Southwark Playhouse Titanic big winner at Off West End Awards

Titanic the Musical at the Southwark Playhouse swept the board at The Offies 2014. Picture: Roy Tan

The Southwark Playhouse’s production of the musical Titanic swept the boards at this year’s Off-West End Theatre Awards (also known as The Offies via OffWestEnd.com). The annual event, dedicated to promoting the myriad small independent theatres throughout London took place at the Unicorn Theatre near London Bridge.

The new production of Titanic, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone, was directed by Thom Southerland and received glowing notices from audiences and critics alike last summer. Only last week the production won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Fringe Production.

The show also picked up the award for Best Choreographer for Cressida Carre’s work with the company plus awards for Best Costume (David Woodhead) and Best Lighting Design (Howard Hudson).

Southerland, who collected the award on behalf of the company, has just returned from New York, where he has completed casting for the Toronto transfer of Titanic, which is expected to hit Broadway later in 2014. His producer Danielle Tarento, who joined Southerland on stage, spoke once again of the necessity to recognise musical directors at awards such as these.

The award for Best Director was presented to Michael Strassen for his production of the musical Billy, which ran at the Union Theatre early in 2013. The Union Theatre’s artistic director Sasha Regan, who is currently producing a tour of the All-Male H.M.S. Pinafore was also presented with the award for Best Producer.

The award for Best New Musical was given to Glasgow Girls, a production from the National Theatre of Scotland and the Glasgow Citizens Theatre, which ran in February last year.

Musical theatre winners were as follows:

Best Director – Michael Strassen for Billy at the Union Theatre.

Best Producer – Sasha Regan at the Union Theatre.

Best Lighting Designer – Howard Hudson for Titanic at the Southwark Playhouse and Lizzie Siddal at the Arcola Theatre.

Best Costume Designer – David Woodhead for Titanic and Lizzie Siddal at the Arcola Theatre.

Best Choreographer – Cressida Carre for Titanic.

Best Musical Production – Titanic.

Best New Musical – Glasgow Girls at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Readers may also be interested in:

Maury Yeston and Titanic – Interview

Michael Strassen has ‘a great deal to say’ – Interview

Sasha Regan’s All Male H.M.S. Pinafore – Touring – Review