Tim Minchin’s latest musical looks set to follow in the footsteps of his hit show Matilda.

After the huge success of Matilda the Musical – which won eight Olivier Awards, five Tonys and a record-breaking 13 Helpmanns – Tim Minchin’s latest musical Groundhog Day was hotly anticipated.

^{Andy Karl (centre) plays Phil Connors in Groundhog Day. Photo by Manuel Harlan}

The show opened overnight at London’s Old Vic Theatre and the critical response has been extremely positive. Based on the 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, it tells the story of Phil Connors, an arrogant, womanising, jaundiced Pittsburgh television weatherman who is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the hick town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Finding himself trapped in a time loop, he is forced to keep reliving the same day – and gradually becomes a better man.

Written by Minchin (music and lyrics) and Danny Rubin (who wrote the original film), and staged by the same creative team as Matilda, led by director Matthew Warchus, the show has drawn four and five star reviews. In a five-star review in The Independent, Dominic Cavendish said: “Something extraordinary has...