Kenya Theatre Awards 2024: All the nominees

The unveiling was presided over by Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports cabinet secretary, Ababu Nambwamba, at Talanta Plaza.

The awards are a celebration of the vibrant and diverse landscape of theatrical productions in Kenya and are part of talent monetising agenda powered by the TalantaHela initiative as the government intensifies its mission to reward excellence in sports and the creative arts sector.

“To our creatives across the whole spectrum, be it music, film, theatre and fashion, we are being very deliberate and intentional and we are sending out a very clear message that talent must pay well,” Namwamba said. “We will continue to take deliberate steps to improve the status and lives of those who live off their talent.

“These awards are not merely a recognition of excellence but also a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our nation’s theatrical community. The essence of these awards goes beyond applauding outstanding productions and talented artists, but extends to honouring the legacy of those who have become icons in the field.”

Nambwamba commended the organisers, lauding the remarkable impact and growth of the awards from a modest 33 shows in 2021 to 443 productions in 2023, with the active participation of 131 theatre companies.

Voting opened online on 23 January and will close on 13 February at 23.59pm.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Best Musical Theatre Production

• Rokk of Ages
• The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
• Oliver
• Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Tuck Everlasting

Best Musical Score, Arrangement or Adaptation

• Brian Aseli – Jaboya
• Christopher Ngare – The Bigger Boys of Shibale
• Carnival Girl – Carnival Girl
• Emma Withill – Rokk of Ages
• Amahl and the Night Visitors – Rhoda Ondeng Wilhelmsen

Best Original Choreography in a Musical/Play

• Rainbow Field – Rokk of Ages
• Dance Centre Kenya – Shujaa Stories
• Wayne Mbudi – Ghosts of The Lake
• Mimmzy Maina – Matumaini
• Jazz Moll & Michelle Monks – In the Heights

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role In a Musical

• Kendi Waimiri – Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Lizzie Grounds – Rokk of Ages
• Chandni Vaya – The Good, The bad & the wolf
• Harlene Singh – In The Heights
• Chantal 'Cai' Lems – FELA

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

• Andrew Tumbo – Leo's Search For a New Home
• John Sibi-Okumu – Oliver Dance Center Kenya
• Bilal Wanjau – The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
• Allan Kariuki – Kiri
• Seungwon Jeon – Tuck Everlasting

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical

• Emma Withill – Rokk of Ages
• Doanna Owano – The Good, the Bad & the Wolf
• Amie Katta – Matumaini
• Rainbow Field – Rokk of Ages
• Dexia Ontiria – Tuck Everlasting

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical

• Abdoulaye Diabate – Oliver
• Andrew Tumbo – The Good, the bad & the wolf
• Marichu Muturi – Prince of Hera
• Tirath Padam – Leo's Search For a New Home
• Barrack Mbachi – Amahl and the Night Visitors

Best Spoken Word Production

• Give The Woman Her Flowers – Sitawa Namwalie
• Mwariama – Dennis Mutuma Mutua
• Matarania – Timothy Gathoni
• Pillow Talk – Kevin Maina
• 2 Boys 1 man – Oyamo Richard and Fredrick Santana

Best Stand-up Comedy Production

• A Thousand Cuts For A Million Laughs – Generali
• Finally a Graduate – Ebuka Henry
• Because You Said So (1980s) – Mugambi Nthiga
• Will you Still Love me in the Morning – Captain Otoyo

Best Story-telling Production

• Every Brilliant Thing – Martina Kitavi
• Story Sosa – AJ Musira
• Maitu Mukabete – Maryanne Nyambura
• Carnival Girl – Sakina Mirichii
• For Coloured Girls – Michael Omoke

Best Male Performance in a Solo Production

• Mugambi Nthiga – Every Brilliant Thing
• Ngatia Bryan – Risto za Histo
• Thuita Mwangi – Story za Thuita
• Joseph Obel – My Body Betrays Me
• Timo GK – Matarania

Best Female Performance in a Solo Production

• Julisa Rowe – Carnival Girl
• Mercy Wangari – Auntie Jemima: Maitu Mukabete
• Zippy Okoth – Mama's Mirror
• Esther Kahuha – Man Made Woman (Chronicles of a Mother)
• Sitawa Namwalie – Stories and Poetry (I am Having a Moment)

Best Breakthrough Male Performer

• Arnold Saviour – Deny Deny Deny
• Marichu Muturi – Prince of Hera 3
• Jerry Mokua – Who was Here?
• Abdoulaye Diabate – Oliver
• Barrack Mbachi – Amahl & The Night Visitors

