Matilda dominates Oliviers

Matilda dominates Oliviers NEWS

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The Royal Shakespeare Company's stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's book steals the limelight at the Oliviers 2012 awards ceremony.

Based on Dahl's 1988 kids book, Matilda, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production won a record seven Oliviers, making it the biggest winner of the night, casting a shadow over the National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, English National Opera and Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Nominated in ten categories and winning seven, Matilda's success meant the RSC beat its own record for the number of Oliviers awarded for the same show. The production beat Nicholas Nickleby who previously held the record with six in 1980.

All four Matilda's (Clea Demetriou, Sophia Kiely, Kerry Ingram and Eleanor Worthington Cox) were jointly awarded best actress in a musical and Bertie Carvel won best actor in a musical for his portrayal of Agatha Trunchbull, the tyrannical headteacher of Matilda's school.

Matilda started its life at the RSC's Christmas show in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010 and since its transferral to the Cambridge theatre in the West End, it has sold out and will open on Broadway in 2013.

Alongside the acting prizes, the show, written for stage by Dennis Kelly with songs by comedian Tim Minchin, won awards for sound, set design and choreography, as well as the prestigious best new musical award.

Surprisingly, the incredibly popular One Man, Two Guvnors by the National Theatre came away with no awards.

It wasn't a dud night for the National Theatre though as Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller were jointly awarded best actor for their roles in Frankenstein. Cumberbatch and Miller alternated between roles as the scientist and monster, winning against performances by James Corden, Douglas Hodge and Jude Law.

John Hodge's Collaborators was named best new play, beating One Man, Two Guvnors, The Ladykillers and Jumpy.

Nigel Harman, known as a former EastEnders badboy, won best performance in a supporting musical role for Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. Due to Lord Farquaad's small stature, Harman performed the role entirely on his knees.

The only award with a public vote, the Radio 2 audience award, was snapped up by Les Mis´e;rables, beating Wicked, Billy Elliot and Jersey Boys.

Elaine Paige, Maria Friedman, Kimberley Walsh, Ronan Keating and the four Matildas provided performances by the night which was broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

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