The Offies

The Off West End Theatre Awards
AbbreviationThe Offies
Formation2010; 14 years ago (2010)
TypeIndependent Theatre Awards
PurposeExcellence 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)
Staff2
Volunteersapproximately 60
Websiteoffies.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

Best Female Performance in a Play

Male Performance in a Play

Best Performance in a Play

Female Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play

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

Female Performance in a Musical [19]

Male Performance in a Musical

See also

References

  1. ^ "Offies2020 - 10th Annual Off West End Theatre Awards". britishtheatre.com. March 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "Offies 2021: Full list of Off West End Awards nominees". londontheatre.co.uk. February 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Offies Public Nominations for Offies awards 2011". offwestend.com. 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  4. ^ "Vote For Your Favourite Fringe Theatre". londonist.com. December 3, 2010.
  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.
  7. ^ a b "Winners of the Offies 2014". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
  8. ^ "Geoffrey Brown takes over OffWestEnd.com and the Offies". thestage.com. April 20, 2017.
  9. ^ "Union & Finborough Win Three at Inaugural 'Offies'". whatsonstage.com. 27 February 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  10. ^ "2011 Offie Winners Galore!!!! Read All About It!!". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  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.
  12. ^ "Full List of the winners of the Offies 2013". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  13. ^ a b c "2015 Offie Award Winners". oughttobeclowns.com. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  14. ^ "And The 2016 Offie Winners Are". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  15. ^ "2017 Winners of the Offies celebrate their awards at party in London". whatsonstage.com. April 24, 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "2017 Winners of the Offies announced". whatsonstage.com. February 26, 2017.
  17. ^ "Offie Finalists 2017". offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  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.
  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.
  20. ^ "10th Anniversary Offies Awards Ceremony 2020". offies.london. 8 March 2020.
  21. ^ a b "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.
  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.
  29. ^ a b "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.