Matilda sweeps the board at the Olivier Awards

2012-04-16 1

Delight for the young stars of musical Matilda.

The West End show won a record breaking seven Olivier Awards, including best actress for the girls who take turns playing the title role.

Cleo Demetrio was at a loss for words.

SOUNDBITE: Cleo Demetriou, actress, saying (English):

"Oh....oh...oh....well, I just want to say...."

Overwhelmed initially, they soon recovered.

Cleo Demetrio, Kerry Ingram, Sophia Kiely and Eleanor Worthington Cox loved collecting their award:

SOUNDBITE: Matilda girls - Kerry Ingram, Sophia Kiely, Eleanor Worthington Cox and Cleo Demetriou, actresses, saying (English):

Eleanor: "It was like two of our normal theatres plus like nine of our normal crowds. It was amazing!"

Cleo: "I was just like 'wow - what do I do next?'

Sophia: "It's so cool to be in the Royal Opera House because I mean like it's not really an every day chance that you'll get to go there so it's quite exciting."

Based on Roald Dahl's story about a little girl who stands up to her bullying parents - Matilda The Musical won more Olivier Awards on one night than any show has ever done.

Scooping seven gongs - it overtook previous record holder Nicholas Nickleby - which took home six statues in 1980.

Not only that, the girls are apparently the youngest stars to ever win an Olivier.

SOUNDBITE: Matilda girls - Kerry Ingram, Sophia Kiely, Eleanor Worthington Cox and Cleo Demetriou, actresses, saying (English):

Reporter: "Did you think you would win?"

All: "No!"

Eleanor: "Because we're children it's quite, well, it's a massive honour to actually win one, let alone be nominated for one!"

Cleo: "We really thought someone more experienced would have won the award as we're not that experienced."

Eleanor: "Maybe the other way around - I may have got a bit mixed up there."

Other winners included Jonny Lee Miller for his role in Frankenstein.

While lyricist Tim Rice received a special award.

However it was these lively girls and their musical who stole the night.

Sarah Mills, Reuters

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