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Harry Potter play triumphs at Olivier theater awards

Xinhua, April 10, 2017 Adjust font size:

The stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" won nine awards on Sunday evening at the annual Olivier Awards for British theater.

The play is adapted from a book by Potter author JK Rowling and won awards for best new play, best actor (Jamie Parker, playing an adult Harry Potter) best supporting actress (Noma Dumezweni), best supporting actor (Anthony Boyle) best sound, lighting, best costume, best design, and best director (John Tiffany).

Parker's success in the best actor category saw him beat American film star Ed Harris, and film and stage star Sir Ian McKellen.

The Potter play had been nominated in a record 11 categories.

Potter director Tiffany said that the Harry Potter phenomenon "had changed many lives".

Tiffany said Potter's success was the work of writer Rowling.

"She loves the arts, she loves opportunity and she is an inspiration to all of us involved in the play," said Tiffany.

The play continues to run at the Palace Theater in London's West End theater district, where it premiered last summer.

Billie Piper was among the few from the stage world who broke the Potter grip on the coveted Olivier awards, named after 20th century stage and film star Laurence Olivier.

Piper won the best actress award for her performance in "Yerma" at the Young Vic Theater. "Yerma" also won the best revival award.

The new play "Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour" at the National Theater was named best comedy.

Conductor Mark Wigglesworth won the outstanding achievement in opera award for his conducting of "Lulu" and of "Don Giovanni" at the Royal Opera House, and "Akhnaten" was named best new opera production.

"Red Shoes" was named best family entertainment and Matthew Bourne picked up an award as best choreographer for his work on the show.

Best musical revival was "Jesus Christ Superstar".

Sir Kenneth Branagh, actor-manager and film star, was given a Special Award for his services to the theater.

Earlier in the evening Caro Newling, president of the Society of London Theater (SOLT) said that 14.3 million people had attended theaters in London in the previous year, with gross box-office revenue of 644.7 million pounds (797.7 million U.S. dollars) in 2016, up from 633.7 million pounds in 2015. Endit