The Offies

The Off West End Theatre Awards
Abbreviation	The Offies
Formation	2010; 14 years ago
Type	Independent Theatre Awards
Purpose	Excellence in Off West End Theatre
Region served	United Kingdom
Official language	English
Patron	Kathy Burke (since 2010)
Founders	Sofie Mason & Diana Jervis-Read
Chief Executive	Geoffrey Brown (since 2017)
Staff	2
Volunteers	approximately 60
Website	offies.london; www.offwestend.com

The Off West End Theatre Awards, nicknamed The Offies, were launched in 2010 to recognise and celebrate excellence, innovation and ingenuity of independent Off West End theatres across London. Over 80 theatres participate in the awards, with more than 400 productions being considered annually by a team of 40 assessors, with the winners chosen by a select panel of critics.

History

The Off West End Theatre Awards were launched in 2010 by Sofie Mason and Diana Jervis-Read^[1] to commemorate and recognise on and off-stage talent within the theatre industry of around 80 of London's independent Off West End theatres.^[2]^[3] The first-ever award ceremony for The Offies was held on 27 February 2011 with Simon Callow hosting the event.^[4] The aim of the awards is to help raise the profile and status of independent theatres in London by rewarding productions not eligible for the Society of London Theatre-Laurence Olivier Awards.^[5] The winners are selected by a panel of theatre critics.^[6]

In 2014, Phoebe Waller-Bridge won two Off West End Theatre awards for her one-woman show Fleabag at the Soho Theatre.^[7]

In 2017, Geoffrey Brown replaced Sofie and Diana as director.^[8]

Ceremony

Date	Award Ceremony Host	Awards Venue	Ref.
27 Feb 2011	Simon Callow	Wilton's Music Hall, Shadwell	^[9]^[10]
5 Feb 2012	Louise Jameson	Theatre Royal Stratford East	^[11]
24 Feb 2013	Simon Callow		^[12]
2 Mar 2014	Louise Jameson	Unicorn Theatre, Southwark	^[7]
20 Apr 2015	Louise Jameson		^[13]
28 Feb 2016	Ian McKellen (via Twitter)		^[14]
26 Feb 2017	Patrick Stewart (via Twitter)	The May Fair Hotel, Mayfair	^[15]^[16]^[17]
4 Mar 2018	Amy Lamé	Albany Theatre, Deptford	^[18]
31 May 2019	Geoffrey Brown		^[19]
8 March 2020	Lyn Gardner, Danielle Tarento, Julie Ward, Winsome Pinnock, Lynette Linton	Grand Hall at the Battersea Arts Centre	^[20]
20 February 2022	Online	Online	^[21]
12 February 2023		Alexandra Palace Theatre	^[22]
25 February 2024		Woolwich Works	^[23]

Award categories

Plays

Performance Piece (Non-binary)
Female Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play
Female Performance In a Play
Male Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play
Male Performance In a Play
Most Promising New Playwright
New Play
Director
Production

Musicals & Opera

Female Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Female Performance in a Musical
Male Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Male Performance in a Musical
Musical Director
Director
New Musical
Musical Production
Opera Production

Design

Costume Design
Sound Design
Set Design
Lighting Design
Video Design

Productions for Young People

Ages 0–7
Ages 8+
Ages 13+

Special

Artistic Director
Producer
Special Achievement

Other

IDEA (Innovative / Devised / Experimental / Atypical)
Choreography/Movement
Performance Ensemble
Company Ensemble
TBC (shows that don't fit other categories)

Recent finalists and winners

Recent winners and nominations have included:^[19]

Performance Piece

2019 Arinzé Kene in Misty at the Bush Theatre (winner) ^[19]
2019 Bryony Kimmings in I'm a Phoenix, Bitch at the Battersea Arts Centre (Nom) ^[19]

Best Female Performance in a Play

2015 Linda Bassett in Visitors at the Bush Theatre and Arcola Theatre (winner) ^[13]
2015 Shannon Tarbet in The Edge Of Our Bodies at the Gate Theatre (Nom) ^[13]
2017 Louise Jameson in The Diva Drag at The Hope (Nom) ^[16]
2017 Rona Morison in The Diary of a Teenage Girl at the Southwark Playhouse (Nom) ^[24]
2017 Jenna Russell in Grey Gardens at the Southwark Playhouse (Nom) ^[16]
2018 Mimi Ndiweni in The Convert at the Gate Theatre (winner) ^[18]
2018 Lucy Robinson in Late Company at the Finborough Theatre (Nom) ^[18]
2019 Sarah Niles in Leave Taking at the Bush Theatre (winner) ^[19]
2019 Louise Jameson in Vincent River at the Park Theatre (Nom) ^[19]
2019 Monica Dolan in The B*easts at the Bush Theatre (Nom) ^[19]
2019 Sinéad Cusack in Stitchers at the Jermyn Street Theatre (Nom) ^[19]
2021 Jessica Rhodes in The Sugar Syndrome at the Orange Tree Theatre (winner)^[25]
2021 Ailsa Joy in Not Quite Jerusalem at the Finborough Theatre (Nom)
2021 Athena Stevens in Scrounger at the Finborough Theatre (Nom)
2021 Breffni Holahan in Collapsible at the Bush Theatre (Nom)

Male Performance in a Play

2017 John Ramm in Sheppey at the Orange Tree Theatre (winner) ^[16]
2017 Phil Dunster in Pink Mist at the Bush Theatre (Nom) ^[16]
2017 Paul Keating in Kenny Morgan at the Arcola Theatre (Nom) ^[16]
2018 Ben Aldridge in Run The Beast Down at the Finborough Theatre (winner) ^[18]
2018 Ken Nwosu in An Octoroon at the Orange Tree Theatre (winner) ^[18]
2018 Ian McDiarmid in What Shadows at the Park Theatre (Nom) ^[18]
2019 Harry McEntire in Homos, or Everyone in America at the Finborough Theatre (Nom) ^[19]

Best Performance in a Play

2022 Rosemary Ashe in Call Me Madam at the Upstairs at The Gatehouse (Nom) ^[21]

Female Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play

2018 Jo Martin in Doubt: A Parable at the Southwark Playhouse (winner) ^[18]
2018 Sinead Matthews in Loot at the Park Theatre (Nom) ^[18]
2018 Vivian Oparah in An Octoroon at the Orange Tree Theatre (Nom) ^[18]

Male Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play ^[19]

2018 Tom Rhys Harries in The Pitchfork Disney at the Shoreditch Town Hall (winner) ^[18]
2018 Danny Hatchard in Eyes Closed, Ears Covered at The Bunker (theatre) (Nom) ^[18]
2019 Wil Johnson in Leave Taking at the Bush Theatre (winner)
2019 Malcolm Sinclair in Pressure at the Park Theatre (Nom)
2019 Nitin Ganatra in End of the Pier at the Park Theatre (Nom)

Female Performance in a Musical ^[19]

2019 Caroline O’Connor in The Rink at the Southwark Playhouse (winner)
2021 Frances Barber in Musik at the Leicester Square Theatre (winner)^[26]
2021 Molly Lynch in The Last 5 Years at the Southwark Playhouse (Nom)
2022 Rachel Tucker in John & Jen at the Southwark Playhouse (winner)^[27]
2023 Liv Andrusier in Ride at the Charing Cross Theatre (winner)^[28]

Male Performance in a Musical

2020 Keith Ramsay in Preludes at the Southwark Playhouse (winner)^[29]
2020 Richard Shelton in Sinatra: Raw at Crazy Coqs / Brasserie Zedel (Nom)^[29]
2022 Lewis Cornay in John & Jen at the Southwark Playhouse (winner)^[30]
2023 Luke Bayer in Diva: Live from Hell at the Turbine Theatre (winner)^[31]

