While some commentators might have guessed that Six the Musical would be a big winner at the Offies 2019 Awards presented by Off West End, it was The Rink at Southwark Playhouse that ended the evening with a count of five gongs, including a double whammy win for actresses Gemma Sutton and Caroline O’Connor. How did your favourite do?
Winners of the Offies 2019 Awards, held in the refurbished Grand Hall at Battersea Arts Centre were announced in what was the ninth year of the awards presented by Off West End. In 2018, Offies assessors were invited to 400 shows across 80 venues across London, resulting in 430 nominations in 28 Offies categories.
Among the musicals, The Rink at Southwark Playhouse was a big winner in four categories (Choreography: Fabian Aloise, Musical Director: Joe Bunker, Musical Production) including a double victory for actresses Gemma Sutton and Caroline O’Connor for Best Female Performance in a Musical category.
Elsewhere, there were acting plaudits for Gary Trainor for Rothschild & Sons at the Park Theatre; Mairi Barclay in Pippin at the Southwark Playhouse; and Rob Houchen in Eugenius! at the Other Palace. Grindr the Opera at the Above the Stag was named Best New Musical and Gabriella Slade was honoured for her costume design for Six at the Arts Theatre. The Bush Theatre’s production of Arinzé Kene’s Misty (which transferred to the West End) was recognised as Best Performance Piece.
Special awards acknowledged the work of the Bush Theatre’s artistic director Madani Younis, David Jupp for reopening Battersea Arts Centre’s Grand Hall and producer Sally Wood (Wasted at Southwark Playhouse).
Geoffrey Brown, director of Off West End, said:
“I am more than delighted that the diversity of talent and creativity presented at off west end theatres was recognised and celebrated in such style. And what a breadth of shows and themes: from a kids show about penguins to an opera about Grindr, from a beatbox youth ensemble to a musical in a skating rink, the Offies highlight all that is thriving beyond the traditional west end circuit.”
Full list of Offies winners – Musicals & Opera
Male Performance In A Supporting Role In A Musical
Gary Trainor in Rothschild & Sons at the Park Theatre
Female Performance In A Supporting Role In A Musical
Mairi Barclay in Pippin at the Southwark Playhouse
Male Performance In A Musical
Rob Houchen in Eugenius! at the Other Palace
Female Performance In A Musical
Caroline O’Connor and Gemma Sutton in The Rink at the Southwark Playhouse
New Musical
Grindr the Opera at the Above the Stag
Choreography
Fabian Aloise in The Rink at the Southwark Playhouse
Musical Director
Joe Bunker in The Rink at the Southwark Playhouse
Musical Production
The Rink at the Southwark Playhouse
Costume Design
Gabriella Slade for Six at the Arts Theatre
