It was time to raise the curtain and light the lights for what’s fast become one of the most anticipated theatre awards ceremonies outside of the Oliviers; The Off West End Awards (Offies). Despite the snow, the awards ceremony ploughed on despite some of the guests and winners unable to make it.
The awards are dedicated to everything fringe and beyond; promoting, showcasing, and awarding the best in small and off beat plays and musicals. The ceremony, held at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, was packed to the rafters with press, sponsors, actors, and keen supporters of Off West End theatre.
Stepping in for the larger than life Simon Callow last minute to compere the awards was Louise Jameson who effortlessly led the informal and uproarious ceremony, a tribute in itself to the tireless work of the Offies director Sofie Mason. Each of the presenters also regaled the audience with their cherished memories and anecdotes of the fringe, including renowned comic actress, Alison Steadman.
The judging panel was made up of theatre critics including Matt Wolf, Mark Shenton, and also past So So Gay writer Tom Wicker. Alongside the panel the public also had a say with their opinion for Best Male and Female Performance, as well as Best Theatre Bar, Best Theatre Foodie Experience, and Most Welcoming Theatre.
The Finborough took centre stage over the course of the evening, with artistic director Neil McPherson winning Best Artistic Director, beating off two other tiny behemoths The Union, and The Landor. Also their productions of Accolade and Foxfinder collected several awards between them. For Accolade the unstoppable Blanche McIntyre received Best Director, as well as Nicola Seed winning Best Production. Best Male Performer went to Aden Gillet who played dubious double-life writer Will Trenting
McIntyre told us she was ‘absolutely delighted to have won’. As someone who is no stranger to the small stage, McIntyre is not shy about why she thinks people should the shabby and often surprising chic of the fringe circuit rather than the ritz and glitz of theWest End. ‘It’s more likely to be risk taking and more likely to be unusual. You could get something absolutely terrible. But when you get something extraordinary you will be part of a very small select crowd who found it.’
Now an award winning producer, Seed also talked to us about why fringe theatre is a place of thriving creativity despite massive funding cuts. ‘To be able to do shows at smaller theatres is a brilliant way to produce as you’re more risk taking. If it fails the damage is a lot less on such a small budget.’
It was also great to see The Print Room pick up awards for two of their shows, especially as 2011 was their Freshman year. Snake in the Grass won Best Sound Designer (Neil Alexander) as well as William Dudley being nominated for Best Set Design. Whilst little known Tennessee Williams play Kingdom of Earth picked up Best Set Designer (Ruth Sutcliffe).
It was a great evening for Danielle Tarento too, who won Best Producer after her extraordinary work on Parade, Burlesque, Noel & Gertie, and Company, to name but a few productions, galvanising her excellent work which can currently be seen at the Arcola Theatre with The Pitchfork Disney.
So So Gay favourite Ragtime picked up awards for Best Lighting Designer (Howard Hudson), Best Ensemble, and Best Costume Designer (Martin Thomas) as well as Robert McWhir being nominated for Best Director.
We caught up with with judging panellist Wicker, who explained why he loves the boldness of the shows that fringe theatres put on, and why the movement is important for theatre. ‘Accolade was a revival of a play that would never have received any air time in the West End, which turned out to be as fresh, and as interesting, and as engaging as anything being written now.’
Again, like Seed, he feels that it’s the budgetary constraints that inspires the innovation as well as the platform for new writers such as Most Promising New Playwright Dawn King who wrote Foxfinder. ‘When you are faced with minimal or non-existent budget it makes you think, it makes you creative, and it forces you to not be lazy or conventional.’
And for the rest? Vinette Robinson won Best Female Performance for her blinding role in Philip Ridley’s Tender Napalm, Burlesque won Best New Musical, and David Eldridge collected Best New Play for his challenging meditation on middle-class drug abuse in The Knot of the Heart. Also, Sam Walters received a Special Achievement Award for his work across four decades at the Orange Tree in Richmond.
The Off West End Awards 2012 took place on 7 February 2012 at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, London, E15 1BN. For more information about Off West End and the awards, visit www.offwestend.com.
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