Hammed was in the Youth Theatre at Half Moon. He is now an actor with credits at the Bridge Theatre (where he won the Best Supporting Actor at the WhatsOnStage Awards for his role as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Lyric Hammersmith, National Theatre and Manchester Royal Exchange to his name.
In March 2024 he was nominated for Best Male Performance in a Comedy at the Bafta TV Awards 2024, for his role in BBC One comedy series Black Ops.
In November 2025, Hammed become an official Patron of the organisation. A former member of Half Moon’s Youth Theatre, Hammed credits the company with playing a vital role in his journey as a performer and in building his confidence and self-esteem as a young person growing up in East London.
On becoming a Patron, Hammed said:
“Half Moon is where it all began for me. I was incredibly lucky to have a local schoolteacher who saw something in me and encouraged me to give it a try. Joining the Youth Theatre at Half Moon changed my life – it gave me a voice, a space to be myself and, most importantly, it gave me confidence.
“I started out acting at Half Moon and then ended up ushering and working in the box office – the whole experience was a gateway into the world of theatre. To now return as a Patron is a huge honour. I owe so much to Half Moon, and I will always be grateful for the belief they showed in me.”
Hammed Animashaun is an actor who was a member of Half Moon Youth Theatre in the 2000s. He explains his route to becoming a professional actor and why he always says he was ‘trained at Half Moon’. Interviewed by Beccy Allen.
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