Sharif Afifi
{{Short description|English stage actor}}
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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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/michaels-home-with-musical-wonderland-860217|title=Michael's home with musical Wonderland|journal=Blackpool Gazette|date=4 April 2017|first=Michael|last=Morgan|accessdate=15 October 2023}} He is of Egyptian descent. He trained in Professional Musical Theatre at the Hammond School in Chester.{{Cite web|url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/actor/sharif-afifi|title=Sharif Afifi - West End Performers|website=London Theatre Direct|accessdate=15 October 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehammond.co.uk/alumni-destinations|title=Alumni & Destinations|website=The Hammond School|accessdate=15 October 2023}}
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{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/James-Gilan-and-Paul-Spicer-Lead-World-Premiere-of-THE-8TH-FOLD-at-Duchess-Theatre-Nov-10-20130802|title=James Gillan and Paul Spicer Lead World Premiere of THE 8TH FOLD at Duchess Theatre, Nov 10|website=BroadwayWorld|first=Christina|last=Mancuso|date=2 August 2013|accessdate=15 October 2023}} and on the UK tour of Wonderland,{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/frank-wildhorns-wonderland-announces-casting-for-new-uk-touring-production|title=Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland Announces Casting for New U.K. Touring Production|journal=Playbill|first=Mark|last=Shenton|date=17 August 2016|accessdate=15 October 2023}} 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{{Cite web|url=https://ilovemanchester.com/review-toyboy-diaries-hope-mill-theatre|title=Review: The Toyboy Diaries at Hope Mill Theatre|website=I Love Manchester|first=Glenn|last=Meads|accessdate=15 October 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/sharif-afifi/|title=Biography: Sharif Afifi|website=A.R.T.|accessdate=15 October 2023}} 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{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/rscs-the-magicians-elephant-musical-announces-initial-casting_54454/|title=RSC's The Magician's Elephant musical announces initial casting|website=WhatsOnStage|first=Alex|last=Wood|date=9 July 2021|accessdate=29 July 2021}} and the Sunset Boulevard concert at Alexandra Palace,{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/200790/ramin-karimloo-joins-londons-sunset-boulevard-concert/|title=Ramin Karimloo Joins London's Sunset Boulevard Concert|website=Broadway.com|first=Caitlin|last=Moynihan|date=17 May 2021|accessdate=15 October 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eif.co.uk/archive/you-bury-me#programme|title=You Bury Me|website=Edinburgh International Festival|accessdate=15 October 2023}}
For his performance in The Band's Visit at Donmar Warehouse in 2022,{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-bands-visit-review|title='The Band's Visit' review|website=Time Out London|first=Andrzej|last=Lukowski|date=7 October 2022|accessdate=15 October 2023}} 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{{Cite web|url=https://www.eno.org/artists/sharif-afifi/|title=Sharif Afifi - My Fair Lady|website=English National Opera|date=28 April 2023|accessdate=6 July 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/watch-amara-okereke-perform-the-light-in-the-piazza_57793/|title=Watch Amara Okereke perform "The Light in the Piazza"|website=WhatsOnStage|first=Alex|last=Wood|date=22 November 2022|accessdate=6 July 2023}}
Stage
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | 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 |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| The Toyboy Diaries | Toyboy 2 | Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester |
| Hadestown
| Worker | National Theatre, London |
| rowspan="2" | 2019
| Karim | American Repertory Theater, Massachusetts |
| On Your Feet!
| Ensemble / Emilio Estefan cover | UK tour |
| rowspan="4" | 2021
| 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 |
| Rumi: The Musical
| Sultan Valed | rowspan="2" | London Coliseum, London |
| rowspan="4" | 2022
| 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
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Ref heading}} |
|---|
| 2023
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | The Band's Visit | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|10005463}}
- [https://www.spotlight.com/0939-5612-3067 Sharif Afifi] at Spotlight
{{DEFAULTSORT:afifi, sharif}}
Category:Actors from Lytham St Annes
Category:English male musical theatre actors
Category:English people of Egyptian descent