A new era for much-loved and long-running theatre awards in Cape Town

A new era for the much-loved and long-running Cape Town Theatre Awards has been announced, alongside the nominees for the 61st Awards.

Building the scaffolding which has supported a 60-yearlong institution is no mean feat. In recent months that is what has been required to maintain the oldest theatre awards in the country. The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards enter a new era this year with a renaming to the Cape Town Theatre Awards. A newly established NPO will ensure their continued longevity and stability.

Founded by the United Tobacco Company in 1965, who sponsored the awards until 1977, the awards have always celebrated excellence. When the Oude Meester Foundation for the Performing Arts took over the sponsorship in 1978, the awards were renamed the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. Since the merger of the Distillers Corporation in 2000, the foundation was renamed and Distell Arts and Culture continued sponsoring the awards and several other creative organisations. After Heineken’s acquisition of Distell in 2023, that support continued until last year.

The CTTA is grateful for the generous investment in the arts sector that these companies have provided for the performing arts in Cape Town. Now the awards embark upon a new future. One with Cape Town as the main stakeholder reflected in the name of the awards.

Panel Chair, Africa Melane, says:

“We are indebted to Distell and Heineken for their investment over many years, elevating these Awards to what they have become,” he says. “As we embark on a journey of transition, our awards event will be more intimate, but with the same heart of placing artistic excellence centre stage and in the spotlight.”

“It is vital to recognise South African artists, encouraging them to continue sharing stories on stage and uniting us in an enriching experience that helps us to understand one another. We honour the astounding talent that exists here in Cape Town,” says Melane.

As this new chapter evolves, Melane says the panel will be exploring how the awards can implement initiatives that support theatre practitioners throughout the year.

The musical Cats earned 11 nominations, including Best Director and Best Production. Garnering seven nominations each were the one-woman show Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater and the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

An impressive 65 productions were eligible for consideration in 2025. Nominations were made by the panel of judges across 23 competitive categories. Some plays have enjoyed critical acclaim elsewhere but are only eligible this time for the CTTA, despite being staged previously.

In the student category, there were 139 students that were eligible for consideration. The institutions represented were Act (Cape Town), AFDA, CTDPS, LAMTA, University of Stellenbosch and the Waterfront Theatre School.

“The panel of judges was especially impressed by the quality of the new South African scripts which showcased the wealth of stories that are uniquely ours, adding to the vibrant tapestry of theatre. Audiences were invited on compelling journeys through history, emotion, sacrifice, and celebration,” says Melane.

Among the contenders, there were no less than 32 new South African scripts, sharing the lives, hopes dreams and despairs of the country. From very personal and intimate revelations in Beggared in South Africa, Cotton Wool Kid, earthside, Messy and Spin Cycles to the visceral excavation of South Africa’s violent history in Moffie, Undermined and Isidlamilo/The Fire Eater and the Grab After a Doll’s House.

Musicals continue to resonate with local audiences and old favourites including Chicago, Cats and Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat returned to the stage while Dear Evan Hansen was staged in South Africa for the first time. Local musicals Alice in the Cape Flats and Colleen The Musical had audiences out of their seats as they embraced very relatable and recognisable characters. While musicals provided escapism, they still explored heartfelt and often deeply moving themes. Children were also treated with their very own musical, Moana Jr. and were able to relate to the majority of the cast, who were children themselves.

Recent years have seen the addition of some of the highlights from the Afrikaans Festival circuit adapted to English and staged in both languages. This allowed audiences to experience Hedda Gabler and Glass Menagerie / Speelgoed van Glas in either one or both English and Afrikaans.

The recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre Awards will also be announced at the ceremony.

The nominees for the 61st Cape Town Theatre Awards are, in alphabetical order:

AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT

  • Asanda Mngadi | Waterfront Theatre School
  • Britney Mackenzie Baker | AFDA
  • Heinrich Wentzel | Stellenbosch University
  • Katlego Thikithana Phetla | CTDPS
  • Kimi Mia de Beer | Stellenbosch University
  • Konstandinos Vavatzanidis | CTDPS
  • Michelle Junker | LAMTA
  • Scarlett Pay | LAMTA
  • Shannon Hendry | Stellenbosch University
  • Tumelo Gwanzura | AFDA

BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT

  • Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Neil Coppen & Mpume Mthombeni
  • Moffie | written and adapted by Philip Rademeyer (based on the Novel by André Carl van der Merwe)
  • Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town | Louis Viljoen
  • Undermined | Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Nzama, Luke Brown, Stefan Erasmus, Tara Louise Notcutt
  • The Grab After a Doll’s House | Morapeleng Molekoa

BEST NEW DIRECTOR

  • David Muller | A South African adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman
  • Henu Baden | Lemons,Lemons,Lemons
  • Larica Schnell | Spin Cycles
  • Samuel Jumat | ‘n Pandok se Liefde
  • Zubayr Charles | this bra’s a psycho

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

  • Kipper and the Toy Box / Vlooi en die Speelgoedkis
  • Moana Jr
  • The Magic Flute

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE

  • Cats | Austin Tshikosi, Brittane van Loggerenberg, Cassiel Eatock-Winnik, Darren Rockman, Hannah Marshall, Harry Smallman, Jackie Lulu, Marco Titus, Michael Fullard, Morgan Marshall, Noa Duckitt, Phoebe Charles, Ryan Flynn, Scarlett Pay, Sibusiso Mxosana, Sipesihle Ngamlana, Stephan Van Der Walt, Tania Mteto, Tannah Levick, Tatum Coleman, Zoë Mclaughlin
  • FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Asanda Rilityana; Atandwa Kani, Buhle Themisile, Eben Genis,
  • Jennifer Steyn, Mongi Mthombeni, Wessel Pretorius
  • Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Anna Olivier, Bradley Smith, Braeden Buys, Danie Conradie, Dylan Du Plessis, Gemma Bisseker, Gianluca Gironi, Jasmine Minter, Jayden Dickson, Justin Swartz, Léa Blerk, Logan Cornelius, Manyano Ngoma, Michael Stray, Michiel Bester, Miguel De Sampaio, Stuart Brown, Yethu Kibi
  • La Ronde | Aidan Scott, Awethu Hleli, Berenice Barbier, Carlo Daniels, Lyle October, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe, Tamzin Daniels
  • The Cry of Winnie Mandela | Ayanda Sibisi (Delisiwe), Les Nkosi (Prof Ndebele), Pulane Rampoana (Mamello); Rami Chuene (Manette), Siyasinga Papu (Marara), Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo (Winnie Mandela)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW

  • David Viviers | Moffie
  • Mpume Mthombeni | Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
  • Tony Bonani Miyambo | Kafka’s Ape

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

  • Carlo Daniels | Randall Simons | Colleen The Musical
  • Dean de Klerk | Amos | Chicago
  • Jordan Roelfze | Mr Mistoffelees | Cats
  • Tshepo Ncokoane | Bustopher Jones and Gus (Asparagus) | Cats

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

  • Edith Plaatjies | Widow Mustapha | Aladdin
  • Jill Levenberg | Bronwynn Jeffries | Colleen The Musical
  • Samantha Peo | Velma Kelly | Chicago
  • Sharon Spiegel Wagner | Cynthia Murphy | Dear Evan Hansen
  • Tankiso Mamabolo | Matron Mama Morton | Chicago

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

  • Dylan Janse van Rensburg | Joseph | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  • Jonathan Roxmouth | Billy Flynn | Chicago
  • King B | Old Deuteronomy | Cats
  • Marc Lottering | Colleen | Colleen The Musical
  • Stuart Brown | Evan Hansen | Dear Evan Hansen

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

  • Cindy Ann Abrahams | Grizabella | Cats
  • Kate Normington | Tracey Boonzaaier | Colleen The Musical
  • Kiruna-Lind Devar | Roxie Hart | Chicago
  • Lelo Ramasimong | Narrator | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  • Lucy Tops | Heidi Hansen | Dear Evan Hansen

BEST PUPPETRY DESIGN

  • Adrian Kohler and William Kentridge | FAUSTUS IN AFRICA!
  • Greg King | Jack and the Beanstalk

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

  • Cats | Russell Thompson
  • FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Wesley France
  • Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Tina Le Roux
  • Moffie | Niall Griffin
  • Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie | Nico Scheepers

BEST SET DESIGN

  • Aladdin | Fred Abrahamse
  • Cats | John Napier
  • FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Adrian Kohler
  • Hedda Gabler | Rocco Pool
  • Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Dylan McGarry, Greg King, Neil Coppen, Steven Woodroffe Wendy Henstock

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

  • Aladdin | Marcel Meyer
  • Cats | John Napier
  • Chicago | William Ivey Long
  • Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Niall Griffin
  • Julius Caesar | Marcel Meyer and Fred Abrahamse

BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC, SOUNDSCAPE OR LIVE PERFORMANCE

  • Cats | Louis Zurnamer, Kurt Haupt, Jess West, Jack Griessel, Jarryd West, Nick Pitman, Nick Ford, Carl Ashford, Carla Ferreira
  • Hedda Gabler | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
  • Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Tristan Horton
  • Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | David Classen
  • Moffie | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – MALE

