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Hairspray scoops 4 UK awards
10/03/2008 09:52 - (SA)
London - The flamboyant retro musical Hairspray
swept the board on Sunday at the prestigious Laurence Olivier
Awards in London.
Nominated for a record 11 prizes Hairspray scooped four
awards at a star-studded ceremony hosted by actor Richard E
Grant as its stars Michael Ball and Leanne Jones were honoured
as best actor and actress in a musical category.
The box office smash was also named best new musical, while
Tracie Bennett won an award for best performance in a supporting
role in a musical.
Chiwetel Ejiofor's Othello fought off stiff competition from
Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, John Simm and Mark Rylance to
clinch the best actor award.
Kristin Scott Thomas was best actress for her critically
acclaimed performance in The Seagull, while Rupert Goold was
named best director for Macbeth.
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber was given a special
award in recognition of the work he has done in popularising
theatre.
During 2007 London's West End theatre district posted 13.6
million box-office admissions.
Box office receipts were boosted by shows such as The Sound
of Music revival, which had tie-ins to TV reality shows that
picked its stars in talent contests.
The awards were launched in 1976 to recognise excellence on
the London stage.
A full list of winners is at http://www.olivierawards.co.uk.
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