Arrivals at the Royal Albert Hall

A row of statues at the Olivier Awards

The cast of the opening number, written specifically for the ceremony, pose for a group photo during dress rehearsals

Staff at the Royal Albert Hall are briefed before the show

Nominee Rose Ayling-Ellis poses for a photo

Harriet Scott, who is presenting the best musical revival and original music or orchestrations awards alongside Ronan Keating, is shown a preview of the winner by a member of the Society of London Theatre team before going onstage to hand out the accolades

Presenter Es Devlin in makeup

Grease actors do a last minute warm up backstage at the 2023 Olivier Awards

Anjana Vasan, who won best supporting actress for her role in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Almeida Theatre, which was presented by Meera Syal (left) and Liz Carr

Inside the Presenter’s Room, Mark Strong (left), who presented the award for best director, and Callum Scott Howells, who presented the award for outstanding achievement in affiliate theatre along with Milly Alcock

Cast members of Sister Act wait backstage before performing an excerpt from the show

Jodie Comer, winner of the best actress award, emerges from the stage into the winners’ corridor

Eddie Izzard and Sheridan Smith backstage before presenting the award for best revival

Cush Jumbo takes her seat in the auditorium

Host presenter Hannah Waddingham heads to the stage

Anthony Van Last, creative director of the Olivier awards 2023, backstage with Lesley Joseph, who performed in an excerpt from Sister Act

Lenny Henry talks to Shanay Holmes backstage

Members of cast, crew, design and production for Standing at the Sky’s Edge, which won the best new musical award. From left to right: Tom Deering (music), Self Esteem (presenter), Lynne Page (choreography), Golda Rosheuvel (presenter), Chris Bush (writer), Maimuna Memon (actor), Ben Stones (lighting), Faith Omole (actor), Robert Hastie (director)

Beverley Knight in the winners’ corridor after winning the best actress in a supporting role in a musical award for her role in Sylvia at the Old Vic. Beverley also performed on stage twice, in excerpts of Sister Act and Sylvia

Richard Hawley (second left) and Tom Deering (third left) after being presented with their Olivier Award for best original score or new orchestration by Ronan Keating (left) and Harriet Scott. Hawley greeted the award with a particularly long acceptance speech

Paul Mescal, winner of the best actor award, walks along the winners’ corridor with the presenters of the award Aimee Lou Wood (left) and Sheila Atim

Derek Jacobi is presented with his lifetime achievement award by Anne Reid (right)

Marisha Wallace (right) and Arlene Phillips backstage after Marisha presented Arlene with her special award. Marisha was herself nominated as best actress in a supporting role in a musical for her performance in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at the Young Vic

Dita Von Teese (right) and Divina de Campo (left) with Kimie Nakano who won best costume design for My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican Theatre

Paul Mescal and Jodie Comer best actor and best actress