Cape Town Fringe Announces Its 2017 Fringe Fresh Award Winners

The Cape Town Fringe Festival came to a close yesterday, 8 October, following eighteens of drama, music, dance, physical theatre, comedy and illusion. This feast of arts and culture was celebrated with the Fringe Fresh Awards ceremony at the Fringe Club in Gardens on Saturday night. The awards, which honour creative excellence across a number of categories, were presented in front of an audience of theatre professionals, media and fans.

The Fringe Fresh Awards were chosen by a panel of industry experts, namely Celeste Botha, Kurt Egelhof, Motlatji Ditodi, Paul Griffiths, Faye Kabali-Kagwa, Atiyyah Khan, Steven Kretzmann, Ukhona Mlandu, Mbongeni Nomkonwana, Gabriella Pinto and Tracey Saunders. Ditodi, who convened the panel, says:

The variety of work on the programme this year has been challenging and incredibly FRESH. I am very happy to have witnessed the work that the Fringe had to offer.

The FRESH Creative Award is awarded to an outstanding arts practitioner making or contributing to the making of work in any genre. This year's Fresh Creatives were Mzokuthula Gasa (choreography) for ABANGABONWA (THE UNSEEN), Mahlatsi Mokgonyana (directing) for TSWALO and Khayalethu Anthony (Writing) for THE CHAMPION.

The FRESH 'We See You' Award is presented for exceptional work in which both process and craft are evident and worthy of special mention. The winners were BLACK PRIDE, DIRTY LAUNDRY EN VUIL WASGOED, GUG'OTHANDAYO - THE MUSICAL and IKHAYA

The FRESH Audience Award goes to the most popular production, based on proportional ticket sales and audience feedback, and the winner this year was the SAMTHING SOWETO GOLD TOUR.

The FRESH Spirit Award celebrates an artist or arts organisation working in any genre whose work embodies the spirit of Fringe. This year's winner was J. BOBS LIVE - OFF THE RECORD.

The FRESH Performer Award goes to a stand-out performance by an artist in any genre and was presented to Billy Langa for TSWALO.

The Freshest Show Award, for the best overall production at the Cape Town Fringe, was awarded to J. BOBS LIVE - OFF THE RECORD.

The nominees for the Fringe Fresh Awards 2017 also included: in the Fresh Creative category, Jefferson Tshabalala (director/creator) for J. BOBS LIVE - OFF THE RECORD, Brendon Peel (magician) for HOCUS POCUS, Ntsika Benya (script) for STONES, Billy Langa (writing) for TSWALO, Nicola Hanekom (directing) for GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, Thando Doni (directing) for PHEFUMLA/TO BREATHE, Kei-Ella Loewe (directing) for IN WHOREFISH BLOOMERS: THE WAITRESSES' LAMENT and Unmute Dance Company for ACCESS ME; in the Fresh Performer category, Amykay Klaasen, Thembekile Komani and Nkosentsha Tamana in ABANGABONWA (THE UNSEEN), Emihle Mdingi in BLACK PRIDE, Thobani Nzuza in BOY NTULIKAZI, Megan Oberholzer in GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, Somila Toyi in IZIQHAMO ZOBOMI, Jefferson Tshabalala in J. BOBS LIVE - OFF THE RECORD, Thulani Mtsweni in KASI STORIES: A STORY NOT OFTEN TOLD, Sinoxolo Cezula in NDENDILE, Francis Mennigke in THE BLUE PERIOD OF MILTON VAN DER SPUY, Mpapa Simo Majola in THE FUNERAL, Thembekile Komani and Babalwa Makwetu in THE PLAYROOM, bass guitarist and keyboard player Ernestine Deane, bass guitarist Tiana Marwanqana and keyboard player Nobuhle Mazinyane; and in the Freshest Show category, (W)ASEM, ABANGABONWA (THE UNSEEN), GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, IN WHOREFISH BLOOMERS: THE WAITRESSES' LAMENT, KASI STORIES: A STORY NOT OFTEN TOLD, SAMTHING SOWETO GOLD TOUR, THE CHAMPION, THE PLAYROOM, TSWALO, WORST OF BOTH WORLDS and GUG' OTHANDAYO THE MUSICAL.

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