THREE teenage unknowns from the hit musical Billy Elliot eclipsed Ewan McGregor, the A-list star of Guys and Dolls, at the 2006 Laurence Olivier Awards last night.

James Lomas, 15, George Maguire, 15, and Liam Mower, 13 — who took it in turns to play the boy who chooses ballet over boxing — pirouetted to a joint win of the Best Actor in a Musical award, securing a place in the Oliviers’ 30-year history as the youngest-ever winners.

Billy Elliot, which went from silver screen to theatre gold, was showered with awards: Best New Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer and Best Sound Design went to Lee Hall and Sir Elton John, Peter Darling and Paul Arditti respectively at the ceremony hosted by Richard Wilson at the London Hilton.

In the centenary of Henrik Ibsen’s death, Sir Richard Eyre’s production of Hedda Gabler — at the Almeida and Duke of York’s — won Best Director, Best Revival and Best Set Design. Its lead actress, Eve Best, was named as Best Actress for her chilling portrayal of the title role, which The Times said was “perfection”.

The Best Actor prize went to Brian Dennehy’s “brilliant” Willy Loman in the late Arthur Miller’s masterpiece Death Of A Salesman. He fought off competition from Richard Griffiths, Sir Derek Jacobi, Con O’Neill and David Threlfall. Sir Ian McKellen’s outstanding contribution to theatre, from Shakespeare to pantomime, was recognised with the Special Award.

There were disappointments for some who had garnered nominations. Michael Grandage’s acclaimed production of Schiller’s Don Carlos, starring Jacobi, took only one award — for Best Lighting Design — despite six nominations. The National Theatre left empty- handed after seven nominations.

English National Opera had known it would be collecting awards: four of its productions — Britten’s Billy Budd, Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito, Puccini’s Madam Butterfly and Bernstein’s On The Town — had taken all the nominations for Best New Opera Production. The prize went to Butterfly , a sumptuous staging by Anthony Minghella and his wife, the choreographer Carolyn Choa. Minghella, currently directing the film Breaking and Entering, said: “This is a huge boost for ENO, which has not been enjoying the most comfortable time recently. Not withstanding that, it’s been pleasing its audiences. It’s a great orchestra, a great chorus and a great company.”

ENO had also produced the nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. The award went to the baritone Simon Keenlyside for his irrepressibly joyous portrayal of the title role in the Britten opera and his performance of Winston in the Royal Opera’s 1984, by Lorin Maazel.

MAIN AWARDS

Best Actress Eve Best for Hedda Gabler at the Almeida and Duke of York’s

Best Actor Brian Dennehy for Death of a Salesman at the Lyric

Best Performance in a Supporting Role Noma Dumezweni for A Raisin In The Sun at the Lyric Hammersmith

Best New Play On The Shore Of The Wide World by Simon Stephens at the Cottesloe

Best New Comedy Heroes by Gerald Sibleyras, translated by Sir Tom Stoppard, at Wyndham’s

Best Entertainment Something Wicked This Way Comes at the Cambridge

Best New Musical Billy Elliot: The Musical book and lyrics by Lee Hall, music by Sir Elton John

Outstanding Musical Production Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly

Best Actress in a Musical Jane Krakowski for Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly

Best Actor in a Musical James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower for Billy Elliot

Best Director Sir Richard Eyre for Hedda Gabler at the Almeida and Duke of York’s

Best New Dance Production Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant’s Push at Sadler’s Wells

Best New Opera Production ENO’s Madam Butterfly, London Coliseum

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