Broadway has the Tony Awards, and London's West End has the Olivier Awards. Yesterday, the nominees for this season were announced.
Matilda the Musical, based on the classic Roald Dahl children's book, earned a maximum possible 10 nominations, the BBC is reporting. These include a collective nod for all four young actresses who play the title role in the RSC production. The show, which has songs by comedian Tim Minchin, is running at the Cambridge Theatre and will reportedly transfer to Broadway in 2013. Bertie Carvel is nominated for best actor in a musical for his performance as child-tossing tyrant Miss Trunchbull. Paul Kaye, who plays Matilda's father, is up in the best supporting actor in a musical category.
Musical productions Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre (which opens on Broadway this month) and the National Theatre's London Road have five and four nominations, respectively. Comedies One Man, Two Guvnors (also coming soon to Broadway) and The Ladykillers lead the way in the plays category with five nominations each. One Man, Two Guvnors star James Corden is up for best actor against David Haig for The Madness of George III, Douglas Hodge for Inadmissible Evidence, and Jude Law for Anna Christie. The category is completed by a joint nomination for Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller for Frankenstein.
Winners will be announced at the Olivier Awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 15 April, hosted by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton.