Faith Omole
Other namesFaith Syrstad (married name)
Birth date1992 (age 34–35)
Alma materRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
SpousePaul Syrstad
OccupationActress · singer · playwright · screenwriter
Faith Omole
Awards2024 - Alfred Fagon Award
GenreDrama
Notable worksMy Father's Fable (2024)

Faith Omole (born 1992) is a British actress and playwright of Nigerian heritage.[1][2] Having appeared in several West End productions, Omole is the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her role in Standing at the Sky's Edge.[3] On television, she is known for her role in the Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts (2021–2024). Omole is also a playwright, having won the Alfred Fagon Award for her (unproduced) play, Kaleidoscope (2023). Her debut play, My Father's Fable, was staged at Bush Theatre in 2024.[4]

Early life

Omole was born and raised in London[5][2] to parents who were born in Nigeria.[1] She spoke of her upbringing in an immigrant household: "You'd go to school and felt like you were someone else, then when you got home and were in a Nigerian home."[5] Omole's brothers, Kenneth and John, are also actors.[2][6]

Omole was introduced to the theatre world at school, where she enjoyed drama lessons.[7] She later trained as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.[8][9]

Career

As actress

Before debuting in the West End, Omole performed in a number of touring productions across various theatres in the UK. Notably, she was in the original cast of Chris Urch's The Rolling Stone, which premiered at the Royal Exchange, Manchester in 2015,[10] followed by performances in Leeds and London.[11][12] The play's run at Orange Tree Theatre was nominated for Best Production at The Offies in 2017.[13]

Omole's first West End role was as Mabel Chiltern in the 2018 production of An Ideal Husband at Vaudeville Theatre.[14] She has also appeared in a number of Shakespeare productions, namely Twelfth Night (Manchester, 2017),[15] A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Globe, 2019),[16] and King Lear (Almeida, 2024).[7][17]

Omole originated the role of Joy in the musical Standing at the Sky's Edge, premiered at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 2019.[18] She reprised the role when the musical was revived in Sheffield in 2022[19] and for its transfer to the National Theatre in 2023.[20] For her performance, Omole was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2023.[3]

Omole is also best known for her TV role on both seasons of Channel 4 musical-comedy series We Are Lady Parts (2021-2024), created by Nida Manzoor.[21] In the show, she co-stars as Bisma, the bassist and backing vocalist of Lady Parts, a punk band made up of all Muslim women.[22] She learned to play the bass via online lessons in preparation for the role.[23]

As writer

Omole wrote her first play in between rehearsals and shows.[2] For her work Kaleidoscope (2023), yet to be produced, she won the Alfred Fagon Award, awarded to a new play by a Black British author.[24] Her first play to be staged was My Father's Fable, which ran at the Bush Theatre in 2024, with BAFTA-winning actress Rakie Ayola in the cast.[5] The production was positively received, with 4-star reviews from The Guardian,[4] WhatsOnStage,[25] and BroadwayWorld.[26] Before being staged, My Father's Fable had previously been longlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award in 2021.[27]

Omole co-wrote and co-produced Angel Studios series Testament (2025) with her husband Paul Syrstad and her brother Kenneth.[2][28]

Omole has said to feel excited about creating opportunities for other Black actresses as she herself has noticed, herself as an actor, the lack of roles written for Black women.[29][5]

Personal life

Omole met her husband Paul Syrstad when they both studied acting at university. She is sometimes credited as Faith Syrstad, her married name.[28]

Acting credits

TV

YearTitleRoleNetwork / Production companyNotes
2021-2024We Are Lady PartsBismaChannel 4 / Working Title TelevisionMain role

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenue(s)/ProductionNotes
2013RoadkillMaryCarnegie Hall, Dunfermline
Dundee Repertory Theatre
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen		[30]
2015-2016The Rolling StoneWummieOrange Tree Theatre
Royal Exchange, Manchester
Leeds Playhouse		[31][11][12]
2017Twelfth NightViolaRoyal Exchange, Manchester[15]
2018An Ideal HusbandMabel ChilternVaudeville Theatre[14]
2019Standing at the Sky's EdgeJoyCrucible Theatre[32]
A Midsummer Night's DreamHermiaShakespeare's Globe[16]
2021White NoiseMishaBridge Theatre[33]
2022-2023Standing at the Sky's EdgeJoyCrucible Theatre[32]
2023Olivier Theatre[32]
2024King LearReganAlmeida Theatre[17]
2025Intimate ApparelMaymeDonmar Warehouse[34]

Writing credits

YearTitleNotable productionsNotes
2023KaleidoscopeUnproducedWinner of the Alfred Fagon Award (2024)[24]
2024My Father's Fable2024 - Bush Theatre[1]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2021Alfred Fagon AwardMy Father's Fable[27]
2023Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Actress in a MusicalStanding at the Sky's Edge[3]
Alfred Fagon AwardKaleidoscope[24]

References

  1. ^ Fearon-Melville, Sabrina (2024-06-27). "In Conversation: Faith Omole". THE FLOOR MAG. Archived 2026-01-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  2. ^ Bennett, Tyler (2025-06-25). "Actress and playwright Faith Omole’s hidden London". www.thetimes.com. Archived 2025-07-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  3. ^ Glynn, Paul (28 February 2023). "Olivier Awards 2023: Jodie Comer and Paul Mescal nominated for theatre prizes". BBC News. Archived 28 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  4. ^ Ryan, Anya (2024-06-23). "My Father’s Fable review – a slick delve into identity and complicated family relationships". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  5. ^ Bamigboye, Baz (2024-05-01). "Breaking Baz: ‘We Are Lady Parts’ Star Faith Omole Pens Debut Play For London Stage; Off-Broadway’s ‘Titanique’ Sets Course For West End". Deadline. Archived 2024-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  6. ^ MaGee, Ny (2025-07-14). "Kenneth Omole and John Omole on Portraying Apostles in Angel Studios’ 'Testament' | EUR Video Exclusive". EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  7. ^ Mokrynski, Kat. "Interview: 'I've Never Played a Character Like Her': Actor Faith Omole on Power, Intense Rehearsal and Taking on the Role of Regan in KING LEAR". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived 2024-04-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  8. ^ "2023 Olivier Award Nominations". The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  9. ^ "Alumni News Roundup - Autumn 2021". The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  10. ^ "Theatre review: The Rolling Stone from Royal Exchange Theatre at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester". British Theatre Guide. 2015-04-21. Archived 2025-03-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  11. ^ Hickling, Alfred (2015-04-29). "The Rolling Stone review – a crusading attack on Uganda’s anti-gay law". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  12. ^ "Review: Anna Karenina, Courtyard Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds; The Rolling Stone, also West Yorkshire Playhouse". York Press. 2015-05-23. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  13. ^ "Winners of the Offies announced". WhatsOnStage. 2017-02-26. Archived 2025-09-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  14. ^ "Review: An Ideal Husband (Vaudeville Theatre)". 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  15. ^ Hickling, Alfred (2017-04-21). "Twelfth Night review – drunken debauchery topped off with a traffic cone". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  16. ^ "Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare's Globe)". 2019-07-04. Archived 2025-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  17. ^ "King Lear Almeida Theatre". Plays International & Europe. 2024-02-19. Archived 2026-03-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  18. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Full Casts Announced For Sheffield Theatres' HANG And STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  19. ^ "Standing at the Sky’s Edge – Review – Sheffield Crucible, 2022". On: Yorkshire Magazine. 2022-12-16. Archived 2025-11-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  20. ^ "Standing at the Sky's Edge (2023) | London Theatre | Musical | National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Archived 2025-06-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  21. ^ "Interview with Faith Omole – Bisma | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Archived 2024-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  22. ^ Sweeting, Adam (2021-05-21). "We Are Lady Parts, Channel 4 review - female Muslim punk band rocks the house". theartsdesk.com. Archived 2026-03-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  23. ^ blackfilm (2021-07-02). Faith Omole talks 'We are Lady Parts'. Retrieved 2026-02-26. – via YouTube
  24. ^ "2023 Award". Alfred Fagon Award. Archived 2026-02-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  25. ^ "My Father’s Fable at Bush Theatre – review". 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  26. ^ Markosky, Cheryl. "Review: MY FATHER'S FABLE, Bush Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived 2024-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  27. ^ "2021 Award". Alfred Fagon Award. Archived 2026-04-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  28. ^ "Paul Syrstad's 'Testament' is this year's must-watch series". rollingout.com. 2025-08-05. Archived 2025-08-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  29. ^ "FAITH OMOLE - interview • Afridiziak Theatre News". www.afridiziak.com. 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  30. ^ Fisher, Mark (2013-09-11). "Fringe hit Roadkill returns for tour with new cast". The Scotsman. Archived 2025-12-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  31. ^ Trueman, Matt (2016-01-19). "London Theater Review: ‘The Rolling Stone’". Variety. Archived 2022-08-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  32. ^ Williams, Holly (2024-02-10). "Standing at the Sky’s Edge is a Sheffield success story, but can a musical about Park Hill make it in London’s West End?". Sheffield Tribune. Archived 2026-01-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  33. ^ Akbar, Arifa (2021-10-13). "White Noise review – an enormous provocation of a play". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  34. ^ Swain, Marianka (2025-06-27). "'Intimate Apparel' review — there is not a stitch wasted in this beautifully crafted show". London Theatre. Archived 2026-03-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.