The Finborough and Landor Theatres were among the winners at the 2012 Off West End Theatre Awards, or ‘Offies’, which were announced yesterday (5 February 2012).
The Offies were launched in 2010 to” recognise and celebrate the excellence, innovation and ingenuity of independent theatres across London”.
The long list of nominees is proposed by 40 Off West End Assessors over the calendar year who see over 300 shows in independent theatres across London. All productions taking place at over 100 theatres listed on OffWestEnd.com are eligible for nomination (with a minimum requirement of a 3 week run).
The shortlist of finalists and subsequent winners was chosen by a panel including Mark Shenton (Sunday Express, The Stage), Ian Shuttleworth (Financial Times), Matt Wolf (International Herald Tribune), Daisy Bowie-Sell (The Telegraph), Andrzej Lukowski (Time Out), Paul Vale (The Stage) and Roger Foss (LBC).
This year’s winners are:
Best Female Performance: Vinette Robinson for Tender Napalm at Southwark Playhouse
Best Male Performance: Aden Gillett in Accolade at the Finborough
Best New Play: Knot of The Heart by David Eldridge at the Almeida
Most Promising New Playwright: Dawn King for Foxfinder at the Finborough
Best Director: Blanche McIntyre for Accolade at the Finborough
Best Lighting Designer: Howard Hudson for Burlesque at Jermyn Street, Ragtime and Hired Man at the Landor
Best Set Designer: Ruth Sutcliffe for Kingdom of Earth at The Print Room
Best Sound Designer: Neil Alexander for Snake in The Grass at The Print Room
Best Costume Designer: Martin Thomas for Ragtime at the Landor
Best Movement: Joe Darke for Bound at the Southwark Playhouse
Best Ensemble: Ragtime at the Landor
Best Production: Accolade at the Finborough
Best Production for Young People: The Tin Soldier by Tangere Arts at the Unicorn
Best Entertainment: This is Where We Got To When You Came In at the Bush
Best New Musical: Burlesque at Jermyn Street Theatre
Best Musical Production: The Hired Man at the Landor
Best Producer: Danielle Tarento
Best Artistic Director: Neil McPherson at the Finborough
Special Achievement Award: Sam Walters at the Orange Tree Theatre