A WEST End performer from Suffolk is 'over the moon' this week after the show she is performing in scooped four Laurence Olivier Awards. Emma Dodd, 30, from Dryden Road, Ipswich, stars in the musical Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

A WEST End performer from Suffolk is 'over the moon' this week after the show she is performing in scooped four Laurence Olivier Awards.

Emma Dodd, 30, from Dryden Road, Ipswich, stars in the musical Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

The American teen drama, which portrays an Ugly Betty-esque teenager's rags to riches success story, won four awards at the ceremony, including best new musical, best actress in a musical, best actor in a musical and best performance in a supporting role.

Emma, who plays the part of the female swing, said: “The buzz in the cast is amazing.

“We're all well excited to have won. I'm over the moon. About 16 of the creative guys from America flew over for the awards do and they are thrilled.”

The cast also had the privilege of performing at the awards bash at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London, on Sunday. Emma added: “It was brilliant. We all felt privileged to be there.”

Emma, who went to Thurleston High School, first started performing at the Company of Four in Woodbridge, since then she has appeared in numerous West End shows including Evita, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Starlight Express.

School-leaver Leanne Jones, from Romford, Essex, won best actress for her part as the lead character Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. Michael Ball was awarded best actor for his cross-dressing role as Edna Turnblad and Tracie Bennett picked up best performance in a supporting role.

Hairspray is the stage adaptation of John Waters' hit 1988 film and has been nominated for an unprecedented 11 gongs at Britain's top theatre award. It shows eight times a week to sell-out audiences and is thought to have generated £10m in revenue since it started in October last year.

A remake of the film, starring John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer, last year took $27m on its first weekend, a record for a film musical.

Emma is planning to run a series of West End musical workshops in Ipswich during the summer holidays for children.