Naledi Theatre Awards 2020: All the winners

“What has been particularly wonderful to see is the continued high standard of homegrown work being presented,” Naledi Theatre Awards chairperson Kgomotso Christopher said. “With the additional categories under review and the expanded panels covering six genres, we have been able to acknowledge and reward world-class excellence in theatre, across the board.”

The awards' executive director for legal, Lihan Pretorius, said: “Whilst we held out as long as possible to see if a live event would be possible during this strange year, we are thrilled that we were able to join the trend and go online with the awards."

Below is the full list of winners:

Best Production of a Musical

• Angola Camp 13 by Manti Makhulu
• Aunty Merle the Musical by Anwar Mc Kay & Marc Lottering
• Chicago by Showtime Management in assoc. with Barry & Fran
• Forever Plaid by VR Theatrical
• Into the Woods by Pieter Toerien and Kickstart
• Rock of Ages by Montecasino in assoc. with VR Theatrical

Best Original Score/Arrangement/Adaptation

• Cromwell Modise Modungwa (Angola Camp 13)
• Clint Lesch (Aida Abridged)
• Nebo Mafabatho (Xova)
• Tarryn Lamb & Marc Lottering (Aunty Merle the Musical)
• Kholofelo Sewela & Major Mockery (Venus vs Modernity)

Best Sound Design/Soundscape

• Blessing Jiyane (Angola Camp 13)
• Kholofela Sewela (The Lion and the Lamb)
• Mark Malherbe (Into the Woods)
• Nebo Mafabatho (Xova)
• Yogin Sullapen (Strange Land)

Best Lead Performance in a Musical: Female

• Kate Normington as The Witch in Into the Woods
• Carmen Pretorius as Roxie Hart in Chicago
• Jessica Sole as The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods
• Phethile Sibanyoni as Sizwe Manzine in Angola Camp 13
• Samantha Peo as Velma Kelly inChicago

Best Lead Performance in a Musical: Male

• Marc Lottering as Aunty Merle in Aunty Merle the Musical
• Earl Gregory as The Baker in Into the Woods
• Josh Ansley as Drew in Rock of Ages
• Musanete Sakupwanya as Cat in The Hat
• Soyiso Ndaba as Majoro Mnisi in Angola Camp 13

Best Featured/Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Marlee van der Merwe as Ursula Koekemoer in Aspoestertjie
• Lois du Plessis as Justice in Rock of Ages
• Noni Mkhonto as Henrietta Hen in Jack and the Beanstalk
• Siyasanga Papu as Michael/Mama in Santa Clause is coming to town
• Tankiso Mamabolo as Lydia in Aunty Merle the Musical

Best Featured/Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Craig Urbani as Dennis in Rock of Ages
• Anzio September as Carl in Aunty Merle the Musical
• Grant Towers as Amos in Chicago
• Loukmaan Adams as Denver in Aunty Merle the Musical
• Matthew Counihan as Franz in Rock of Ages
• Zak Hendrikz as the Prince/Wolf in Into the Woods

Best Director of a Musical

• Sello Amos Maseko (Angola Camp 13)
• Jaco van Rensburg (Forever Plaid)
• Neels Clasen (Aspoestertjie)
• Steven Stead - (Into the Woods)
• Timothy le Roux and Elizma Badenhorst - (Rock of Ages)

Best Musical Director

• Drew Bakker (Into the Woods)
• Bryan Schimmel (Chicago)
• Cromwell Modise Modungwa (Angola Camp 13)
• Wessel Odendaal (Forever Plaid)
• Wessel Odendaal (Rock of Ages)

Best Choreography in a Play or a Musical

• Mduduzi Vincent Nhlapo (Angola Camp 13)
• Craig Morris (Metamorphosis)
• Grant Van Ster (Aunty Merle the Musical)
• Mpho Maifadi (Xova)
• Sinenhlahla Mgeyi & Aalujah Zamm Matinela (Currently (G)old

Best Production of a Play

• Xova by The State Theatre in assoc. with Ozone Fela
• Equus by Pieter Toerien
• Gertrude Stein by Daphne Kuhn and Authentik
• Metamorphosis by UJ Arts and Culture
• Pockets of Knowledge by The Soweto Theatre
• The Fisherman by The Market Theatre

Best New South African Script

• Xova by Joseph Komani
• Currently (G)old by the Kwasha Company
• Ekasi Lam’ by Jefferson Tshabalala
• Strange Land by Prof. Anton Krueger
• VAN WYK: The Storyteller of Riverlea by Zane Meas
• Venus vs Modernity by Lebo Mashile

Best Contemporary Dance/Ballet Production

• Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero by The Joburg Theatre & Vuyani Dance Theatre
• Exit/Exist by Vuyani Dance Theatre and The Market Theatre
• Giselle by Joburg Ballet
• I am Simon by Thami Tshabalala in assoc. with The State Theatre
• The Angel Trilogy by Joburg Ballet

