Fugard Theatre Productions Wins Six Fleur Du Cap Awards

Productions presented and hosted by the Fugard Theatre won six Fleur du Cap awards at the 53rd Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards ceremony which was held last night (Sunday 18 March) at the Baxter Theatre.

The Fugard Theatre's historic production of South African musical King Kong, directed by Jonathan Munby, gathered three awards, including the key categories of Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical for Edith Plaatjies as shebeen queen Joyce, as well as Best Sound Design, Original Music Composition or Original Score for the Fugard's Resident Musical Director Charl-Johan Lingenfelder for his Original Music Composition (additional) for King Kong. Sanda Shandu also won the Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role as Lucky.

Robyn Scott took home the Fleur du Cap award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in the South African premiere production of Shakespeare In Love, directed by Greg Karvellas.

Winning productions that have been hosted by the Fugard Theatre include Die reuk van appels produced by Theatrerocket Productions and for which Gideon Lombard won the award for Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show.

Nico Scheepers of Naskrif Produksies was awarded the Fleur du Cap award for Best New Director. Scheepers directed two shows which were presented at the Fugard Theatre last year - Hemelruim starring Paul du Toit and Tinarie van Wyk Loots, as well as Moedertaal starring Sandra Prinsloo. In his acceptance speech, Scheepers thanked the Fugard Theatre for helping to make Afrikaans theatre accessible to a wider audience by running subtitles with each Afrikaans show.

"We are proud to be recognised among the country's top theatre makers and extend our congratulations to all the nominees and winners," says Daniel Galloway, Executive Director of the Fugard Theatre. "In bringing King Kong to the stage in 2017, we wanted to honour the magnificent talent that was the composer Todd Matshikiza, and so we are especially honoured to have received an award for original composition, much of which was inspired by his original music."

The Road to Mecca, which the Fugard Theatre is presenting in honour of Athol Fugard's 85th year, starring Sandra Prinsloo, Marius Weyers and Emily Child, opens on 27 March at the Fugard Theatre. It runs Tuesday to Saturdays at 8pm with a 4pm matinee on Saturdays.

Tickets cost from R130 to R230. Bookings can be made through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. Bookings can also be made at the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 and website www.thefugard.com There is a generous 15% discount available for the Friends of the Fugard members.

Photo Caption: Edith Plaatjies (winner of the Fleur du Cap Award for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical) as Joyce and Sanda Shandu (winner of the Fleur du Cap Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical) as Lucky in King Kong - The Musical. PHOTO CREDIT JESSE KRAMER

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