be the first time the awards will be streamed online. They can be seen at www.olivierawards.com and the BBC Radio 2 Web site www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.

The guests for the evening will include the nominees Paulo Szot (Best Actor in a Musical for "South Pacific"), Bobby Aitken (Best Sound Design for "Ghost, The Musical"), Oliver Chris (Best Performance in a Supporting Role, "One Man, Two Guvnors") Rob Howell (Best Set Design, "Matilda The Musical"), Nicholas Hytner (Best Director, "One Man, Two Guvnors"), Hugh Vanstone (Best Lighting Design, "Ghost The Musical" and "Matilda The Musical"), and Matthew Warchus (Best Director, "Matilda The Musical"). Paul Kieve (Magic Designer "Matilda The Musical" and "Ghost The Musical"; Magic Consultant, "Harry Potter") will attend as well. A live screening of the awards will be held in New York.

Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton will host the awards. According to their official site, excited theatre lovers tuning in online will be able to see the glamorous stars arriving on the red carpet from 17:30 GMT.The live stream will feature the same content as the BBC Red Button, which will be presented by Anneka Rice and feature the stars' arrivals before the ceremony begins at 18:00 GMT, running until 21:00 GMT.

At the public event at the Covent Garden piazza, BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award nominees from the shows Billy Elliot The Musical, Les Miserables, Jersey Boys and Wicked will all be entertaining the crowds when the ceremony is not being streamed onto big screens.

All eyes are on "Matilda The Musical" which has secured 10 nominations. "One Man, Two Guvnors" and "The Ladykillers" both have secured five nominations each. So who will win the best comedy of the year?

This year, Sir Tim Rice, the multi-award winning lyricist and musical theatre royalty, will be honoured with the Special Award. Dame Monica Mason, Director of Royal Ballet, will also be honoured with a Special Award at the Olivier Awards.

The nominees of the Olivier Awards 2012 were announced by Nancy Caroll and Roger Allam on 13 March .

A look at the 2010 red carpet arrivals:

British actor Rylance arrives to attend the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards in central London
British actor Rylance arrives to attend the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards in central London Reuters
British actress Weisz arrives to attend the Laurence Olivier awards in central London
British actress Weisz arrives to attend the Laurence Olivier awards in central London Reuters
British actor Law arrives to attend the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards in central London
British actor Law arrives to attend the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards in central London Reuters
British actor Day and U.S. actress Catrall pose for photographers as they arrive to attend the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards in central London
British actor Day and U.S. actress Catrall pose for photographers as they arrive to attend the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards in central London Reuters
British actress Knightley arrives to attend the Laurence Olivier awards in central London
British actress Knightley arrives to attend the Laurence Olivier awards in central London Reuters
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