The 21st Annual Naledi Theatre Awards Nominations Announced

Naledi Theatre Awards Nominations announced for period under review 2025

The Board of the Naledi Theatre Awards, on behalf of our Judging Panels, are proud to announce the Naledi Theatre Awards Nominations for the period under review 2025.

Over a marathon 2 days, the various panels sat discussing and voting on the performances seen during 2025. Lihan Pretorius, the CEO of the Awards said:

“As with most years, the dedication, skill and theatrical knowledge shown by our Naledi judges during this process is really awe inspiring.” He continued, “the judges have shown their commitment to the theatrical community, by giving up their free time during the week and over weekends to see as many productions as possible – and for them the show doesn’t end with a curtain call. They go home and critically review each production against a set of designated criteria, bringing to the fore their knowledge and expertise.”

Board member and Chair of the Judging Panels, Renos Spanoudes, echoed:

“2025 was a difficult year to judge. Over the past two decades, we have seen exceptional quality and the sheer excellence of the South African theatre industry across the board. Once again, this year was no exception. More than 100 eligible productions were viewed and considered. Especially the high quality and diversity of productions made judging challenging, which also supported the discretionary re-introduction of the award for Best Cutting-Edge Production.”

As always, the Naledi Theatre Awards would like to thank the producers, the creatives and the performers for a year of wonderful entertainment.
The Naledis would also like to thank our confirmed reliable and generous in-kind sponsors, being Splitbeam, Alan Ford Productions, The Buz Hive, Galore SA Media, Blue Key Digital Marketing, Lift Airlines, Mindpool Productions, Stageworx School of Performing Arts, STAND Foundation and The South African State Theatre (venue/facilities).

And…the Nominees are:

Best Production For Children & Young Audiences – Supported By Assitej SA

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (Daphne Kuhn and Vicky Friedman)
High School Musical Jr. (National Children’s Theatre)
Madagascar Jr. (Peoples Productions)
The Little Mermaid (Oak Youth Theatre)
The Railway Children (National Children’s Theatre)
Woordedief (Arena Produksies/Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck In Association With Afriforum Teater)

Best Performance In A Production For Young Audiences

André Smit (The Little Mermaid; Oak Youth Theatre)
Erich Jordaan (Diary Of A Wimpy Kid; Daphne Kuhn and Vicky Friedman)
Jaden Coetzee (Teen Beach; Pretoria Youth Theatre)
Ntokozo Manyoni (Cinderella; Pretoria Youth Theatre)
Ruth Weiss (The Little Mermaid; Oak Youth Theatre)
Winnie Sue Maboea (The Wonderful World Of Beatrix Potter; National Children’s Theatre)

Best Production: Fringe Theatre

Dark Magic (The TX Theatre In Partnership With The Market Theatre)
Faces (Beyond The Curriculum In Association With The Art Cave and The Market Theatre)
Ngivelelwa Yini (Popart and Joburg Theatre (Space.Com))
Sentebale (The Market Theatre Laboratory)
Ux=Onga=Solveki (The Art Cave In Collaboration With The Market Theatre)
Wills Of The Dead (Onda_Ground Theatre Company In Collaboration With Youth In Trust)

Best Performance In A Fringe Theatre Production

Khonaye Mamanzi (Wills Of The Dead; Onda_Ground Theatre Company In Collaboration With Youth In Trust)
Masai Sepuru (Dark Magic; The TX Theatre In Partnership With The Market Theatre)
Nolwazi Qwabe (Isiwula; The Art Cave In Collaboration With The Market Theatre)
Rutanang Rygaardt (Broken Mentors; Youth In Trust)
Thobeka Ziyanda Manana (Thandeka; The Art Cave In Collaboration With The Market Theatre)
Vuyelwa Maluleke (The Blue Album; The Art Cave In Collaboration With The Market Theatre)

Best Production: Student Theatre

Canvas Of Life (Reddam House Bedfordview)
Flesh In The Garden (The Wits School Of Arts and Wits Theatre)
Little Shop Of Horrors (Redhill School)
Macbeth (De La Salle Holy Cross College)
Moenie Vir My Wag Nie (Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom In Association With Allegretto Toneelfees)
Noises Off (Kingsmead College)
Peter Pan (St. Stithians College)

Best Performance By A Student In A Student Theatre Production

Amber-Rose Naidoo (West Side Story; Steyn City School)
Emma-Jean Galliard (Little Shop Of Horrors; Redhill School)
Gcobolwethu Dlova (Radio City; Reddam House Helderfontein)
Jessica Nanguia (Beauty And The Beast; Fourways High School)
Julie Hodgkinson (Macbeth; De La Salle Holy Cross College)
Keila Becker (Macbeth; De La Salle Holy Cross College)
Ulrich Slabbert (Die Eksotiese Epiloog Van Eddie; Hoërskool Stoffberg & Ss Studios, In Association With Allegretto Toneelfees)

