The nominees for the 59th edition of the prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, set to take centre stage at The Baxter Theatre next month, have been announced.
Also read: TheatreArts and Baba Yaga Theatre present The Heart of the Ocean
The annual performance arts calendar highlight, which was established in 1995, is South Africa’s leading annual performance arts competition. Set to take place on Sunday, 17 March, this year, the award ceremony was designed to celebrate outstanding contributions to local theatre across several categories.
The 23 categories range from performing to directing, scriptwriting, composing and puppetry, as well as exceptional stage, sound, lighting and costume design.
‘Last year was a year of exceptional theatre,’ said panel chair of the annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards Africa Melane, before announcing the finalists on Wednesday.
From January to December 2023, 66 plays, musicals and music theatre productions were assessed by judges. There were also ten productions for children and young adults, as well as six operas.
‘In 2023, we saw theatre questioning societal norms, challenging perspectives and testing the rules,’ said Melanie, when naming the nominees for the upcoming awards. ‘All this, while entertaining audiences and offering them some escape, even if only briefly, as they immerse themselves in a different world. It truly was a year of theatrical excellence.’
In addition to the category winners, the recipients of the Encore Award, the Innovation in Theatre Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the ceremony, which will also be live-streamed on social media platforms.
‘The calibre of work presented by students continues to astound us,’ said convenor of the Student Panel.
‘Several students have leapt at the opportunities afforded to them to showcase their work to the public before graduating and the number of students cast in professional productions in their final year of study is a testament to their hard work and the commitment of the teaching staff.’
140 students from eight institutions in 54 productions were considered for the Best Student category.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Let these amazing offers inspire you. Get them here.
Nominees for the 59th Fleur du Cap Awards:
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 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
- 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
- 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
- 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, Phillip Basset and Cass Basset
- The Sound of Music | Pieter Toerien Productions with Cape Town Opera
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Picture: Rob Laughter / Unsplash
