The Train Theatre – the only Israeli theatre company to visit the UK this year when it came to JW3 in July – has been nominated for two Offie (Off West End) Awards.

Once Upon a World is the most popular production from Israel’s Train Theatre, a puppet troupe creating storytelling shows for children that won awards at the Haifa Children’s Theatre Festival.

The show is nominated in the Offies’ theatre for young audiences categories for performance and design. Once Upon a World was created by choreographer and dancer Aviv Horovitz, who performs alongside fellow dancer Yuval Finkelstein, while Aviv’s father Michael Horovitz, an award-winning puppet maker, designed the puppets and set.

Aviv Horovitz said, “I am very excited and grateful for our nominations with Once Upon a World. It gives hope that our small actions in this world are valuable and are seen; I feel visible for who we are as artists and as human beings who, through imagination, are trying to make this world a brighter place.”

The show is designed to make culture accessible to everyone and break down barriers

Train Theatre’s CEO Kobi Frig said, “We were very happy to hear about it and surprised. We know that the show is good, but in this political time and situation we didn’t think that it’s an option. We hope that they will vote as professionals.”

Non-verbal, the show is about bravery and is designed to make culture accessible to everyone while breaking down barriers, at a time when cultural boycotts have been rife in the UK.

JW3’s programming director William Galinsky, who brought the show to the venue for three days in July, said: “This confirms that The Train Theatre is one of the world's great children's theatre companies, which was something I knew when I went to see them in Jerusalem. I'm really glad that the Offies judges agreed with me. It just proves that wonderful art transcends national boundaries, transcends conflict. And I feel immensely heartened that the judges came to the venue to see a company from Israel and judged the work on its own merit.

He added, “We believe that wherever art comes from, it's really important that it's allowed to speak. And this is an award-winning show, and the Offies judges recognised that in nominating it. Let's see what happens with the awards ceremony next year.”

Nicknamed the Offies, the Off West End Theatre Awards were launched in 2010 to recognise and celebrate excellence, innovation and ingenuity at independent theatres beyond the West End across London. The winners will be announced at the Offies Awards Ceremony in February 2025.