Abbreviation | The Offies |
---|---|
Formation | 2010 |
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 |
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.
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]
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] |
Plays
Musicals & Opera
Design
Productions for Young People
Special
Other
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
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Off West End refers to theatres in London which are not included as West End theatres. The term is a relatively recent one, coined after the similar American term "off-Broadway". It is usually used synonymously with the more widespread term Fringe, but sometimes is also used to refer to more mainstream or commercial theatre which is located within London but outside the centre, or to especially small and non-commercial theatres located within the centre. According to London Theatre, "Smaller theatres, including many pub theatres, are called Fringe, although some of these small theatres are also called Off West End, particularly those located in the West End of London, where most of the big commercial theatres are. These small theatres can vary in size, with seating capacities of around 40 to 400."
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