Olivier awards: British theatre's glittering evening in pictures

Elaine Paige arrives at the Olivier awards, held at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Pop idol winner and actor Will Young arrives Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Tim Minchin, who wrote music and lyrics for last year's big Olivier winner Matilda, arrives at the awards with his wife Sarah Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Summer Strallen strikes a pose Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

James McAvoy, who was nominated for best actor for playing the Scottish king in Macbeth, greets fans Photograph: Richard Young / Rex Features/Rex Features

Lara Pulver looks radiant in yellow Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

The Top Hat team assemble Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

Actor Lily James arrives at the Olivier awards Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Stars of The Bodyguard Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen join the party at the Olivier awards Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe, whose next theatre role is in The Cripple of Inishmaan in the West End, arrives at the Royal Opera House Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

British singer and actor Dionne Bromfield arrives at the Olivier awards Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

Nicola Walker, who won best supporting actress for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, arrives at the Royal Opera House Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Tom Hiddleston, who played Henry V in the BBC's Hollow Crown series on TV last year, waves to fans Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Cush Jumbo, who played Mark Antony in an all-female production of Julius Caesar at the Donmar last year, on the red carpet Photograph: Jonathan Hordle /Rex Features

Top Hat producers Bonnie Comley (right) and Stewart F Lane walk the red carpet before the Laurence Olivier awards Photograph: Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Helen Mirren, who is playing the Queen on stage in The Audience (following her Oscar-winning film performance in The Queen), takes to the red carpet Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

Best actress rivals Kristin Scott Thomas, nominated for Old Times, with Helen Mirren, nominated for The Audience, outside the Royal Opera House Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Kim Cattrall waves from the red carpet Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Hugh Bonneville and Sheridan Smith present the Olivier awards at the Royal Opera House Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features

Helen Mirren with her Olivier for best actress; she said the Queen deserved an award for 'the most consistent and committed performance of the 20th century and probably the 21st, too' Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Luke Treadaway scooped the best actor award for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, presented by Kim Cattrall Photograph: Joel Ryan/Invision/AP

Nicola Walker with her Olivier for best supporting actress; she plays the lead character's mother in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Her on-stage son Luke Treadaway also won best actor Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Playwright Simon Stephens and novelist Mark Haddon, winners of the Olivier for best new play for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Marianne Elliott, who won the Olivier for best director for her work on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, with presenter Lee Evans Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Michael Ball straightens his collar backstage before accepting the best actor in a musical award for playing the demon barber in Sweeney Todd Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Imelda Staunton toasts her success after winning the prize for best actress in a musical for Sweeney Todd Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, winners of best actor and actress in a musical for Sweeney Todd, enjoy a moment together Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Leigh Zimmerman celebrates her win for best performance in a supporting role in a musical for A Chorus Line Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Performers from the West End production of A Chorus Line. Leigh Zimmerman won the award for best supporting actor in a musical Photograph: Jonathan Hordle / Rex Features/Rex Features

Nica Burns and Kim Poster, winners of best revival for Long Day's Journey Into Night, have fun with their trophy Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Presenters Lara Pulver and Jonathan Bailey with the winners of the best lighting design (Paule Constable, centre) and best sound design (Ian Dickinson and Adrian Sutton, second left and second right) awards, all for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

British director Jonathan Kent poses for photographers after winning the award for best musical revival for Sweeney Todd Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Jon Morrell with his Olivier for best costume design for Top Hat Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Finn Ross and Bunny Christie, who won the award for best set design for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features

The Royal Ballet's Argentinian principal dancer, Marianela Núñez, wins an outstanding achievement in dance award, for her work on Aeternum, Diana & Actaeon and Viscera Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features

Outgoing Royal Court artistic director Dominic Cooke, winner of the outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre award for the Jerwood theatre's season of new writing Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Myleene Klass looks on as Linda Brumbach and Louise Jefreys, winners of the best new opera production for Einstein on the Beach, enjoy their moment Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features

Myleene Klass with US tenor Bryan Hymel, who won an outstanding achievement award for performances at the Royal Opera House in Les Troyens, Robert le Diable and Rusalka. He thanked his parents for driving him to many music lessons Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features

Billy Elliot The Musical won this year's BBC Radio 2 audience award
Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Choreographer and director Gillian Lynne, who received a special award, with David Suchet and Michael Crawford (who starred in her first Phantom of the Opera) Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Playwright and author Michael Frayn with his special achievement Olivier Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Marianne Elliott and Michael Crawford in make-up backstage at the Olivier awards
Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian