LONDON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- "Paddington The Musical" won big at Britain's top theater honors, the Olivier Awards, on Sunday, with seven prizes as a ceremony marking the awards' 50th anniversary was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The new musical about the marmalade-loving bear took home Best New Musical, Best Director, Best Actor in a Musical and both supporting performance awards in the musical categories. The production has also proved a box-office success in London, with some performances selling out and its West End run extended to Feb. 14, 2027.
In the straight-play categories, Jack Holden won Best Actor for "Kenrex," while Rosamund Pike took Best Actress for "Inter Alia." Written by Suzie Miller, "Inter Alia," in which Pike is still starring in London, tells the story of a London Crown Court judge struggling to balance justice, motherhood and family life after a shattering event upends her world.
Best New Play went to James Graham's "Punch," while Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" won Best Revival.
Among the musical honors, Rachel Zegler won Best Actress in a Musical for "Evita," while "Into the Woods" took Best Musical Revival. James Hameed and Arti Shah shared Best Actor in a Musical for their joint portrayal of "Paddington The Musical."
The ceremony opened with "Masquerade" flowing into "The Phantom of the Opera," in a tribute to the musical, which will mark its 40th anniversary in London's West End later this year.
First presented in 1976, the Olivier Awards are widely regarded as Britain's most prestigious theater awards.
