The 51st annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards has announced its 2015 nominees, reflecting a rich realm of theatre talent seen on stages throughout the Western Cape. The glamorous awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, 20 March, at 18:00 at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town and will personify a fusion of cultures, food and Fleur du Cap wine.
For over 50 years, The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards has played a unique role in the growth of South African theatre through awarding excellence in professional theatre. This year, for the first time in the event's history, the awards will boast many firsts; ranging from food and wine experiences to recognition of theatre development.
The awards are presented in 20 different categories and a total of 86 productions from 2015 were eligible. In addition, 66 student performances were considered for the Most Promising Student Award.
The judges for 2015 productions were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Christine Moritz, Eugene Yiga, Gillian Mitchell, Herman van der Westhuizen, Johan van Lill, Marina Griebenow, Peter Tromp, Steyn du Toit and Tracey Saunders. Melanie Burke, chairman of the judging panel, says:
I want to acknowledge the amazingly passionate panel of judges, the support of the Distell Foundation together with the Fleur du Cap Wine brand as well as the theatre industry for the tremendous support the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards enjoys. I look forward to what the future brings.
For a production to be eligible, a run of a minimum of eight performances over a period of three weeks at the same venue is required. Each award carries a cash prize of R15 000 and each award recipient is given a silver medallion. All voting processes are audited and overseen by the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc.
The nominees (in alphabetical order) in the various categories are:
1. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Andrew Buckland for TOBACCO AND THE HARMFUL EFFECTS THEREOF as Ivan
Gerben Kamper for SAMSA-MASJIEN as Gregor Samsa
Atandwa Kani for SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD as Styles/Buntu
Nicholas Pauling for A STEADY RAIN as Joey
Albert Pretorius for DIE SEEMEEU as Konstantin Gawrilowitsj Treplew
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Antoinette Kellerman for SAMSA-MASJIEN as Josephine
Rolanda Marais for DIE SEEMEEU as Nina Mikhailowna Zaretsjnaja
Sandra Prinsloo for DIE SEEMEEU as Irina Nikolajewna Arkadina
Jennie Reznek for I TURNED AWAY AND SHE WAS GONE as various characters
Anna-Mart van der Merwe for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS as Vrou Macbeth
3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Charlton George for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS as F/Banquo/Dokter
Marty Kintu for BLUE/ORANGE as Christopher
André Roothman for DRIF as Maestro
Sven Ruygrok for EPSTEIN: THE MAN WHO MADE THE BEATLES as This Boy
Marius Weyers for DIE SEEMEEU as Pjotr Nicolajewitsj Sorin
4. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jana Cilliers for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS as A
Antoinette Kellermann for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS as E/Duncan
Martelize Kolver for DIE SEEMEEU as Paulina Andrejewna
Cintaine Schutte for DIE SEEMEEU as Masja
Anthea Thompson for CRY HAVOC as Ms Nevers
5. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW
Terry Fortune for REMEMBERING THE LUX as various characters
Jemma Kahn for WE DIDN'T COME TO HELL FOR THE CROISSANTS as the Narrator
Jennie Reznek for I TURNED AWAY AND SHE WAS GONE as various characters
Klara van Wyk for YOU SUCK (AND OTHER INESCAPEABLE TRUTHS) as Prettina
Graham Weir for DEAD YELLOW SANDS as various characters
6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Grant Almirall for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN as Don Lockwood
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder for CABARET as Emcee
Aubrey Poo for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA as Orpheus McAdoo
Jonathan Roxmouth for WEST SIDE STORY as Tony
Steven van Wyk for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN as Cosmo Brown
7. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Bethany Dickson for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN as Kathy Selden
Lynelle Kenned for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA as Mattie Allen
Lynelle Kenned for WEST SIDE STORY as Maria
Claire Taylor for CABARET as Sally Bowles
Candice van Litsenborgh for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS as Audrey
8. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Dean Balie for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA as Mr Finnegan/Ernest Logan/Kapok
Sne Dladla for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA as Egbert Washburn/Trooper/Student Leader/Bap
Zak Hendrikz for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS as Orin
Stephen Jubber for WEST SIDE STORY as Riff
De Klerk Oelofse for LIEWE HEKSIE: FLOWER POWER as various characters
9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Shannyn Fourie for CABARET as Fräulein Kost/Fritzie
Bianca le Grange for WEST SIDE STORY as Anita
Jill Levenberg for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA as Lucy Moten
Nkoto Malebye for BOOK OF REBELLATIONS as Esmiralda/Martha/Others
Michelle Maxwell for CABARET as Fräulein Schneider
10. AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT
Schalk Bezuidenhout from UCT
Dealan Fredericks from Northlink College
Kgomotso Khunoane from UCT
Kiroshan Naidoo from UCT
Vashti Prins from US
Khathu Ramabulana from UCT
Mar-li van der Merwe from US
Sean van Noordwyk from US
11. BEST DIRECTOR
Christiaan Olwagen for DIE SEEMEEU
David Kramer for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA
Jaco Bouwer for SAMSA-MASJIEN
Marthinus Basson for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS
Sylvaine Strike for TOBACCO AND THE HARMFUL EFFECTS THEREOF
12. BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Wolf Britz for SAMSA-MASJIEN
Patrick Curtis for BLUE/ORANGE
Joshua Cutts for WEST SIDE STORY
Guy de Lancey for DEAD YELLOW SANDS
Albert Snyman for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS
13. BEST SET DESIGN
Marthinus Basson for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS
Jaco Bouwer for SAMSA-MASJIEN
Conor Murphy for WEST SIDE STORY
Saul Radomsky for BAD JEWS
Saul Radomsky for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA
14. BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Marthinus Basson for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS
Simon Higlett for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
Birrie le Roux for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA
Birrie le Roux for DIE SEEMEEU
Marcel Meyer for THE TRADEGY OF OTHELLO - THE MOOR OF VENICE
15. BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION OR ORIGINAL SCORE
Marthinus Basson for MACBETH.SLAPELOOS - Soundscape
David Kramer for ORPHEUS IN AFRICA - Original music composition
Kgafela oa Magogodi for BOOK OF REBELLATIONS - Original music composition
Neo Muyanga for I TURNED AWAY AND SHE WAS GONE - Original music composition
Pierre-Henri Wicomb for SAMSA-MASJIEN - Soundscape and original score
16. BEST PUPPETRY DESIGN
NO NOMINATIONS
17. BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT
SAMSA-MASJIEN by Willem Anker
ORPHEUS IN AFRICA by David Kramer
SIEMBAMBA by Philip Rademeyer & Penelope Youngleson
I TURNED AWAY AND SHE WAS GONE by Jennie Reznek
DEAD YELLOW SANDS by Graham Weir
18. ROSALIE VAN DER GUCHT PRIZE FOR NEW DIRECTORS
Adrian Collins
Christo Davids
Jason Jacobs
Mdu Kweyama
Paul Noko
Tickets for the awards ceremony at the Baxter Theatre cost R200 per person via Computicket (0861 9158000). Guests can look forward to an interesting twist on a Fleur du Cap food and wine experience and will as usual be entertained by local talent onstage and in the foyer. Follow the awards on Twitter @FDCTheatreAward and on Facebook.
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