Best Production: Dance, Physical Theatre And Ballet

Art Effect (WGRUV Dance Company)
Baobab (Moving Into Dance)
Carmina Burana (Moving Into Dance)
Musical Chairs (The Locksmiths Co and Daphne Kuhn)
The Nutcracker (Cape Ballet Africa)
What Have You Done With The Garden? (The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival))

Best Choreography In A Dance, Physical Theatre and Ballet Production

Bailey Snyman And Nicola Haskins (Weathered; TUT’s Department Of Performing Arts (Dance), In Association With The South African State
Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival) And Matchbox Theatre)
Genesis Shirindza (Musical Chairs; The Locksmiths Co and Daphne Kuhn)
Holly Gruver And Lex Gruver (For “Postures Of Grace – Living Extensions Of Art”) (Art Effect; WGRUV Dance Company)
Maina Gielgud (The Nutcracker; Cape Ballet Africa)
Melody Putu (Carmina Burana; Moving Into Dance)
Sylvia Glasser (Baobab; Moving Into Dance)

Best Performance In A Dance, Physical Theatre and Ballet Production

Afikamabiyase Elethithemba Ziqubu (Baobab; Moving Into Dance)
Lesego Dihemo (Baobab; Moving Into Dance)
Monike Cristina (Maria Callas – Prima Donna; Mario Gaglione)
Penny Wolhuter (What Have You Done With The Garden?; The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival))
Revil Yon (Maria Callas – Prima Donna; Mario Gaglione)
Sbusiso Blessing Gumede (Carmina Burana; Moving Into Dance)

Best Supporting Performance In A Play: Female

Charlotte Butler (A Doll’s House Part 2)
Diane Simpson (Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee)
Penny Wolhuter (Prooi/Prey)
Shonisani Masutha (The Good White)
Simone Neethling (A Doll’s House Part 2)
Zinhle Mathibela (Betower)

Best Supporting Performance In A Play: Male

David Viviers (Op Die Hoek Van Styx En River Is Nora Per Abuis Met Die Dood Oorgeslaan)
Ivan Nedeljkovic (Sarajevo)
Lebohang Motaung (Master Harold And The Boys)
Oarabile Ditsele (Bitter Winter)
Ryan Rossouw (Prooi/Prey)
Warren Masemola (August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson)

Best Breakthrough Performance In A Play

Ivan Nedeljkovic (Sarajevo)
Izel Bezuidenhout (Betower)
Kaiyah Newbern (August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson)
Shonisani Masutha (The Good White)
Simone Neethling (A Doll’s House Part 2)
Thato Kgarodi (Afropocalypse)

Best Breakthrough Performance In A Musical Theatre Production

Daniel Conradie (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Erich Jordaan (Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street)
Keely Crocker (Dear Evan Hansen)
Leah Mari (My Fair Lady)
Michael Stray (Dear Evan Hansen)
Siyakha Khitha (The Fatherland)

Best Choreography/Movement Direction In A Play

Daniel Buckland (Afropocalypse)
Ernest Ginger Baleni (The Fall)
Ignatius Van Heerden and Marie-Heleen Coetzee (Trans/Vaal)
Lara Foot, Basil Jones, Adrian Kohler and Cast (Life And Times Of Michael K)
Luyanda Sidiya (Dancing The Death Drill)

Best Choreography/Movement Direction In A Musical Theatre Production

Duane Alexander (My Fair Lady)
Duane Alexander and Jared Schaedler (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Lucky Cele (Music In The Air)
Nompumelelo Gumede-Ngema (Sarafina)
Thabo Rapoo (The Fatherland)

Best Original Score / Arrangements / Soundscape

Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Jonathan Roxmouth (Jonathan Roxmouth – My Favourite Broadway)
Kyle Shephard (Life And Times Of Michael K)
Mckenzie Matome, Zakhele Mabena and Shalate Sekhabi (The Fatherland)
Msaki (Dancing The Death Drill)
Yogin Sullaphen and Phumla Siyobi (Gabo Legwala)

Best Musical Director

Adam Howard and Jonathan Roxmouth (Jonathan Roxmouth – My Favourite Broadway)
Amy Campbell and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Jaco Griessel (Thrill Me)
Kevin Kraak (My Fair Lady)
Kurt Haupt and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (Dear Evan Hansen)
Zakhele Mabena (The Fatherland)

