Olivier Theatre Awards Sees Daniel Radcliffe, Damian Lewis and Myleene Klass Arrive (PICTURES)

LOOK: Stars Arrive For Olivier Awards

Some of the biggest names in stage and screen have gathered at the Olivier Awards to celebrate the best of British theatre.

Stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Damian Lewis and Myleene Klass posed for photographers and signed autographs for fans on the red carpet outside the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, central London.

Other celebrities at the ceremony, hosted by Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville and actress Sheridan Smith, included Will Young and Sherlock star Lara Pulver.

Smith kicked off the show with a performance of Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend, followed by an appearance by the cast of Cabaret including Will Young before the first awards were handed out.

The production of American playwright Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night at the Apollo Theatre picked up the award for best revival.

Best actor in a supporting role went to Richard McCabe for his portrayal of former prime minister Harold Wilson in The Audience.

Accepting his award, he thanked his "extraordinary" co-star Helen Mirren who plays the Queen in the play which is based around the monarch's conversations with her prime ministers down the years.

Nicola Walker was named best actress in a supporting role for her performance in the National Theatre's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.

She said: "The truth about it is that every single day of rehearsals and every single performance is a prize, so this is completely overwhelming."

Speaking backstage, McCabe said the production had given him a respect for politicians.

He said: "They are decent people trying to do the best they can," and added he had heard "a rumour" the show might transfer to Broadway.

Awards for lighting, sound and set design went to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time with the gong for costume design going to Top Hat.

Goodnight Mister Tom won the award for entertainment and family show, while the musical Billy Elliot won the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award.

The award for outstanding achievement in dance went to Marianela Nunez for her performances with the The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House.

One of those performances, Aeternum, was named best new dance production.

The star of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Luke Treadaway, was named best actor.

Accepting his award from Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall, he said it was "amazing" to win.

He said: "I've loved working on this play ever since doing a workshop on it about two Decembers ago."

His co-star Walker said she could not put her finger on what made the National Theatre play so special.

Speaking backstage, she said: "I wish I knew because if I knew then maybe I would feel certain that I would get another go at a play like Curious.

"I don't know, it's something very magical."

Harry Potter star Radcliffe presented Dame Helen Mirren with the award for best actress for her role as the Queen in The Audience.

She paid tribute to the monarch who she said had put in the "most consistent and committed performance of the twentieth century and probably the twenty-first".

Playwright and novelist Michael Frayn, whose work includes the classic farce Noises Off, won a special award.

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