Billy Elliot is top musical

Billy Elliot danced his way to best musical at this afternoon's Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Sir Elton John, who wrote the music, and director Stephen Daldry were at the Savoy to pick up the prize.

The best actor and actress awards went to Simon Russell Beale for The Philanthropist and Harriet Walter for Mary Stuart.

Billy Elliot, about a Tyneside boy who dreams of being a ballet dancer, leapt above Mary Poppins and The Big Life to capture the highly coveted prize and crown a remarkable transition from film to stage.

Sir Elton, Daldry, lyricist Lee Hall and executive producer David Furnish were presented with the award by Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, guest principal at The Royal Ballet. The next step for Billy Elliot, which continues to play to full houses at the Victoria Palace, is to transfer to Broadway.

Russell Beale landed the best actor award for his performance as a frustrated academic in the successful Donmar Warehouse revival. He beat competition from Sir Derek Jacobi in Don Carlos and Brian Dennehy in Death Of A Salesman.

Russell Beale is in America, preparing to play King Arthur in the Monty Python musical Spamalot. His award, presented by former Evening Standard Theatre Award winner Felicity Kendal, was collected by The Philanthropist's writer, Hampton. Russell Beale, 44, joins an elite band of stage greats, including Lord Olivier and Paul Scofield, to have won our best actor accolade three times.

The Donmar had plenty to celebrate at this year's awards, compered by Ned Sherrin. Schiller's Mary Stuart had played at the Donmar before transferring to the Apollo. Harriet Walter's award, for her performance as Elizabeth I, was presented by Richard Griffiths-The other best actress nominees-were Clare Higgins, Eve Best and Kristin Scott Thomas.

The Donmar's artistic director Michael Grandage won the Sydney Edwards award for best director for both Don Carlos and Grand Hotel. Joseph Fiennes, who can be seen in Epitaph For George Dillon, presented Grandage with his award. Veronica Wadley, editor of the Evening Standard, told the audience that London theatregoers had enjoyed "a stimulating and innovative year".

Best play went to Brian Friel's drama The Home Place. It was presented by Sinead Cusack, who won our award for best actress in 1998. The award cemented Friel's status as the greatest living Irish playwright. This year has also witnessed successful revivals of his plays Translations and Aristocrats.

Mary Poppins may have been beaten by Billy Elliot as best musical, but Sir Cameron Mackintosh's show did not go home empty-handed. Bob Crowley was presented with the best designer award by American star Gillian Anderson.