Best Breakthrough Female Performer

• Ella Zhao – 1984
• Kendi Waimiri – Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Marya Okoth – Husband Home And Away
• Anne Kiveli – Ghosts of The Lake
• Edna Kariuki – Till Something Do Us Part

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)

• Joyce Musoke – Pilate
• Nixsha Shah – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Marrianne Nungo – Meetings
• EIleen Anyona – Don’t Dress For Dinner
• Lisa Odhiambo – 12 Angry Jurors

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)

• Justine Mirichii – They That Have Missing Marks
• Bilal Wanjau – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Gadwill Odhiambo – Sirano wa Begeraki
• Johnson Fish Chege – Betrayal In The City
• Mwaura Bilal – They That Have Missing Marks

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Play)

• Yafesi Musoke – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Benson Ochungo – Sirano wa Begeraki
• Emmanuel Mulili –Matchstick Men
• Andrew Tumbo –The Good, The Bad, and the Wolf
• Justin Karunguru – They That Have Missing Marks

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Play)

• Wanjiku Mwawuganga – Echoes
• Wakio Mzenge – Ujumbe
• Falky Agnes – Jaboya
• Carol Odongo – Graveyard Queens
• Zainabu Zeddy – She World 2

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Monologue

• Julisa Rowe – Carnival Girl
• Aleya Kassam – Story sosa
• Mercy Wangari – Maitu Mukabete
• Esther Kahuha – Man Made Woman
• Zippy Okoth – Zanzi Madness

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Monologue

• Thuita Mwangi – Story za Thuita
• Paul Otieno – Story Sosa
• Ngatia Bryan – Risto za Histo
• Ken Kibet – Nairobi Dating Scene

Best Set Design

• Amar Desai and Chandni Vaya – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Stuart Nash – Sirano wa Begeraki
• Stuart Nash – Betrayal In The City
• Allan Otieno – Jaboya
• Lavinda Temko – Graveyard Queens

Best Lighting Design

• Stuart Nash – Sirano wa Begeraki
• Mike Ndeda and Faiz Ouma – Jaboya
• Amar Desai – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Benson Kiende – Rokk of Ages
• Charles Stephen – Nairobi Dating Stories

Best Sound Design

• The Bigger Boys of Shibale
• Rokk of Ages
• Amahl and the Night Visitors
• Merchants Of The Iron Snake
• Carnival Girl

Best Costumes Design

• Brian Emry – Graveyard Queens
• Ekta Varia – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Kasia Mészéros – The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
• Stacy Fuller and Katrina Siegrist – Tuck Everlasting
• Juliet Duckworth – Sleeping Beauty Ballet

Best Stage Managed Production

• Chirag Shah and Kavit Shah – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Rita Gitau – Sirano wa Begeraki
• Chirag shah and Kavit Shah – The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
• Kate Gardiner – Rokk of Ages
• Mercy Wangui – Betrayal In The City

Best Kikwetu Production

• Siekenye
• Maitu Mukabete
• Una Ritho
• Mwariama
• Shemeji Rau

Best Children’s Play

• The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
• Carnival Girl
• Tuck Everlasting
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Oliver

Best Two-hander Production

• Wreiner Mandu – Igiza Arts Production
• Stuart Nash – Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Cooper Rust – Dance Centre Kenya

Best Director

• Martin Kigondu – They That Have Missing Marks
• Amar Desai – The Play That Goes Wrong
• Stuart Nash – Sirano wa Begeraki
• Julisa Rowe – Pilate
• Mike Ndeda – Jaboya

Best Adaptation

• Sirano wa Begeraki
• Echoes
• Matchstick Men
• Ujumbe
• The Cost of My Identity

Best Production

• The Play That Goes Wrong
• They That Have Missing Marks
• Sirano wa Begeraki
• Jaboya
• Rokk of Ages

Theatre Company of the Year

• Aperture Africa
• Renegade Ventures
• Prevail Presents
• Heartstrings Entertainment
• Millaz Production Kenya

Best Producer

• Martin Kigondu – Prevail
• Amar Desai and Jinita Desai – Graveyard Queens
• Nyokabi Macharia & Nice Githinji – Echoes
• Joseph Obel, Martin Kigondu, Wanjiku Mwawuganga – The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
• Amar Desai and Jinita Desai – Oliver

Best Playwright – Original Script

• Dr Fred Mbogo – They That Have Missing Marks
• Martin Kigondu – Matchstick Men
• Emmanuel Chindia – Jaboya
• John Jumbi – Prince of Hera
• Marvin Kibicho – Drums of War

Best Best Learning Institution

• Braeburn Academy Gitanga Road
• Kenyatta University
• KCA University
• Brookhouse
• Nairobi Institute of Music and Performing Arts (NIMPA)