Patrick Stewart and Donmar triumph at the Olivier awards

Patrick Stewart, the classically trained actor who is perhaps best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek movies, emerged triumphant at the 33rd annual Laurence Olivier Awards, winning the best supporting actor gong for his portrayal of the scheming Claudius in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet.

Stewart (pictured with his daughter, Sophie), already a winner of two Oliviers in previous years, received the accolade at a ceremony in London on Sunday night. Doctor Who actor David Tennant, who played the Danish prince to much acclaim, was left off the shortlist after a back injury forced him to miss many of his West End performances last year. If he had been eligible, the best actor award might well have been his; instead it went to Sir Derek Jacobi for his portrayal of Malvolio in Twelfth Night at the Wyndham Theatre, which was a popular choice with the critics.

Twelfth Night was a Donmar Warehouse production. It was one of several triumphs for the Donmar under the leadership of Michael Grandage, who took over as artistic director from Sam Mendes in 2002.

Margaret Tyzack won best actress for her stellar performance as the self-obsessed Mrs St Maugham in The Chalk Garden, which was staged at the Donmar Warehouse theatre and also won best lighting design. Elena Roger was named best actress in a musical for her role as Edith Piaf in Piaf, which transferred to the Vaudeville from the Donmar.

The National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch, which had a highly successful run at the London's Barbican, secured the highest number of wins for an individual production. It received four awards: Gregory Burke for best new play; John Tiffany for best director; Steven Hoggett for best theatre choreographer; and Gareth Fry for best sound design. The play, which has toured across three continents, takes the viewpoint of the men of the legendary Black Watch Scottish regiment while on tour in Iraq.

The transfer of La Cage Aux Folles from the small 180-seat Menier Chocolate Factory to the Playhouse Theatre picked up two awards, with Douglas Hodge, who played the transvestite Albin, winning best actor in a musical. The production also won the best musical revival accolade.

Meanwhile, the Oliviers Special Award, which recognises outstanding contribution to the theatre, was presented to the playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn by Hollywood star Kevin Spacey and the actress Liza Goddard.