OffWestEnd announced its successor at a glittering award ceremony at the Woolwich Works on Sunday 25 February.
Denholm Spurr has been involved with OffWestEnd and The Offies for 12 years, originally serving as an assessor in 2012, before going on to produce both live and cyber ceremonies for the brand.
He’ll be taking over from Geoffrey Brown who recently announced he’ll be stepping down as Director from July this year.
In a speech at the end of the ceremony, Spurr celebrated the outgoing director,’s “tremendous tenure” and named Brown as “a mentor, a friend, and a constant inspiration”.
Spurr also used his speech to outline his “unreservedly radical” mission statement as he becomes the youngest ever Director of the organisation, which was established in 2005 and founded the OffWestEnd Awards (The Offies) in 2010. He also paid tribute to OffWestEnd founded Sofie Mason & Diana Jervis-Reed who “unified” the sector through the organisation.
In his speech, Spurr candidly outlined the struggles he has faced as an artist and theatremaker in London — including experiencing homelessness and turning to “unconventional means” to sustain his creative career:
“That’s precisely why I’m taking on this role. I want to serve the community that has brought me so much joy despite the struggles. My tenure as Director of The Offies will be unreservedly radical, marked by a fearlessness in advocating for our community – for practitioners, for venues facing funding and lease dramas, and for producers investing in big ideas. I want to be a supporter of, a voice for and a collaborator with our community.”
He issued an open invitation to all UK creatives to get in touch to share their vision of how OffWestEnd can better help support the industry.
He concluded by congratulating this years winners and finalists, a full list of which can be found here
