Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards For Contribution To Theatre Announced Before Gala Event
The judging panel of the annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, sponsored by HEINEKEN Beverages, is proud to announce the recipients of the special awards for 2024, ahead of the gala event on 17 March.
Panel chair Africa Melane, speaking on behalf of the judges, says:
“These awards honour the long-term and ongoing contribution to the performing arts of outstanding individuals and organisation. They deserve the recognition for their extensive and profound influence.”
Professor Angelo Gobbato is the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his enormous impact on South African opera extended over many decades. As a singer, director, educator and mentor to exceptional local operatic talent, and as an administrator, he has set new standards and enabled those who have followed him to achieve world-class performance excellence.
He is an operatic icon in this country, as much for his exceptional talent as for his tireless advocacy in making opera such an integral and growing part of the lives of South Africa.
Professor Gobbato is to be greatly admired for his dramatic integrity, always underscoring that ‘opera is not only a specialised brand of vocal music, but also one of theatrical performance’ as he likes to say.
The judging panel salutes him for his selfless activism and determined efforts to ensure a future for opera.
The Encore Award goes to Gregory Vuyani Maqoma’s contribution to theatre exemplified in his production of Exit/Exist. The judges chose him for his masterful integration of contemporary dance with indigenous movement and for the indelible mark he has made on the country’s cultural narrative.
“He has created a unique vocabulary that is deeply personal yet universally compelling,” said Melane.
The panel lauded him for the skilful way he embodied his ancestor Chief Jongumsobomvu Maqoma. His poignant performance is described as “seamlessly blending past and present through captivating dance, music and powerful storytelling. It was a vibrant tapestry of tradition and innovation”.
The Rainbow Arts Organisation lands the Innovation in Theatre Award for its impact on youth development. The panel called it a “a shining light in Delft, Cape Town”.
Since 2006 the organisation has been training aspiring artists through its full-time youth development programme that includes participating in productions, community work and organised events. Trainees are also routinely exposed to professional and community productions.
“All this with limited resources”, said Melane, “but with an abundance of commitment”.
Melane stressed that the organisation had seen many trainees go onto creative arts careers. For others their education in drama has allowed them to explore their emotions, foster empathy and critical thinking, all desperately needed strengths in South Africa.
The nominees for the 59th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards (in alphabetical order) are:
Best Student Prize
- Abigail Jones | University of Stellenbosch
- Alyssa van Reenen | ACT Cape Town
- Angelique Viaan Filter | University of Stellenbosch
- Angelo Elton Bergh | University of Stellenbosch
- Asanele Ngowapi | AFDA
- Gianluca Gironi | LAMTA
- Leah Mari | LAMTA
- Nichola Viviers | University of Stellenbosch
- Siyamthanda Bangani | ACT Cape Town
- Tumelo Mogashoa | LAMTA
Best New South African Script
- Ayanda kaNobakabona Hans | Tiro’s Toughloop Testimony
- Brent Palmer | King George
- Damon Galgut and Sylvaine Strike | The Promise – On Stage
- Ricardo Arendse | Die halwe huis
- Tiisetso Mashifane waNoni | Delela
Best New Director
- Amée Lekas | African Gothic | Drama
- Daniel Newton | The Rangers | Drama
- Jeff Brooker | Every Brilliant Thing | Solo Show
- Jessie Diepeveen | Patisserie Femme | Drama
- Mfundo Zono | Tiro’s Toughloop Testimony | Solo Show
Best Theatre Production For Children And Young People
- Pumpkin Finds Her Kindness – The Play | Bianca Flanders-Balie
- Surge | Magnet Theatre Youth Company
- The King of Broken Things | Theatresmiths
Best Performance By An Ensemble
- My hart is ’n muurbal (en ander gedagtes) | Wynand Kotzé and Wian Taljaard
- 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
- Of Loss – Handle with Care | Awethu Hleli, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe, Mphumzi Nontshinga, Lyle October and Tamzin Williams
- Patisserie Femme | Liphelo Matthews and Nomfundo Selepe
Best Performance In A Revue, Cabaret or Solo Show
- Ayanda kaNobakabona Hans | Tiro’s Toughloop Testimony | Onkgopotse Tiro
- Daniel Geddes | Cruise | Michael Spencer
- Kim Blanche Adonis | My Fellow South Africans | Various roles
- Marlo Minnaar | Die halwe huis | Bumper Jansen
- Sue Pam-Grant | why do moths fly like crazy fucks in the night | Louise Bourgeois
Best Performance By A Supporting Actor In A Musical or Music Theatre Show
- Chad Baai | The Buddy Holly Story | Ritchie Valens, KDAV Engineer
- Gianluca Gironi | The Buddy Holly Story | Jerry Allison
- Schoeman Smit | The Sound of Music | Franz
- William Berger | The Sound of Music | Max Detweiler
- Zolani Shangase | We Will Rock You | Ensemble
Best Performance By A Supporting Actress In A Musical or Music Theatre Show