References

^ "Offies2020 - 10th Annual Off West End Theatre Awards". britishtheatre.com. March 10, 2020.
^ "Offies 2021: Full list of Off West End Awards nominees". londontheatre.co.uk. February 21, 2021.
^ "The Offies Public Nominations for Offies awards 2011". offwestend.com. 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
^ "Vote For Your Favourite Fringe Theatre". londonist.com. December 3, 2010.
^ "Eligible venues". londonist.com. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ "Off West End Announce Offies 2018 Finalists and Awards Event". londontheatre1.com. January 24, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Winners of the Offies 2014". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
^ "Geoffrey Brown takes over OffWestEnd.com and the Offies". thestage.com. April 20, 2017.
^ "Union & Finborough Win Three at Inaugural 'Offies'". whatsonstage.com. 27 February 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
^ "2011 Offie Winners Galore!!!! Read All About It!!". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
^ "2012 Offie Winners Announced at a fabulous award ceremony at Theatre Royal Stratford East..." offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
^ "Full List of the winners of the Offies 2013". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2015 Offie Award Winners". oughttobeclowns.com. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
^ "And The 2016 Offie Winners Are". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
^ "2017 Winners of the Offies celebrate their awards at party in London". whatsonstage.com. April 24, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "2017 Winners of the Offies announced". whatsonstage.com. February 26, 2017.
^ "Offie Finalists 2017". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Offies 2018 winners announced | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "The Offies 2019 Winners announced". mrcarlwoodward.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
^ "10th Anniversary Offies Awards Ceremony 2020". offies.london. 8 March 2020.
^ ^a ^b "The Offies 2022 Finalists and Nominations". offies.london. 20 February 2022.
^ "The Offies 2023 Awards – Winners announced | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ "The Offies Awards 2024: celebrating the best and supporting inclusiveness - Theatrefullstop". 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ "2017: Full Run: Plays: Female Performance – Rona Morison – The Diary Of A Teenager Girl". offies.london. 2017.
^ "2021 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ "2021 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ "2022 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ "The Offies 2023 Awards – Winners announced | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ ^a ^b "10th Anniversary Offies 2020 - Nominations - Winners". offies.london. 2020.
^ "2022 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ "The Offies 2023 Awards – Winners announced | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

External links

[off2020-1] "Offies2020 - 10th Annual Off West End Theatre Awards". britishtheatre.com. March 10, 2020.

[Lon-2] "Offies 2021: Full list of Off West End Awards nominees". londontheatre.co.uk. February 21, 2021.

[off-3] "The Offies Public Nominations for Offies awards 2011". offwestend.com. 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-01.

[simon-4] "Vote For Your Favourite Fringe Theatre". londonist.com. December 3, 2010.

[elig-5] "Eligible venues". londonist.com. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[6] "Off West End Announce Offies 2018 Finalists and Awards Event". londontheatre1.com. January 24, 2018.

[off2014-7] "Winners of the Offies 2014". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-06.

[offdirectorchange-8] "Geoffrey Brown takes over OffWestEnd.com and the Offies". thestage.com. April 20, 2017.

[first-9] "Union & Finborough Win Three at Inaugural 'Offies'". whatsonstage.com. 27 February 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.

[off2011-10] "2011 Offie Winners Galore!!!! Read All About It!!". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-05.

[off2012-11] "2012 Offie Winners Announced at a fabulous award ceremony at Theatre Royal Stratford East..." offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-28.

[off2013-12] "Full List of the winners of the Offies 2013". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-23.

[off2015-13] "2015 Offie Award Winners". oughttobeclowns.com. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.

[off2016-14] "And The 2016 Offie Winners Are". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-10.

[mayfair-15] "2017 Winners of the Offies celebrate their awards at party in London". whatsonstage.com. April 24, 2017.

[feb2017-16] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "2017 Winners of the Offies announced". whatsonstage.com. February 26, 2017.

[off2017-17] "Offie Finalists 2017". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-10.

[off2018-18] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Offies 2018 winners announced | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-10-01.

[off2019-19] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "The Offies 2019 Winners announced". mrcarlwoodward.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-01.

[cer2020-20] "10th Anniversary Offies Awards Ceremony 2020". offies.london. 8 March 2020.

[off2022-21] "The Offies 2022 Finalists and Nominations". offies.london. 20 February 2022.

[22] "The Offies 2023 Awards – Winners announced | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[23] "The Offies Awards 2024: celebrating the best and supporting inclusiveness - Theatrefullstop". 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[rona-24] "2017: Full Run: Plays: Female Performance – Rona Morison – The Diary Of A Teenager Girl". offies.london. 2017.

[25] "2021 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[26] "2021 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[27] "2022 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[28] "The Offies 2023 Awards – Winners announced | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[ram-29] "10th Anniversary Offies 2020 - Nominations - Winners". offies.london. 2020.

[30] "2022 Finalists & Nominations". The Offies. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[31] "The Offies 2023 Awards – Winners announced | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

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