Minchin’s Matilda sweeps the Olivier Awards, 2012

Tim Minchin’s smash hit musical Matlida, based on the children’s book by Roald Dahl, has come away from Britain’s Olivier Awards with seven gongs, setting a new record at the biggest night in UK theatre.

The show, presented by The Royal Shakespeare Company, was nominated 10 times (the maximum number of nominations a production can receive) and won in the categories of best actor in a musical (Bertie Carvel), best new musical, best director (Matthew Warchus), best theatre choreographer (Peter Darling), best set design (Rob Howell) and best sound design (Simon Baker).

The final award – best actress in a musical – was shared by the four girls playing the title role of Matilda, the precocious school girl with psychokinetic powers. Although the four boys sharing the role of Billy Elliott won the best actor in a musical award in 2006, it is understood that Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Sophia Kiely and Eleanor Worthington Cox (all between 10 and 12 years of age) are the youngest ever Olivier Award winners.

An outpouring of support for Minchin has been found on social media sites over the last few days, with Minchin thanking his fans this evening:

@timminchin:
Thanks so much, y’all, for messages following the Oliviers. So proud of the girls & the entire company. #MatildaTheMusical

While the success of Matilda The Musical in London has sparked discussion within the Australian theatre community as to whether the blockbuster hit will be making its way down under, no plans to tour the show to Australia have been announced at this stage.

For a full list of nominees and winners, visit the Olivier Awards Website