Matilda wins record 7 Olivier awards

London, April 16 (ANI): Matilda the Musical has set a new record at this year's Olivier awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London, winning seven of the 10 awards it was nominated for.

Four little leading ladies of the musical version of Roald Dahl's novel picked up the Best Actress in a Musical award.

The Musical also bag awards for Best Director, Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Musical.

One of the four young actresses - 10-year-old Eleanor Worthington-Cox - also made history by becoming the youngest ever winner of an Olivier Award.

Matilda broke previous record held by Nicholas Nickleby who won six awards in 1980.

Meanwhile Ruth Wilson took the Best Actress gong for her role as Anna Christie at the Donmar Warehouse.

Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch shared the award for Best Actor for their role as Frankenstein at the Olivier.

The awards come as British theatre is enjoying global success.

Mark Rubinstein, president of the Society Of London Theatre who run the Oliviers, told Sky News that people want to go to the theatre now more than ever.

"It's against the backdrop of the doom and gloom of the recession. We all want to be transported, we all want the escapism that the theatre provides," he said.

"It's a unique experience - you can't get that from watching television or sitting in cinemas. They are great forms of entertainment but theatres offer something that is unique and special," he added.

The winners of the most high-profile awards:

Collaborators at the Cottesloe - Best New Play

Anna Christie at the Donmar Warehouse- Best Revival

Ruth Wilson for Anna Christie at the Donmar Warehouse - Best Actress

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller for Frankenstein at the Olivier- Best Actor

Sheridan Smith for Flare Path at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket- Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Sophia Kiely and Eleanor Worthington-Cox for the Matildas in Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge- Best Actress in a Musical

Bertie Carvel for Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge- Best Actor in a Musical

Nigel Harman for Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge- Best New Musical

Crazy For You at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre- Best Musical Revival

Matthew Warchus for Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge- Best Director (ANI)