Best Cabaret, Revue Or Small Scale Musical Production

Falace In Wonderland (Tessa Denton, Supported By Hotel Sky)
Jonathan Roxmouth – My Favourite Broadway (Howard Events)
Merry Krismis Elvis (André Schwartz)
The Incredible Journey Of Tinkerbell Van Tonder (Amanda Strydom)
The Tramp (Wela Kapela Productions and Daphne Kuhn)
Thrill Me (Pieter Toerien)

Best Performance In A Solo Production

Albert Khoza (The Black Circus Of The Republic Of Bantu)
Ben Voss (Becoming Benno)
Bo Petersen (Pieces Of Me)
Gaynor Young (Beauty In The Broken)
Ignatius Van Heerden (Trans/Vaal)

Best Performance In A Solo Comedy Production (With Elements Of Stand-Up)

Alan Committie (Alan Committie’s Comedy Gold)
Costa Carastavrakis (Costa’s Corner Kefi)
Micaela Tucker (A Doll’s Life)
Riaad Moosa (What’s The Point)
Stuart Taylor (Odd Man Out)

Best Ensemble In A Musical Theatre Production

Chicago (Showtime Management In Association With Barry And Fran Weissler)
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pieter Toerien And LAMTA)
Music In The Air (The South African State Theatre In Association With United Artists)
My Fair Lady (Pieter Toerien and Cape Town Opera)
Sarafina (Soweto Theatre)
The Fatherland (The South African State Theatre In Partnership With Tlou Cholo Foundation)

Best Ensemble In A Play

Barileng Malebye, Keitumetse Kitty Moepang And Ziaphora Dakile in You Strike A Woman, You Strike A Rock (Joburg Theatre and Phyllis Klotz)
Dancing The Death Drill (Joburg Theatre)
Afropocalypse (The Market Theatre and Market Theatre Laboratory)
Sandra Prinsloo, Andrew Buckland, Faniswa Yisa, Carlo Daniels, Billy Langa, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe, Markus Shabbing, Susan Danford, Craig Leo, Roshina Ratnam, Nkosinathi Mngomezulu and Marty Kintu in Life And Times Of Michael K (The Market Theatre In Association With Baxter Theatre Centre)
Tankiso Mamabolo, Sihle Shona, Sizwesandile Mnisi, Tshepo Matlala, Mosehlana Mamaregane, Kevin Narain And Leché Tangee in The Fall (Theatre Duo & Co (Pty) Ltd and The Market Theatre)
Mike Dzova, Simphiwe Jako, Tshepang Ramasehla And Gabaganye Mpendulo Mkungo in Fatherhood (The Market Theatre)

Best Costume Design

Ashley Hilton (Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street)
Jade Bowers (Afropocalypse)
Mariska Meyer (Janice Honeyman’s Pinocchio)
Maritha Visagie and Neil Stuart Harris (My Fair Lady)
Niall Griffin (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Sheli Masondo (Breakfast With Mugabe)

Best Theatre Set- And AV Design

Chris Booyens And Toni Morkel (Op Die Hoek Van Styx En River Is Nora Per Abuis Met Die Dood Oorgeslaan)
Frankie Van Straten (Bitter Winter)
Greg King (My Fair Lady)
Niall Griffin (Dear Evan Hansen)
Sherldon Marema (The Fatherland)
Talia Goldsmith (Sarajevo)

Best Lighting Design

Joshua Cutts (Life And Times Of Michael K)
Niall Griffin (Dear Evan Hansen)
Oliver Hauser (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Wayne Van Der Schyff-Smal (Betower)
Wilhelm Disbergen (The Fatherland)

Best Sound Design

David Classen (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Lebogang Maria Phahlamahlaka (Dancing The Death Drill)
Mark Malherbe (My Fair Lady)
MultiMedia (Jonathan Roxmouth – My Favourite Broadway)
Pieter-Louis Van Twisk (Semi-Soet: Die Musiekblyspel)
Thabo Pule (Gabo Legwala)

Best Director of a Musical Theatre Production

Amanda Bothma (The Tramp)
Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Aubrey W. Sekhabi (The Fatherland)
Chris Weare (Thrill Me)
Steven Stead (My Fair Lady)
Weslee Lauder (Jonathan Roxmouth – My Favourite Broadway)

Best Director of a Play

Calvin Ratladi (Breakfast With Mugabe)
Daniel Buckland (Afropocalypse)
Lara Foot (Life And Times Of Michael K)
Lesedi Job (Bitter Winter)
Neil Coppen (The Last Country)
Thorsten Wedekind (Sarajevo)
Toni Morkel (Op Die Hoek Van Styx En River Is Nora Per Abuis Met Die Dood Oorgeslaan)

