Laurence Olivier Awards 2012: The Winners

Words: Caroline Foran

As per last night's coveted Olivier awards (see the Red Carpet Photos in Gossip) - "the biggest and most spectacular night in British theatre" - there appears to be no age limit on theatrical success with Matilda the Musical, based on the Roald Dahl children's story scooping an extraordinary seven awards including Best Actress for the show's four leading ladies, aged between 10 and 12. Taking place in the luxurious surrounds of the Royal Opera House, the youngster's success at the 36th Laurence Olivier Awards, although celebrated by most, meant the snubbing of other comic hopefuls such as One Man, Two Guvnors and The Ladykillers, which despite earning 10 nominations between them, went home empty handed.

Nevertheless, a fantastic evening was had by all accounts at Britain's answer to the Tony Awards with entertainment provided as numbers from the nominated shows including a roof raising rendition from one of our personal favourites, Singin' in the Rain and a suitable performance of "Naughty" from Matilda's four little superstars.

Without further adieu, below is the list of all categories and winners.

Mastercard best new play

Collaborators at the Cottesloe

Best revival

Anna Christie at the Donmar Warehouse

Best entertainment and family

Derren Brown – Svengali at the Shaftesbury

Best actress

Ruth Wilson for Anna Christie at the Donmar Warehouse

Best actor

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller for Frankenstein at the Olivier

Best performance in a supporting role

Sheridan Smith for Flare Path at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket

Best actress in a musical

The Matildas for Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge (Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Sophia Kiely and Eleanor Worthington Cox)

Best actor in a musical

Bertie Carvel for Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge

Best performance in a supporting role in a musical

Nigel Harman for Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Best new musical

Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge

Best musical revival

Crazy for You at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Best director

Matthew Warchus for Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge

Best theatre choreographer

Peter Darling for Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge

Best lighting design

Frankenstein, designed by Bruno Poet at the Olivier

XL Video award for best set design

Matilda the Musical, designed by Rob Howell at the Cambridge

Best costume design

Crazy for You, designed by Peter McKintosh at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Best sound design

Matilda the Musical, designed by Simon Baker at the Cambridge

Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre

Theatre Royal, Stratford East in association with the Barbican and Traverse Theatre for Roadkill

Best new opera production

English National Opera's Castor and Pollux at the London Coliseum

Outstanding achievement in opera

ENO, for the breadth and diversity of its artistic programme

Outstanding achievement in dance

Edward Watson for his performance in The Metamorphosis at the Linbury Studio at the Royal Opera House

Best new dance production

Desh by Akram Khan Company at Sadler's Wells, choreographed by Akram Khan

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Monday 16th April 2012 | Theatre