Record award haul for Minchin's musical

Tim Minchin’s musical Matilda has broken West End records, after scooping seven Olivier Awards on Sunday night.

They included the accolade for best actress in a musical, presented jointly to the four child actresses who share the title role.

Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Sophia Kiely and Eleanor Worthington Cox, aged between 10 and 12 years old, were the youngest ever recipients of an Olivier.

Minchin joked that it was hard to follow the young stars on stage, after they became overexcited at receiving the award. ‘These maggots make it very hard for us to be attractive to listen to,’ he said.

Meanwhile, best actor in a musical went to Bertie Carvel for his cross-dressing performance as Matilda’s domineering headmistress Agatha Trunchbull

The show, which Minchin co-wrote with Dennis Kelly, also won best new musical, while director Matthew Warchus also won his category. The production was also rewarded for its choreography, set design and sound design, meaning it broke Nicholas Nickleby’s previous record tally of six Oliviers in 1980

Meanwhile, Derren Brown received the best entertainment gong for his mind-reading show Svengali.

Published: 16 Apr 2012