1979 Laurence Olivier Awards

The 1979 Society of West End Theatre Awards were held in 1979 in London at the Café Royal, celebrating excellence in West End theatre by the Society of West End Theatre. The awards would not become the Laurence Olivier Awards, as they are known today, until the 1984 ceremony.

Winners and nominees
Details of winners (in bold) and nominees, in each award category, per the Society of London Theatre.

Productions with multiple nominations and awards
The following 13 productions received multiple nominations:


 * 6: Once in a Lifetime
 * 4: Death of a Salesman
 * 3: Chicago, The Taming of the Shrew and Undiscovered Country
 * 2: And a Nightingale Sang, Antony and Cleopatra, Betrayal, For Services Rendered, My Fair Lady, Outside Edge, Songbook and Strife

The following two productions received multiple awards:


 * 2: Death of a Salesman and Songbook