  • Innocent Masuku | Count Almaviva | The Barber of Seville
  • Lukhanyo Moyake | Radames | Aida
  • Thando Zwane | Figaro | The Barber of Seville
  • William Berger | Bluebeard | Bluebeard’s Castle
  • William Berger | Figaro | The Barber of Seville

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – FEMALE

  • Brittany Smith | Rosina | The Barber of Seville
  • Nobulumko Mgnxekeza | Aida | Aida
  • Nonhlanhla Yende | Amneris | Aida
  • Setsoane Ntseki | Rosalinde | Die Fledermaus
  • Siphamandla Moyake | Judith | Bluebeard’s Castle

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

  • Albert Pretorius | Caliban | The Tempest
  • Anzio September | this bra’s a psycho
  • David Viviers | Antonio/Stephano | The Tempest
  • Ludwig Binge | Løvburg | Hedda Gabler
  • Mark Elderkin | Jim | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

  • Ashley de Lange | Thea | Hedda Gabler
  • Carla Smith | Laura | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie
  • Jane de Wet | Miranda | The Tempest
  • Tankiso Mamabolo | Sebastian/Trinculo | The Tempest
  • Thea Martelize Kolver | Julia (Juliana) | Hedda Gabler

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY

  • Anna-Mart van der Merwe | Amanda | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie
  • Emily Child | Florence | The Vulgarians
  • Fiona Ramsay | Elizabeth I/Julius Caesar | Julius Caesar
  • Jenny Stead | Elsa | Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town
  • Rolanda Marais | Hedda | Hedda Gabler

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

  • Aidan Scott | Marcus | Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town
  • Alan Committie | Hercule Poirot | Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee
  • Albert Pretorius | George/Jurg | Hedda Gabler |
  • Ben Albertyn | Tom | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie
  • Billy Langa | Guru | Poet-O-Type

BEST DIRECTOR

  • Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  • Chrissie Cartwright | Cats
  • Christiaan Olwagen | Hedda Gabler
  • Greg Karvellas | Moffie
  • Neil Coppen | Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater

BEST PRODUCTION

  • Cats | Pieter Toerien, GWB Entertainment and Cape Town Opera, in association with LW Entertainment
  • Hedda Gabler | Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees and The Baxter
  • Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Empatheatre in association with the National Arts Festival
  • Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Pieter Toerien Productions and Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA)
  • Moffie | The Common Humanity Arts Trust in association With The Baxter Theatre Centre

The date and venue of the 2025 Cape Town Theatre Awards Ceremony is yet to be confirmed.

The 2025 eligible productions were:

2Lovers, A Doll’s House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath, Adaptation of Gogol’s Diary of a Madman, Agatha Christie’s BLACK COFFEE, Aida, Aladdin, Alice in the Cape Flats, An Apprenticeship with Sorrow, An Unromantic Comedy, Atlas of Remote Islands, Becoming Benno, Beggared in SA, Bitter Winter, Blood & Silver, Bluebeard’s Castle, Cats, Chicago, Colleen The Musical, Cottonwool Kid, Count to Five , Darwin – a curious mind, Dear Evan Hansen, Die Fledermaus, earthside, FAUSTUS IN AFRICA!, Feedback, Hedda Gabler , I can buy myself flowers, Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater , Jack and the Beanstalk, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Julius Caesar, Kafka’s Ape, La Ronde, Lemons,Lemons,Lemons, Messy, MOANA Jr, Moffie, Mrs. Mitchell Comes To Town, Ms. B-Haved, ‘n Pandok se Liefde, Poet-O-Type, Purpose, Rescue Remedy, Schumann & Janacek Unbound , Spin Cycles, Stirred not Shaken, Take me To Town, The Barber of Seville, The Cardinal, The Cry Of Winnie Mandela, The Glass Menagerie/ Speelgoed van Glas, The Grab After A Doll’s House, The Magic Flute, The Sun Is a Star and We Know What It’s made Of, The Tempest, The Tramp, The Vulgarians, this bra’s a psycho, Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story , To Life, With Love, Triptych: Women at War , Undermined, Vlooi en die Speelgoedkis / Kipper and the Toy Box, Zoo Story.

The panel for 2025 year was:

Africa Melane (Chair), Dr Beverley Brommert, Hadley Tituss,  Naude van der Merwe, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Roxy Marosa Sive Gubangxa, Thabo K Makgolo, Tracey Saunders and Dr Wayne Muller.

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