The play was an enormous success receiving rave reviews, namely for Piper's "earth-quaking" performance. The play went on to become one of the most acclaimed and awarded of the decade, with Piper winning all six available Best Actress theatre awards, including the coveted Lawrence Olivier Award, fending off competition from Glenda Jackson. The play saw an unparalleled number of five-star reviews with Piper being described as "dangerously draining", "searing, stunning and unmissable". It also won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival.