Omar Okai

Associate Director

Omar is the Co Director/Founder of The Black British Theatre Awards, now in its third year & the Black Theatre & Film Global Directory. He is the Artistic Director of The Okai Collier Theatre Co, nominated for a Peter Brook Award 2011 & 2014.

He is currently directing the world première of Coming to England, adapted from the novel by Baroness Floella Benjamin for Birmingham Rep. He was recently the Associate Director on the world premiere tour of Disney/Michael Harrison’s, Bedknobs and Broomsticks 2021/22. He received the Whatsonstage Best Director Award for Ruthless, also winning Best Musical Production.

As a director /choreographer of over seventy five productions, he has worked in many European countries including Spain, France & Germany. Omar has also worked extensively in Shanghai, China where he directed both Annie and Peter Pan. British theatre credits include The National Theatre - Honk! Villains Opera, (Associate Choreographer), English Speaking Theatre Frankfurt - Five Guys Named MoeCabaretRent, Theatre Royal Stratford East - Red Riding HoodCome Dancing, Birmingham Rep - Three Sisters, Holland Park Opera – Carmen.

Recently Omar was the Movement Director on the film Reshaped by Stephan Pierre Mitchell, a new director under the BAFTA wing.

Omar’s performing West End credits include the original Olivier Award winning show Five Guys Named MoeMy One and OnlySweet CharityHonk! & Candide.

Omar is also on the board of Mercury Musicals and strives to increase diversity in theatre, in all areas. His own musical Celia is currently being composed in NYC. He takes inspiration from this new work and the hard work of the cast and team.