A British theatre producer was hailed as the Queen of Broadway after two of her shows won six Tony awards.
Sonia Friedman Productions, which has won 22 Olivier Awards in the past three years and six Tony’s last year for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, was honoured this year for The Ferryman and Ink.
Friedman, the daughter of the Russian violinist Leonard Friedman, is also well-placed for Broadway success next year with the punt she took on the epic six-hour play The Inheritance, which is to transfer to the US.
She said yesterday that she was “thrilled that these wonderful productions have been recognised”.
Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman, which opened at the Royal Court in London and is set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, won best play, best costume design, best scenic design and best direction for Sam Mendes at the ceremony hosted by James Corden.
“I’m hugely grateful for the embrace New York has given this play and production,” Mendes said.
Ink, the tale of The Sun newspaper in the 1970s, written by James Graham and co-produced by the Almeida Theatre, won best lighting design and best featured actor for Bertie Carvel, who played Rupert Murdoch.