Best Production for Independent/Fringe Theatre

• No Easter Sunday for Queers by The National Arts Festival & The Market Theatre
• Born Naked by POPart Theatre in Collab with. Hijinks Theatre & ZikkaZimba Productions
• Cottonwool Kid by POPart Theatre
• Dick or Date by MoMo Matsunyane Productions
• Unlearn by MoMo Matsunyane Productions

Best Production Tertiary/Incubator Theatre

• Eclipsed by The Market Theatre
• Frontières byThe Market Theatre & The Dept Arts and Culture Incubation
• Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Metaphors by Prof Marié-Heleen Coetzee & UP Drama
• Nailed by The Market Theatre & The Dept Arts & Culture Incubation
• Rhinoceros by Kwasha! Theatre Company supported by The Market Theatre Lab.

Best Lead Performance in a Play: Female

• Lynita Crofford as Alice B Toklas in Gertrude Stein and a Companion
• Charmaine Mtinta as Zukiswa in Xova
• Dorothy Ann Gould as The Mother in Family Secrets
• Lebo Mashile as Saartjie in Venus vs Modernity
• Shirley Johnston as Getrude Stein in Gertrude Stein and a Companion

Best Lead Performance in a Play: Male

• Sven Ruygrok as Alan Strang in Equus
• Graham Hopkins as Dr Martin Dysart in Equus
• Siyabonga Thwala as Obembe in The Fisherman
• Warren Masemola as Ben in The Fisherman
• William Harding as Gregor/Beetle in Metamorphosis

Best Featured/Supporting Actress in a Play

• Zimkhita Nyoka as Thozama in Xova
• Ameera Patel as the Sister in Metamorphosis
• Khutjo Green as the Mother in Metamorphosis
• Nondumiso Mabuza as Themba in Xova
• Nonhlahla Dube as Lady in White in Xova

Best Featured/Supporting Actor in a Play

• Yamikani Mahaka as Mr M in My Children My Africa
• Craig Morris as the Father in Metamorphosis
• Matthew Lotter as Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap
• Sello Sebotsane as Oompie Tselapedi in Call us Crazy
• Zolani Shangase as Thami in My Children My Africa

Best Breakthrough Performance

• Ann Masina as Venus in Venus vs Modernity
• Abongile Matyutyu as John Motokolo in Angola Camp 13
• Anele Nene as Malusi in Pockets of Knowledge
• Menzi Mkhwene as Sihle in Pockets of Knowledge
• Jessica Wolhuter as Young Tracy in Brutal Legacy

Best Ensemble

• Angola Camp 13 by The State Theatre in assoc. with Manti Makhulu
• Currently (G)old by the Kwasha Company in assoc. with the Market Theatre Lab andWindybrow Arts Centre
• Into the Woods by Pieter Toerien and Kickstart
• Shakespeare’s R&J by Abrahamse & Meyer Productions
• Woza Albert! By The State Theatre in assoc. with The Playhouse Company

Best Solo Performance in a Production Male/Female

• Billy Langa
• Ben Pienaar
• Ignatius van Heerden
• Pieter-Dirk Uys
• Renos Nicos Spanoudes
• Zane Meas

Best Production for Children and Young Audiences

• Tiny the Tokoloshe & other African Tales by VR Theatrical
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by National Children’s Theatre
• Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat by National Children’s Theatre
• Seussical Jr. by People’s Theatre
• Three Little Pigs by Pretoria Youth Theatre

Best Performance in a Production For Young Audiences (Male/Female)

• Roberto Pombo as Willy Wonka & Narrator in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Jaques de Silva as The Cat in the Hat
• Jay Hlatshwayo as Duck the Duck for President
• Tumelo Kope-Baloyi as Genie in the Aladdin
• Thokozani Jiyane as Marty the Zebra in Madagascar, A Musical Adventure Jr

Best Director of a Play

• Joseph Komani (Xova)
• Alby Michaels (Metamorphosis)
• Fred Abrahamse (Equus)
• James Ngcobo (The Fisherman)
• Pamela Nomvete & Koleka Putuma (Venus vs Modernity)
• Matthew Counihan (My Children My Africa)

Best Theatre Set Design

• Sarah Roberts (Metamorphosis)
• Fred Abrahamse (Shakespeare’s R&J)
• Greg King (Into the Woods)
• Nthabiseng Malaka (Strange Land)
• Sheldon Marema (Xova)

Best Costume/Props Design

• Koketso Kekana (Xova)
• Marcel Meyer (Shakespeare’s R&J)
• Marcel Meyer (Equus)
• Neil Stuart Harris (Into the Woods)
• UJ Design Academy (Metamorphosis)

Best Lighting Design/Animations

• Oliver Hauser (Metamorphosis)
• Fred Abrahamse (Equus)
• Mbongeni Clement Mabila (Angola Camp 13)
• Tina le Roux (Into the Woods)
• Wandile Mgcodo (Xova)