- Bethany Dickson | The Buddy Holly Story | Mary Lou Sokolof, Vi Petty
- Nadia Beukes | The Sound of Music | Baroness Schraeder
- Noluthando Mili | Ziyana | Grandmother
- Sindiswa Ndlovu | The Buddy Holly Story | Marlena Madison, Shirley
- Tankiso Mamabolo | Ziyana | Mother
Best Performance By A Lead Actor In A Musical or Music Theatre Show
- Craig Urbani | The Sound of Music | Captain Von Trapp
- Craig Urbani | We Will Rock You | Khashoggi
- Jethro Tait | The Buddy Holly Story | Buddy Holly
- Stuart Brown | We Will Rock You | Galileo
- Tiaan Rautenbach | We Will Rock You | Buddy
Best Performance By A Lead Actress In A Musical or Music Theatre Show
- Awethu Hleli | Ziyana | Diana
- Brittany Smith | The Sound of Music | Maria Rainer
- Kerry Hiles | A Star is Born – The Rise and Fall of Judy Garland | Narrator
- Londiwe Dhlomo | We Will Rock You | Killer Queen
- Nicolette Fernandes | We Will Rock You | Scaramouche
Best Puppetry Design
- Janni Younge | Hamlet (Janni Younge)
- Luyanda Nogodlwana | Maxeke: This Work is Not for Yourselves
Best Lighting Design
- Jane Gosnell | Cruise
- Joshua Lindberg | The Promise – On Stage
- Nicolaas de Jongh | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston
- Themba Stewart and Mark Fleishman | Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles
- Wolf Britz | Die moeder
Best Set Design
- Birrie le Roux | Die moeder
- Denis Hutchinson | The Sound of Music
- Joshua Lindberg | The Promise – On Stage
- Marcel Meyer | Hamlet (Abrahamse and Meyer Productions)
- Marthinus Basson | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston
Best Costume Design
- Marthinus Basson | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston
- Marcel Meyer | Hamlet (Abrahamse and Meyer Productions)
- Michaeline Wessels | A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Sarah Mercadé | We Will Rock You
- Roderick Jaipal, Edit Atelier | Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles
Best Sound Design, Original Music, Soundscape or Live Performance
- Charl-Johan Lingenfelder | The Promise – On Stage | Sound Design and Original Score
- Dawid Wolfswinkel | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston | Sound Design
- Loki Rothman | Die moeder | Soundtrack
- Neo Muyanga | Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles | Soundscape
- Zimbini Makwetu | Ziyana | Original Music
Best Performance In An Opera – Male
- Conroy Scott | Tosca | Baron Scarpia
- Levy Sekgapane | The Pearl Fishers | Nadir
- Lukhanyo Moyake | La Traviata | Alfredo Germont
- Lukhanyo Moyake | Tosca | Mario Cavaradossi
- Luvo Maranti | The Tales of Hoffmann | Hoffmann
Best Performance In An Opera – Female
- Brittany Smith | La Traviata | Violetta Valéry
- Janelle Visagie | Cendrillon | Maguelonne
- Molly Dzangare | The Tales of Hoffmann | Giulietta
- Nobulumko Mngxekeza | Tosca | Floria Tosca
- Setsoane Jeannette Ntseki | L’inganno Felice | Isabella
Best Performance By A Supporting Actor In A Play
- André Roothman | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston | Ou Koning, Ou Mortimer
- Mark Elderkin | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Bottom
- Siyamthanda Sinani | Hamlet (Janni Younge) | Hamlet, Laertes
- Sven Ruygrok | The Beauty Queen of Leenane | Ray Dooley
- Wilhelm van der Walt | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston | Jong Mortimer
Best Performance By A Supporting Actress In A Play
- Jennifer Steyn | The Beauty Queen of Leenane | Mag Folan
- Jenny Stead | The Promise – On Stage | Astrid Swart and other roles
- Kate Normington | The Promise – On Stage | Rachel Swart and other roles
- Tiisetso Mashifane waNoni | Delela | Production technician
- Wendy Mrali | Hamba Nam Ndipheleke | Blaze
Best Performance By A Lead Actor In A Play
- Andrew Buckland | Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles | Oedipus
- Brent Palmer | King George | George Megalos
- Edwin van der Walt | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston | Edward II
- Rob van Vuuren | The Promise – On Stage | Anton Swart and other roles
- Stefan Erasmus | Orphans | Phillip
Best Performance By A Lead Actress In A Play
- Chuma Sopotela | The Promise – On Stage | Salome and other roles
- Faniswa Yisa | Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles | Theseus
- Fiona Ramsay | Hansard | Diana Hesketh
- Katlego Lebogang | Delela | Letsatsi “Lee” Letseka
- Sandra Prinsloo | Die moeder | Anne
Best Director
- Christiaan Olwagen | Die moeder
- Mark Fleishman | Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles
- Marthinus Basson | Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston
- Steven Stead | The Sound of Music
- Sylvaine Strike | The Promise – On Stage
Best Production
- Die fel omstrede kroon van Edward II en Gaveston | Raminidam in association with Novieguide
- Die moeder | US Woordfees
- Oedipus at Colonus #aftersophocles | Baxter Theatre in collaboration with Magnet Theatre
- The Promise – On Stage | Derek Lubner, Philip Bassett and Cass Bassett
- The Sound of Music | Pieter Toerien Productions with Cape Town Opera
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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; 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.