Best Supporting Performance In A Musical Theatre Production: Female

Adrienne Pearce (My Fair Lady)
Brenda Radloff (Janice Honeyman’s Pinocchio)
Camilla Waldman (Janice Honeyman’s Pinocchio)
Hlengiwe Lushaba Madlala (Music In The Air)
Lucy Tops (Dear Evan Hansen)
Zoricke Snyman (Semi-Soet: Die Musiekblyspel)

Best Supporting Performance In A Musical Theatre Production: Male

Christopher Jaftha (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Gianluca Gironi (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Klaus Louis Jansen Van Vuuren (The Fatherland)
Lesedi Rich (Janice Honeyman’s Pinocchio)
Mark Richardson (My Fair Lady)
Phillip Schnetler (Semi-Soet: Die Musiekblyspel)

Best Lead Performance In A Musical Theatre Production: Female

Brittany Smith (My Fair Lady)
Kiruna-Lind Devar (Chicago)
Leah Mari (My Fair Lady)
Lelo Ramasimong (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Samantha Peo (Chicago)
Siyakha Khitha (The Fatherland)

Best Lead Performance In A Musical Theatre Production: Male

Craig Urbani (My Fair Lady)
Daniel Conradie (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Dylan Janse Van Rensburg (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Joel Zuma (Music In The Air)
Jonathan Roxmouth (Chicago)
Stuart Brown (Dear Evan Hansen)
Terrence Ngwila (The Fatherland)

Best Performance In A Caberet, Revue or Small-Scale Musical Production

Amanda Strydom (The Incredible Journey Of Tinkerbell Van Tonder)
Daniel Anderson (The Tramp)
Gianluca Gironi (Thrill Me)
John Conrad (Thrill Me)
Jonathan Roxmouth (Jonathan Roxmouth – My Favourite Broadway)
Nádine (Swingin’ Las Vegas 2025)

Best Lead Performance In A Play: Female

Aimée Mica Komorowsky (Sarajevo)
Bianca Amato (A Doll’s House Part 2)
Gontse Ntshegang (Breakfast With Mugabe)
Mpume Mthombeni (The Last Country)
Sandra Prinsloo (Op Die Hoek Van Styx En River Is Nora Per Abuis Met Die Dood Oorgeslaan)
Sue Diepeveen (Prooi/Prey)

Best Lead Performance In A Play: Male

André Odendaal (Bitter Winter)
Ignatius Van Heerden (Prooi/Prey)
Jock Kleynhans (Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter)
Modise Sekgothe (Gabo Legwala)
Themba Ndaba (Breakfast With Mugabe)
Tswarelo Selolo (Stevovo The Puppeteer)
Wilhelm Van Der Walt (Stinkhout)

Best New South African Script / Adaptation

Aimée Mica Komorowsky (Sarajevo)
Henque Heymans (Op Die Hoek Van Styx En River Is Nora Per Abuis Met Die Dood Oorgeslaan)
Mike Van Graan (The Good White)
Modise Sekgothe (Gabo Legwala)
Neil Coppen And Mpume Mthombeni (The Last Country)
Paul Slabolepszy (Bitter Winter)

Best Cutting-Edge Production

Afropocalypse (The Market Theatre and Market Theatre Laboratory)
Beauty In The Broken (Daphne Kuhn)
Gabo Legwala (The Market Theatre, The National Arts Festival and Standard Bank)
Prooi/Prey (Leftfoot Theatre Productions In Association With The South African State Theatre)
The Black Circus Of The Republic Of Bantu (The Market Theatre)
Trans/Vaal (The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival) and Badprop Produksies)

Best Production of a Play

Bitter Winter (Weslee Lauder)
Life And Times Of Michael K (The Market Theatre In Association With Baxter Theatre Centre)
Op Die Hoek Van Styx En River Is Nora Per Abuis Met Die Dood Oorgeslaan (Fairtree Atterbury Theatre In Association With KKNK, Aardklop,
Innibos, Vrystaat Kunstefees, Suidoosterfees, Nati And Leftfoot Theatre Productions)
Sarajevo (Before The End Productions and Daphne Kuhn)
Stinkhout (Aardklop Nasionale Kunstefees)
The Last Country (The Market Theatre In Association With Empatheatre)

Best Production of a Musical

Chicago (Showtime Management In Association With Barry And Fran Weissler)
Dear Evan Hansen (Showtime Management And How Now Brown Cow)
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pieter Toerien and LAMTA)
My Fair Lady (Pieter Toerien and Cape Town Opera)
Semi-Soet: Die Musiekblyspel (Afriforum Teater and Inhoud Huis Musiek)
The Fatherland (The South African State Theatre In Partnership With Tlou Cholo Foundation)

The 21st Annual Naledi Theatre Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, 23 March 2026 in the Opera at The South African State Theatre, Pretoria (Tshwane). It will also be streamed on SAST TV.

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