Nominees Announced For The 53rd Annual Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards

The 2017 nominees for the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards have been announced. These annual awards are regarded amongst the most valued and prestigious in the South African performing arts industry. This year's ceremony will take place on 18 March at 17:30 at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town and promises to be an "Elegantly Extravagant" evening.

Theatre practitioners are recognised for acting, directing, staging and technical ability at the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. The awards are considered in 26 different categories, including Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre. The recipients of these latter awards will be announced at the ceremony next month, with winners in the other categories are chosen from productions performed at professional theatre venues in and around Cape Town. For the first time, awards will be made in the categories of Best Performance in an Opera (Male), Best Performance in an Opera (Female), Best Performance by an Ensemble, Best Theatre Production for Children and Young People and Best Production. This year awards will not be made in the category Best Puppetry Design.

These nominations reflect the excellent theatre talent seen on stages throughout the Western Cape last year, with more recognition for local theatre-makers in the Best New South African Script category. Melanie Burke, chairman of the judging panel, comments: "The increased number of nominees in the category for Best New South African Script is extremely exciting as it means that local theatre-makers are becoming bolder in telling the stories that are at the heart of our collective lived experience. To see life imitating art in this way is truly exhilarating. We thank Fleur du Cap wine brand, the hardworking panel of judges, theatre-makers and all the creatives behind the scenes who made this possible."

The panel of judges, chaired by a non-voting chairperson, is made up largely of local critics, journalists, writers and drama educators. The judges for the 2017 productions were Africa Melane, Beverley Brommert, Eugene Yiga, Johan van Lill, Marina Griebenow, Maurice Carpede, Niel Roux, Tracey Saunders and Wayne Muller.

A total of 80 diverse productions from the year under review were eligible for consideration. They are, in alphabetical order: A HANDFUL OF KEYS, ANGELS ON HORSEBACK, ANOTHER ONE'S BREAD, AUNTY MERLE - THE MUSICAL, BASH: LATTERDAY PLAYS, BLACK, BOY NTULIKAZI, BROTHER LOVE 2, BUZANI KUBAWO, CATHY AND THE TROLLEY DOLLIES, CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9, CHEERS TO SARAJEVO, DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER, DIE DANS VAN DIE WATERMEID, DIE NAG VAN LEGIO, DIE REUK VAN APPELS, EL BLANCO: TALES OF THE MARIACHI, EVITA, EVITA BEZUIDENHOUT AND THE KAKTUS OF SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT, FIELA SE KIND, FUNNY GIRL, HAMLET, HEMELRUIM, IMMORTAL, IN BOCCA AL LUPO, IN WHOREFISH BLOOMERS: THE WAITRESSES' LAMENT, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, KAFKA'S APE, KIDCASINO, KING KONG, KLARA MAAS SE HART IS GEBREEK ENSOMEER: DIE VLOEISTOF-TRILOGIE, FROM KOE'SIESTES TO KNEIDLACH, KOÖPERASIESTORIES, KWAMANZI, MACBETH: THE ADULT PANTO, MAMA AFRICA - THE MUSICAL, MARAT/SADE, MATE, MOEDERTAAL, NASTY WOMXN, NICE COAT (LEKKER JAS), NIQABI NINJA, PETER PAN, PIECES, POLICE COPS IN SPACE, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, RED ALOES, RENAISSANCE, RENT, RIGOLETTO, SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION, SELWYN AND GABRIEL, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CURSE OF THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND, SINGLE MINDED, SO RY MISS DAISY, SONGS OF THIS SOIL, STATE FRACTURE, SUDDENLY THE STORM, SYNERGY, TARTUFFE, THE EULOGISTS, THE MAGIC FLUTE, THE MOTHER, THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, THE NATIVE WHO CAUSED ALL THE TROUBLE, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, THE RABBLE, THE VISIT, THIRST, THREE'S A CROWD, TIGER BAY - THE MUSICAL, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, TSWALO/SOURCE, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY, VLOOI EN DIE KONINGINBY/KIPPER AND THE QUEEN BEE, WHAT REMAINS and WHO'S YOUR DADDY.

The student panel adjudicated another 35 student productions, bringing the total number of productions that were considered in 2017 to an astounding 115.

