Naledi Theatre Awards: All the nominees

The Naledi Theatre Awards judging panels saw more than 100 productions staged in the 2022 season across all genres of the performing arts.

“COVID-19 has shown our industry a new way forward in presenting productions,” Naledi Theatre Awards CEO Lihan Pretorius said. “There has been a marked upturn in the number of plays produced, with many of them being solo performances. The quality of work has been exceptional, with practitioners really honing their craft and maximising minimum budgets.”

The head of the judging panels, Renos Spanoudes, said: “Producers have really gone all out to ensure production values are kept to a very high standard. Across the board, we have seen performing arts practitioners manage to lure the general public back to theatre again after a long hiatus, where for a while only the diehard theatregoers ventured out to see productions.”

Below is the full list of nominees:

Best Sound Design

• Adriaan van der Walt (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Akhona Bozo (Kunene and the King – Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• Les Javan (Joanie Galant-Hulle – The Market Theatre)
• Ntuthuko Mbuyazi (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Pieter-Louis van Twisk (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• Vangile Z. Mpumlwana (The Lesson – The Market Theatre)

Best Production of a Musical/Musical Theatre Production

• Brel/Piaf (Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Die Gelofte (AfriForum Teater)
• Hlakanyana – The Musical (UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Sinbad (Montecasino and Kickstart Productions)
• The Trolley Dollies – The Triplets of Bellville (Deviant Theatricals)
• Third World Express (Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba)

Best Director of a Musical Theatre Production

• Gregory Maqoma (Third World Express – Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba)
• Janice Honeyman (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Janice Honeyman (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Jannes Erasmus (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• Steven Stead (Sinbad – Montecasino and Kickstart Productions)

Best Director of a Play

• Charmaine Weir-Smith (The Beauty Queen of Leenane – How Now Brown Cow Productions at Theatre on the Square)
• Greg Homann (The Lesson – The Market Theatre)
• James Ngcobo (The Brothers Size – The Market Theatre)
• Janice Honeyman (Kunene and the King – Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• Robert Whitehead (Hansard – Troupe Theatre Company in ass. with Daphne Kuhn)
• Sylvaine Strike (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Gloucester Productions)

Best Supporting Performance in a Musical Theatre Production: Female

• Ilse Klink (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Michelle Botha (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Momo Matsunyane (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Zoricke Snyman (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)

Best Supporting Performance in a Musical Theatre Production: Male

• Ben Voss (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• David Johnson (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Eddie de Jager (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• King B (Third World Express – Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba)
• Sibusiso Mxosana (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)

Best Choreography in a Play or Musical Theatre Production

• Bertwin de Souza & Shampa Gopikrishna (Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp – Blu Blood at Emperors Palace)
• Gregory Maqoma (Third World Express – Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba)
• Ignatius van Heerden (Birthing Nureyev – Leftfoot Productions at Joburg Theatre)
• Khaya Ndlovu (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Lihle Nene (Sifu – The Market Theatre)
• Mandla Mngevu (The Red on the Rainbow – The South African State Theatre)

Best Original Score/Musical Arrangements

• Anton Luitingh (The Trolley Dollies – The Triplets of Bellville – Deviant Theatricals)
• Coenie de Villiers & Mauritz Lotz (Karoo Suite 2: Karoonagte – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Dawid Boverhof (Brel/Piaf – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Johan Vorster & Jacomien de Wet (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• Sne Dladla, Zolani Shangase & Dionne Song (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Zusakhe Ngqame (Pelegi – The South African State Theatre)

Best Lead Performance in a Musical Theatre Production: Female

• Amanda Strydom (Brel/Piaf – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Bernice West (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• Manakomba Ndamande (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Stephanie Baartman (Music of the Night – Ticket to the Moon)
• Zoë McLaughlin (The Last Five Years – Tally Ho! Productions and Pieter Toerien Productions)

Best Lead Performance in a Musical Theatre Production: Male

• André Schwartz (Brel/Piaf – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Anthony Downing (The Last Five Years – Tally Ho! Productions and Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Coenie de Villiers (Karoo Suite 2 – Karoonagte – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Johan Vorster (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• Sandisile Dlangalala (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)

Best Original Soundscape

• Billy Maboa (Sifu – The Market Theatre)
• Lungiswa Plaatjies (Kunene and the King – Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• Franco Prinsloo (Plesierengel – Leftfoot Theatre Productions and The Centurion Theatre)
• Vangile Z. Mpumlwana (The Lesson – The Market Theatre)
• Sydney Mavundla & Volley Nchabeleng (The Red on the Rainbow – The South African State Theatre)

Best Musical Director

• Coenie de Villiers & Mauritz Lotz (Karoo Suite 2 – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Dale-Ray Scheepers (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Dawid Boverhoff (Brel/Piaf – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Francois Lessing (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• Jaco Griessel (The Last Five Years – Tally Ho! Productions and Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Zolani Shangase (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)

