Off West End Award nominations for RADA graduates

The Off West End Awards (Offies) gather nominations throughout the calendar year to celebrate the excellence and innovation independent theatre across London. As we approach the halfway point of the year, several RADA graduates have already made the longlist.

In the category for Best Male in a Play, Irfan Shamji has been nominated for his role in the world premiere of Mayfly at the Orange Tree Theatre. Irfan graduated in 2017, starting his career by playing Laertes in Hamlet directed by Kenneth Branagh at RADA. He will next be seen at the Royal Court in One for Sorrow. Also nominated is Michael Matus for Broken Glass at the Watford Theatre; Michael has performed frequently with the RSC, amongst other theatre and RTV credits, and will soon appear in King Lear at the the Duke Of York's with Sir Ian McKellen.

In Best Female in a Play, graduate Louise Jameson is nominated twice, for both My Gay Best Friend at the Hope Theatre and Vincent River at the Park Theatre. Also shortlisted is RADA graduate, associate teacher and Council member Tanya Moodie for Rasheeda Speaking at Trafalgar Studios 2; veteran actress Sheila Hancock for Harold And Maude at Charing Cross Theatre; and Laura Rogers for Pressure at the Park Theatre, which is transferring to the West End from 6 June.

The Offies also recognise talent behind the scenes, and this year RADA-trained lighting designer Peter Small has also been nominated for Best Lighting Designer, for his work on Black Mountain at the Orange Tree Theatre. His recent credits also include All Or Nothing, which recently transferred to the West End, Out of Love by Paines Plough at the Orange Tree and UK tour, Old Fools at Southwark Playhouse, and Ad Libido at the Vaults Festival.

Keep an eye on the Offies website for more nominations throughout the rest of the year.