This year’s Offies Awards ceremony was free and online – and announced winners for the Offies, the OffFest and also the new OnComms for online shows
Winners were announced in 25 Offies categories from amongst the live shows that returned to London stages from May 2021, and in eight OnComm categories from online shows from across the UK and beyond. Other awards announced included three Offiettes for shows for young people, and three OffFests for shows as part of theatre festivals. Three Special Awards were also announced and three new OneOff awards.
The awards ceremony was broadcast online on 20 February 2022 by Scenesaver. Representatives of all three main political parties sent messages of support – Lord Parkinson, Minister for Arts, Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP for the Labour Party and Rt Hon Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats. A number of those performing in past, current or previous OffWestEnd productions also sent messages of support, including Siân Phillips and Freddie Fox. The event also included clips from some past, current or previous OffWestEnd productions. Winners of the 2021 awards also participated by announcing the lists of finalists for each category.
The Offies are OffWestEnd’s main awards, for shows with at least 10 performances. This year’s Offies winners included shows at Above the Stag, the Bush Theatre, the Finborough, the Park Theatre and the Southwark Playhouse. Winners of the Offiettes awards included the Half Moon Theatre and the Barn Theatre/Boxless Theatre.
Three special awards were announced: Tom Littler, artistic director at Jermyn St Theatre received the Artistic Director award, Richard Lambert from LambCo Productions received the Producer’s award and Theatre Peckham received the award for Special Achievement.
Winners of the OnComm award for online shows included Cruise from Aria Entertainment and Henry V from Guildford Shakespeare Company. Winners of the OffFest were announced for three festivals, including the Camden Fringe, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Voila Europe festivals.
Three new OneOff awards were announced: for Original Theatre Online for its digital programme, Polka Theatre for its reopening following a major redevelopment programme, and The Cockpit, which is celebrating its 50th birthday. The results of the People’s Vote were also announced, where the public voted for their favourite theatre in a range of categories – the winners included Above the Stag, Drayton Arts Theatre, Jack Studio Theatre and Wilton’s Music Hall.
Geoffrey Brown, director of OffWestEnd, introduced the awards from the foyer of the Grand Hall at Battersea Arts Centre where the last live awards ceremony took place on 8 March 2020 – the week before lockdown was introduced. He said: “Though theatre returned in 2021, it has been a challenging year for OffWestEnd theatre venues – and not all have survived. However, we are delighted that this event has celebrated amazing and wonderful achievements – and a lot of very hard work – at over 60 OffWestEnd venues – as well as online theatre and fringe theatre at festivals around the UK. The Offies and our other awards help to recognise and celebrate the creativity, innovation and resilience of all those who have worked so hard to produce and present theatre in 2021.”
www.offies.london/2022-awards-ceremony
The winners in the MUSICALS categories are as follows:
SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Beth Burrows (Call Me Madam, Upstairs at the Gatehouse)
LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Lewis Cornay / Rachel Tucker (John and Jen, Southwark Playhouse)
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Benjamin Levy (Godspell, Ye Olde Rose and Crown)
DIRECTOR (MUSICALS)
Mykal Rand (Five Guys Named Moe, Upstairs at the Gatehouse)
MUSICAL PRODUCTION
The Pleasure Garden (Above The Stag)
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