Best Performance in a Solo Production

• Bryan Schimmel (More Than a Handful – VR Theatrical in ass. with Lorri Strauss and Daphne Kuhn)
• Charlie Bouguenon (Hans steek die Rubicon oor – Leftfoot Theatre Productions)
• Ignatius van Heerden (Birthing Nureyev – Leftfoot Productions at Joburg Theatre)
• Khutjo Green (Country Duty – Daphne Kuhn and Theatre on the Square)
• Peter Terry (At all costs – Daphne Kuhn and Theatre on the Square)
• Ruan Wessels (Plesierengel – Leftfoot Theatre Productions and The Centurion Theatre)

Best Breakthrough Performance

• Boitumelo Marule (Pelegi – The South African State Theatre)
• Jordan Human (Die Gelofte – AfriForum Teater)
• Lihle Ngubo (The Lesson – The Market Theatre)
• Micah Stojakovic (Sinbad – Montecasino and Kickstart Productions)
• Michaela Tucker (If a tree falls… – Penny Kreitzer, Opher Lewin and Malcolm Purkey at Theatre Linden)
• Vash Singh (Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp – Blu Blood at Emperors Palace)
• Zoë McLaughlin (The Last Five Years – Tally Ho! Productions and Pieter Toerien Productions)

Best Performance in a Solo Comedy Production (With Elements of Stand-Up)

• Marc Lottering (Uncle Marc – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Mark Banks (Mask About Face – Daphne Kuhn and Theatre On The Square)
• Alan Comittie (Live and Let Laugh – Gloucester Productions)
• Nik Rabonowitz (Unmuted – Daphne Kuhn and Theatre On The Square)

Best Ensemble in a Musical Theatre Production

• Amanda Strydom, André Schwartz, Dawid Boverhoff & Coenraad Rall (Brel/Piaf – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Brendan van Rhyn, Christopher Dudgeon & Rudi Jansen (The Trolley Dollies – The Triplets of Bellville – Deviant Theatricals)
• Coenie de Villiers, Deon Meyer & Mauritz Lotz (Karoo Suite 2 – Karoonagte – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Ensemble (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Ensemble (Third World Express – Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba)

Best Ensemble in a Play

• Ensemble (Pelegi – The South African State Theatre)
• Cast (Sifu – The Market Theatre)
• Cast (The Drowning Eye – The Kwasha Theatre Company)
• Cast (The Red on the Rainbow – The South African State Theatre)

Best Production: Dance, Physical Theatre and Ballet

• Demi Sapien (WILLSIDE at Joburg Theatre)
• Ingress (MOVING INTO DANCE at Joburg Theatre)
• Isenyuso (The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Festival))
• La Traviata (Joburg Ballet)
• Lyf (KMAD DANCE COMPANY)
• Moya (Zip Zap Circus)

Best Performer in a Dance, Physical Theatre and Ballet Production

• Lindé Wessels (Lyf – KMAD DANCE COMPANY)
• Oscar Buthelezi (Ingress – MOVING INTO DANCE at Joburg Theatre)
• Phelelani Ndakrokra (Moya – Zip Zap Circus)
• Thami Tshabalala (Isenyuso – The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Festival))
• Vincent Mantsoe (SoliiDaD – Joburg Theatre and Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe)
• Xola Willie (Lyf – KMAD DANCE COMPANY)

Best Production for Children & Young Audiences (Aged 0 to 13)

• Annie (Pretoria Youth Theatre)
• Balloonacy (National Children’s Theatre)
• Innocence Lost (National Children’s Theatre)
• Kids Of Amandla Street (The Kwasha Theatre Company)
• The Little Mermaid Jr (People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)
• Under The Baobab Tree (National Children’s Theatre)

Best Performance in a Production for Young Audiences

• Craig Morris (Balloonacy – National Children’s Theatre
• Jay Hlatswayo (Seussical Jr – National Children’s Theatre)
• Luciano Zuppa (The Little Mermaid Jr – People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)
• Madelein Pienaar (Hope The Rhino – National Children’s Theatre)
• Noni Mkhonto (The Little Mermaid Jr – People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)

Best Production: Independent/Fringe Theatre

• Cruise (HIV@40 at Theatre Linden)
• Johnnie Motsamai (Joburg Theatre)
• Seeing Other People (Martin Grendele and Hira Lodhi)
• What was is no more (Joburg Theatre)

Best Performance in an Independent/Fringe Theatre Production

• Daniel Geddes (Cruise – HIV@40 at Theatre Linden)
• James Netherlands (Seeing Other People – Martin Grendele and Hira Lodhi)
• Khanyisile Ngwabe (What was is no more – Joburg Theatre)
• Martin Grendele (Seeing Other People – Martin Grendele and Hira Lodhi)
• Nthabileng Masudubele (Johnnie Motsamai – Joburg Theatre)

Best Production: Student Theatre

• Cabaret (Redhill School)
• Come Together (LAMTA)
• Nesting Flight (Oakfields College)
• Sister Act (Oakfields College)
• Ticket to Broadway (King David Victory Park)
• Whistleblowers (AFDA)

Best Performance in a Student Theatre Production

• Nicolas Hattingh (Cabaret – Redhill School)
• Noluthando Mathebula (Sister Act – Oakfields College)
• Robert Everson (Come Together – LAMTA)
• Samkelo Fonte (Nesting Flight – Oakfields College)

Best Supporting Actress in a Play

• Berenice Barbier (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Gloucester Productions)
• Jennifer Steyn (The Beauty Queen of Leenane – How Now Brown Cow Productions at Theatre on the Square)
• Masego Modiba (Pelegi – The South African State Theatre)
• Onltametse Masilo (Pelegi – The South African State Theatre)
• Shoki Mmola (Ruined – The Market Theatre)

Best Supporting Actor in a Play

• Josias dos Moleele (Bloke and his American Bantu – UJ Arts & Culture in association with the Sello Maake kaNcube Foundation)
• Marlo Minnaar (The Brothers Size – The Market Theatre)
• Nhlakanipho Manqele (The Brothers Size – The Market Theatre)
• Sanda Shandu (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Gloucester Productions)
• Sven Ruygrok (The Beauty Queen of Leenane – How Now Brown Cow Productions at Theatre on the Square)

Best Costume Design

• Anjc Naidoo, Priya Naidoo, Bertwin de Souza & Bepin Tanna (Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp – Blu Blood at Emperors Palace)
• Brendan van Rhyn, Christopher Dudgeon & Rudi Jansen (The Trolley Dollies – The Triplets of Bellville – Deviant Theatricals)
• Bronwen Lovegrove (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Charles J. Fourie (The Parrot Woman – The Market Theatre)
• FADA (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Steven Stead and Shanthi Naidoo (Sinbad – Montecasino and Kickstart Productions)

Best Theatre Set Design

• Birrie le Roux (Kunene and the King – Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• FADA (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Greg King (Sinbad – Montecasino and Kickstart Productions)
• Greg King (The Beauty Queen of Leenane – How Now Brown Cow Productions at Theatre on the Square)
• Jade Bowers (The Parrot Woman – The Market Theatre)
• Karabo Legoabe (Ruined – The Market Theatre)

Best Theatre AV Design

• Andrew Timm (Janice Honeyman’s Adventures in Pantoland – Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay)
• Andrew Timm (Third World Express – Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba)
• Disrupt Media (Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp – Blu Blood at Emperors Palace)
• Naret Loots (Birthing Nureyev – Leftfoot Productions at Joburg Theatre)

Best Lighting Design

• Bobby Heaney & Francois van der Hoven (Fordsburg’s Finest – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• Denis Hutchinson (The Beauty Queen of Leenane – How Now Brown Cow Productions at Theatre on the Square)
• Hlomohang Mothetho (The Red on the Rainbow – The South African State Theatre)
• Oliver Hauser (Third World Express – Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba)
• Phuti Matuba (Hlakanyana – The Musical – UJ Arts & Culture and Madevu Entertainment)
• Simon King (The Brothers Size – The Market Theatre)

Best Lead Actress in a Play

• Fiona Ramsay (Hansard – Troupe Theatre Company in ass. with Daphne Kuhn)
• Gontse Ntshegang (The Parrot Woman – The Market Theatre)
• Hlengiwe Lushaba Madlala (Ruined – The Market Theatre)
• Julie-Anne McDowell (The Beauty Queen of Leenane – How Now Brown Cow Productions at Theatre on the Square)
• Kim Cloete (Joanie Galant-Hulle – The Market Theatre)
• Robyn Scott (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Gloucester Productions)

Best Lead Actor in a Play

• Alan Committie (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Gloucester Productions)
• Graham Hopkins (Hansard – Troupe Theatre Company in ass. with Daphne Kuhn)
• John Kani (Kunene and the King – Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• Katlego Chale (The Brothers Size – The Market Theatre)
• Michael Richard (Kunene and the King – Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• Paul Slabolepszy (Fordsburg’s Finest – Pieter Toerien Productions)

Best New South African Script

• Deon Meyer (Karoo Suite 2 – Karoonagte – Pieter Toerien Productions)
• John Kani (Kunene and the King – Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• Leon van Nierop (Plesierengel – Leftfoot Theatre Productions and The Centurion Theatre)
• Monageng Motshabi (The Red on the Rainbow – The South African State Theatre)
• Peter Terry (At all costs – Daphne Kuhn and Theatre on the Square)
• Siphiwo Mahala (Bloke and his American Bantu – UJ Arts & Culture in association with the Sello Maake kaNcube Foundation)

Best Production of a Play

• Hansard (Troupe Theatre Company in ass. with Daphne Kuhn)
• Kunene and the King (Joburg Theatre and John Kani Productions)
• The Beauty Queen of Leenane (How Now Brown Cow Productions at Theatre on the Square)
• The Brothers Size (The Market Theatre)
• The Parrot Woman (The Market Theatre)
• The Red on the Rainbow (The South African State Theatre)