Omar F. Okai

Omar F. Okai is an award-winning Director and Choreographer and the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the noted Okai Collier Company along with Simon James Collier. Omar has worked on several productions of which were not only in London’s West End and throughout the UK, but also in Europe. These include: Aladdin, Come Dancing & Hansel and Gretel (Theatre Royal, Stratford East); Collision (Movement Direction/Hackney Empire); The Smilin’ State (Hackney Empire); the Oliver Award nominated Cinderella for the Theatre Royal Stratford East; Five Guys Named Moe (German premiere, 2007/8); the World Premiere’s of Preacherosity and Viva O Carnaval; Sweet Charity (re-staging Bob Fosse’s original choreography); Rent; Cabaret; the European Premieres of both Ruthless (for which he won a Best Director award) and Purlie (nominated for four What’s On Stage awards); Honk and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

He is the Director of Urban Theatre, a project that encourages youth creativity within the community and has worked with the education departments at both Camden Roundhouse and The Royal Opera House. In addition to the above Omar is also an accomplished West End performer and writer, Okai also Co-Produced four West End Studio productions for Directors including Lynda Baron (The Dorchester) and Ruth Carney (My Matisse), along with Rowland Lee’s acclaimed Crusaid Requiem at St.Martin in the Fields and the HIV/AIDS Service of Remembrance at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

West End performing credits: Five Guys Named Moe (original cast), Sweet Charity, King and My One And Only. Other credits: Golden Boy, Elegies, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Tourette’s Diva.