Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards Winners Announced

The winners of the highly coveted 59th annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, sponsored by Heineken Beverages, which acquired former sponsor, Distell, in 2023, took place at the Baxter Theatre Centre tonight (Sunday, 17 March 2024).

The awards celebrate outstanding contributions to local theatre across 23 categories. They range from performing to directing, scriptwriting, composing and puppetry, as well as exceptional stage, sound, lighting and costume design.

A total of 66 plays, musicals and music theatre productions were assessed by the judges. There were also 10 productions for children and young adults, as well as six operas, all mounted between January and December 2023. In addition, 140 students from eight institutions in 54 productions were considered for the Best Student category.

The 59th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards Winners are:

Best Student Prize

  • Angelique Viaan Filter | University of Stellenbosch

Best New South African Script

  • Tiisetso Mashifane waNoni | Delela

Best New Director

  • Amée Lekas | African Gothic | Drama

Best Theatre Production For Children And Young People

  • The King of Broken Things | Theatresmiths

Best Performance By An Ensemble

  • Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles | Buhle T Stefane, Azola Mkhabile, Mihlali Bele, Lindokuhle Melaphi, Thabo Mkenene, Kuhle Myathaza, Nosiphiwo Ndabeni, Siphenathi Siqwayi, Wendy Mrali, Moluphi Lepeli and Sipho Kalako

Best Performance In A Revue, Cabaret or Solo Show

  • Marlo Minnaar | Die Halwe Huis | Bumper Jansen

Innovation in Theatre Award

  • Rainbow Arts Organisation

Best Performance By A Supporting Actor In A Musical or Music Theatre Show

  • William Berger | The Sound of Music | Max Detweiler

Best Performance By A Supporting Actress In A Musical or Music Theatre Show

  • Tankiso Mamabolo | Ziyana | Mother

Best Performance By A Lead Actor In A Musical or Music Theatre Show

  • Stuart Brown | We Will Rock You | Galileo

Best Performance By A Lead Actress In A Musical or Music Theatre Show

  • Brittany Smith | The Sound of Music | Maria Rainer

Best Puppetry Design

  • Luyanda Nogodlwana | Maxeke: This Work is Not for Yourselves

Best Lighting Design

  • Nicolaas de Jongh | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston

Best Set Design

  • Joshua Lindberg | The Promise – On Stage

Best Costume Design

  • Marthinus Basson | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston

Best Sound Design, Original Music, Soundscape or Live Performance

  • Charl-Johan Lingenfelder | The Promise – On Stage | Sound Design and Original Score

Encore Award Recipient

  • Gregory Maqoma | Exit/Exists

Best Performance In An Opera – Male

  • Lukhanyo Moyake | Tosca | Mario Cavaradossi

Best Performance In An Opera – Female

  • Nobulumko Mngxekeza | Tosca | Floria Tosca

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

  • Professor Angelo Gobbato | For his enormous impact on South African Opera spanning many decades

Best Performance By A Supporting Actor In A Play

  • Mark Elderkin | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Bottom

Best Performance By A Supporting Actress In A Play

  • Jennifer Steyn | The Beauty Queen of Leenane | Mag Folan

Best Performance By A Lead Actor In A Play

  • Brent Palmer | King George | George Megalos

Best Performance By A Lead Actress In A Play

  • Sandra Prinsloo | Die moeder | Anne

Best Director

  • Mark Fleishman | Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles

Best Production

  • Die Moeder | US Woordfees

Connect with the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards on social media:
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2023 Eligible Productions:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream; A Star is Born – The Rise and Fall of Judy Garland; A Vegan Killed My Marriage; African Gothic; Baked Shakespeare (As You Like It); Bucket Boy; Buzani Kubawo; Byster; Cantos of a Life in Exile; Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol; Cruise; Delela; Devil Song; Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston; Die halwe huis; Die lug is blou; Die moeder; Dreamland; Dude! Wa’s my bakkie?; Educating Rita; Ember; Emsini; Every Brilliant Thing; Hamba Nam Ndipheleke; Hamlet (Abrahamse and Meyer Productions); Hamlet (Janni Younge); Hans steek die Rubicon oor; Hansard; iKrele leChiza; Jakob; Jonathan Roxmouth’s Key Change; King George; Kunene and The King; Lamentations; Magda Louw; Master Class; Maxeke: This Work is Not for Yourselves; My Children! My Africa!; My Fellow South Africans; My hart is ’n muurbal (en ander gedagtes); Next!!! Auditions are Not for the Faint of Heart; Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles; Of Loss – Handle with Care; Oorwinningsreis; Orphans; Patisserie Femme; Same Time Next Year; Sell-By Date; Skin Tight; Spanish Steps; Strike a Match; The Beauty Queen of Leenane; The Buddy Holly Story; The Grass Widow; The Moon Looks Delicious from Here; The Promise – On Stage; The Rangers; The Sound of Music; The Visigoths; The Year of the Bicycle; Tiro’s Toughloop Testimony; Tswalo; We Will Rock You; Why do moths fly like crazy fucks in the night; Xcode; and Ziyana.

The panel of judges for 2023:
Africa Melane (Chair), Dr Beverley Brommert, Hadley Tituss, Dr Lwando Scott, Mariana Malan, Marina Griebenow, Naudé van der Merwe, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Roxy Marosa, Tracey Saunders and Dr Wayne Muller. Sive Gubangxa served on the subpanel for the Best Student prize.