Olivier hat trick for Mendes

The Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes picked up three Laurence Olivier awards today, including the best director and best revival gongs for his repertory productions of Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya.

He was also given a special award to mark his 10 years as artistic director at the Donmar Warehouse theatre, which he left last year after a decade of consistently acclaimed productions for a new career as a Hollywood film director.

Mendes, who is currently working in New York where Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya have transferred, and preparing for a new production of Gypsy, was given his awards on Wednesday in a surprise presentation.

Also honoured for his final season's work was Sir Trevor Nunn of the National Theatre. He may have been overlooked for directing honours, but his productions won a clutch of other Oliviers, including outstanding musical production for the ecstatically received Anything Goes, as well as musical acting honours for Alex Jennings and Joanna Riding for My Fair Lady. Riding's award follows Martine McCutcheon's for the same role in last year's awards.

A particularly strong field of nominees in the best dramatic actress category produced a winner in Clare Higgins for Vincent in Brixton, beating out the much fancied Hollywood pair of Emily Watson for Twelfth Night and Gwyneth Paltrow for Proof.

In the best new musical category, heart won over dazzle as the Madness musical Our House beat out the Andrew Lloyd Webber Bollywood spectacular Bombay Dreams.

Full list of winners

· Best director - Sam Mendes (Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya, Donmar Warehouse).

· Best actress - Clare Higgins (Vincent In Brixton, Cottesloe/Wyndham's Theatre).

· Best actor - Simon Russell Beale (Uncle Vanya, Donmar Warehouse).

· Best performance in a supporting role - Essie Davis (A Streetcar Named Desire, Lyttelton Theatre).

· BBC award for best new play - Vincent In Brixton (Cottesloe and Wyndham's Theatre).

· Best revival - Twelfth Night/Uncle Vanya (Donmar Warehouse).

· Outstanding musical production - Anything Goes (Olivier Theatre).

· Best actor in a musical or entertainment - Alex Jennings (My Fair Lady, Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

· Best actress in a musical or entertainment - Joanna Riding (My Fair Lady, Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

· Best performance in a supporting role in a musical or entertainment - Paul Baker (Taboo, The Venue).

· Best entertainment - Play Without Words (Lyttelton Theatre).

· Best new comedy - The Lieutenant Of Inishmore (The Pit/ The Garrick).

· Best new musical - Our House (Cambridge Theatre).

· Best costume design - Twelfth Night (Shakespeare's Globe).

· Best theatre choreographer - Matthew Bourne and company (Play Without Words, Lyttelton).

· Outstanding achievement in opera - Antonio Pappano (for opening season as music director of Royal Opera House).

· Best new opera production - Wozzeck (Royal Opera House).

· Outstanding achievement in dance - Robyn Orlin (Daddy, I've Seen This Piece Six Times And I Still Don't Know Why They're Hurting Each Other, The Pit).

· Best new dance production - Danses Concertantes' Polyphonia (Sadler's Wells).

· Outstanding achievement of the year - Gregory Doran and cast of Jacobean Season (Gielgud Theatre).

· Best lighting design - Bacchai (Olivier Theatre).

· Best set design - A Streetcar Named Desire (Lyttelton Theatre).

· Most promising playwright - Charlotte Eilenberg (The Lucky Ones, Hampstead Theatre).

· Most promising performer - Noel Clarke (Where Do We Live, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court).

· Special award - Sam Mendes (for his 10 years as artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse).