Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards 2024 in SA: All the nominees

The awards are designed to 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 awards ceremony will be live streamed on social media platforms. 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.

“In 2023, we saw theatre questioning societal norms, challenging perspectives and testing the rules,” Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards panel chair Africa Melane said. “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.”

Student Panel convenor said: “The calibre of work presented by students continues to astound us. 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.”

Below are the nominees:

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, Phillip Basset and Cass Basset
• The Sound of Music – Pieter Toerien Productions with Cape Town Opera