Sharif Afifi

Sharif Afifi
Years active2012–present

Sharif Afifi is an English stage actor. For his performance in The Band's Visit, he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. Was also in the "Cats Musical".

Early life

Afifi grew up in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.[1] He is of Egyptian descent. He trained in Professional Musical Theatre at the Hammond School in Chester.[2][3]

Career

Afifi's early work from 2012 to 2017 included a minor role in Rent at Greenwich Theatre, ensemble and understudy roles in The 8th Fold at the Duchess Theatre[4] and on the UK tour of Wonderland,[5] and as Munkustrap in the Royal Caribbean production of Cats. In 2018, he appeared in The Toy Boy Diaries at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester[6] and Hadestown at the National Theatre in London. In 2019, he made his U.S. stage debut as Karim in We Live in Cairo at the American Repertory Theater.[7] He also went on the UK tour of On Your Feet! as a cover and in the ensemble.

In 2021, Afifi appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre production of The Magician's Elephant[8] and the Sunset Boulevard concert at Alexandra Palace,[9] and originated the roles of Sultan Valed on the Rumi: The Musical concept album and Osman in You Bury Me at Edinburgh Fringe Festival respectively.[10]

For his performance in The Band's Visit at Donmar Warehouse in 2022,[11] Afifi was nominated for the 2023 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Also in 2022, he played Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the London Coliseum production of My Fair Lady[12] and starred in Omar Baroud's presentation of After Elijah at The Other Palace. He reunited with Amara Okereke from My Fair Lady for The Light in the Piazza concert at Alexandra Palace.[13]

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Rent Junkie Greenwich Theatre, London
2013 The 8th Fold Ensemble Duchess Theatre, London
2015 Cats Munkustrap Royal Caribbean
2017 Wonderland Ensemble / Cheshire Cat understudy UK tour
2018 The Toyboy Diaries Toyboy 2 Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Hadestown Worker National Theatre, London
2019 We Live in Cairo Karim American Repertory Theater, Massachusetts
On Your Feet! Ensemble / Emilio Estefan cover UK tour
2021 Sunset Boulevard Artie Green Concert; Alexandra Palace Theatre, London
The Magician's Elephant Milliner / Dance Teacher / Police Officer Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
You Bury Me Osman Edinburgh International Festival
Rumi: The Musical Sultan Valed London Coliseum, London
2022 My Fair Lady Freddy Eynsford-Hill
After Elijah The Other Palace, London
The Band's Visit Haled Donmar Warehouse, London
The Light in the Piazza Giuseppe Naccarelli Concert; Alexandra Palace Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2023 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical The Band's Visit Nominated [14]

References

  1. ^ Morgan, Michael (4 April 2017). "Michael's home with musical Wonderland". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Sharif Afifi - West End Performers". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Alumni & Destinations". The Hammond School. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  4. ^ Mancuso, Christina (2 August 2013). "James Gillan and Paul Spicer Lead World Premiere of THE 8TH FOLD at Duchess Theatre, Nov 10". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  5. ^ Shenton, Mark (17 August 2016). "Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland Announces Casting for New U.K. Touring Production". Playbill. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  6. ^ Meads, Glenn. "Review: The Toyboy Diaries at Hope Mill Theatre". I Love Manchester. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Biography: Sharif Afifi". A.R.T. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  8. ^ Wood, Alex (9 July 2021). "RSC's The Magician's Elephant musical announces initial casting". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  9. ^ Moynihan, Caitlin (17 May 2021). "Ramin Karimloo Joins London's Sunset Boulevard Concert". Broadway.com. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. ^ "You Bury Me". Edinburgh International Festival. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  11. ^ Lukowski, Andrzej (7 October 2022). "'The Band's Visit' review". Time Out London. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Sharif Afifi - My Fair Lady". English National Opera. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  13. ^ Wood, Alex (22 November 2022). "Watch Amara Okereke perform "The Light in the Piazza"". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  14. ^ Glynn, Paul (28 February 2023). "Olivier Awards 2023: Jodie Comer and Paul Mescal nominated for theatre prizes". BBC News. Retrieved 28 February 2023.