Olivier awards 2009: the winners

The cast of the RSC's Histories celebrate their best company perfomance award, presented by Gillian Anderson. The Histories also won for best costume design Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

Derek Jacobi poses with the best actor award for Twelfth Night, presented by Sian Phillips Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

John Tiffany poses with his best director award for Black Watch Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

Black Watch was also named best new play, and won awards for best theatre choreographer and best sound design Photograph: Manuel Harlan/PR

Margaret Tyzack beat her Chalk Garden co-star Penelope Wilton to the best actress award at the Oliviers. The Donmar's production of The Chalk Garden also won the award for best lighting design Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty Images

Douglas Hodge – seen here without feather boa and sequins – was named best actor in a musical for his turn in La Cage aux Folles. The award was presented by Sheridan Smith Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

La Cage aux Folles was also named best musical revival. Here, Terry Johnson, David Babini and Sonia Friedman celebrate with Jason Donovan, who presented the award Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

La Clique, the burlesque and circus show at the Hippodrome, was named best entertainment Photograph: Guardian

Elena Roger poses with her best actress in a musical Olivier award for Piaf, which was presented by Dominic Cooper Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

August: Osage County at the Lyttelton has been nominated for best company performance, best new play and best set design. Deanna Dunagan (far right) has been nominated for best actress Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Zorro's Lesli Margherita won best performance in a supporting role in a musical Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

Jersey Boys beat Zorro to the best new musical award Photograph: Tristram Kenton

God of Carnage was named best new comedy Photograph: Tristram Kenton

The Pride, starring JJ Feild and Lyndsey Marshal, won the Royal Court the Olivier award for outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Patrick Stewart's turn as Claudius in the RSC's Hamlet won him the award for best performance in a supporting role Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images

Pina Bausch's double bill of The Rite of Spring (above) and Cafe Müller at Sadler's Wells won the award for best new dance production Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Impressing the Czar, performed by the Royal Ballet of Flanders, won the award for achievement in dance, beating the Royal Ballet and Savion Glover Photograph: Feriet Tunc/PR

English National Opera's Partenope, starring Christine Rice and Rosemary Joshua, was named best new opera production Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Conductor Edward Gardner won the award for achievement in opera Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Sir Alan Ayckbourn, whose Norman Conquests was staged at the Old Vic last year, poses with his special Olivier award Photograph: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images