A stage version of a novel about a boy with autism is the front-runner for Britain’s top theatre prizes with eight Olivier Award nominations, while actress Helen Mirren was shortlisted for reprising her role as Queen Elizabeth.

London theatres have enjoyed a ninth successive year of record box office in 2012

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a play based on Mark Haddon’s 2003 award-winning novel of the same title, opened at the National Theatre in London in 2012 and transferred to London’s West End theatre district this year.

Organisers of the awards said its nominations included Best New Play, best director, best actor for Luke Treadaway, best actress in a supporting role, as well as best lighting, sound, and set design, and best theatre choreographer.

The new musical, Top Hat, based on the film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, received the second most nominations, put forward in seven categories.

The West End transfer of a revival of the musical Sweeney Todd about the demon barber of Fleet Street received six nominations, while The Audience, starring Mirren as the Queen, and musical Kiss Me, Kate received five each.

Mirren, 67, was nominated for best actress after playing Queen Elizabeth II for a second time. She won a best actress Oscar in 2007 for her performance in the film The Queen.

She is up against another renowned British actress, Kristin Scott Thomas, 52, for her role in Old Times. Also vying for the top female award are singer-turned-actress Billy Piper in The Effect and Hattie Morahan in A Doll’s House.

Rupert Everett was nominated for best actor for The Judas Kiss, competing alongside James McAvoy for Macbeth, Mark Rylance for Twelfth Night, Rafe Spall for Constellations and Treadaway.

London theatres have enjoyed a ninth successive year of record box office in 2012 with figures showing they earned £530 million (€648.8 million) last year.

The winners of the Olivier Awards will be announced on April 28.