Each award carries a cash prize of R15 000 and a silver medallion. All voting processes are audited and overseen by Distell Internal Audit and the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc. For over fifty years, the Fleur du Cap wine brand has proudly associated itself with the Theatre Awards as displaying the flair that is synonymous with the wine. SA Brand Manager for Premium Wines, Khanya Mashalaba, comments: "Theatre is the showcase for generations of artists; it is an honour to support such a pivotal part of the industry."

The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards are sponsored by the Fleur du Cap wine brand. At its inception in 1965, the awards were known as the Three Leaf Awards, becoming the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards in 1978 to celebrate one of one of South Africa's premier and best-known wines is a flagship brand in the Distell Group. Through awarding excellence in professional theatre, Fleur du Cap wine and its theatre awards have played a significant role in the lives of South African theatre-makers.

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The nominees in the various categories are, in alphabetical order:

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY: André Roothman in DIE NAG VAN LEGIO as Dogoman, Charlton George in MARAT/SADE as Jean-Paul Marat, Craig Morris in TARTUFFE as Tartuffe/Madame Pernelle, Ephraim Gordon in DIE DANS VAN DIE WATERMEID as Mills, and Marty Kintu in TOPDOG/UNDERDOG as Lincoln.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Buhle Ngaba in WHAT REMAINS as The Student, Charmaine Weir-Smith in SUDDENLY THE STORM as Shanell, Faniswa Yisa in WHAT REMAINS as The Archeologist, Tinarie van Wyk Loots in HEMELRUIM as Mariaan, and Tinarie van Wyk Loots in MARAT/SADE as Charlotte Corday

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY: Bongile Mantsai in MARAT/SADE as Duperret, Darren Araujo in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE as Henslowe/Ensemble, Gerben Kamper in DIE NAG VAN LEGIO as Oubaas Menge, Mark Elderkin in TWELFTH NIGHT as Malvolio, and Wessel Pretorius in TWELFTH NIGHT as Feste.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Camilla Waldman in TARTUFFE as Cléante, Faith Kinnear in MARAT SADE as Patient/Chorus, Jenny Stead in THE VISIT as Jackie Lodin, Renate Stuurman in SUDDENLY THE STORM as Namhla and Robyn Scott in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE as Elizabeth I/Ensemble.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW: Andile Gumbi in KING KONG as King Kong, David Dennis in PRSCILLA - QUEEN OF THE DESERT as Bernadette, Jonathan Roxmouth in EVITA as Che, Marc Lottering in AUNTY MERLE - THE MUSICAL as Aunty Merle, and Sne Dladla in KING KONG as Pop.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW: Ashleigh Harvey in FUNNY GIRL as Fanny Brice, Edith Plaatjies in KING KONG as Joyce, Emma Kingston in EVITA as Eva, Nondumiso Tembe in KING KONG as Joyce, and Tarryn Lamb in AUNTY MERLE - THE MUSICAL as Abigail.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW: Anton Luitingh in EVITA as Magaldi, Anton Luitingh in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT as Pharoah, Sanda Shandu in KING KONG as Lucky, Tshepo Ncokoane in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT as Miss Understanding, Tshamano Sebe in KING KONG as Jack.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW: Candice von Litsenborgh in PRISCILLA - QUEEN OF THE DESERT as Shirley, Isabella Jane in EVITA as The Mistress, Josslynn Hlenti in KING KONG as Petal, Kate Normington in FUNNY GIRL as Mrs Brice, and Tankiso Mamabolo in AUNTY MERLE - THE MUSICAL as Lydia.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE: The Cast of MARAT/SADE, The Divas of PRISCILLA - QUEEN OF THE DESERT, The Cast of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, The Cast of TARTUFFE, and The Cast of WHAT REMAINS.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW: Daniel Mpilo Richards in STATE FRACTURE in Various Roles, Gideon Lombard in DIE REUK VAN APPELS as Marnus, Jemma Kahn in IN BOCCA AL LUPO as The Narrator, Sandra Prinsloo in MOEDERTAAL as Nellie, and Tony Bonani Miyambo in KAFKA'S APE as Red Peter.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA - MALE: Fikile Mvinjelwa in RIGOLETTO as Rigoletto, Jaco Venter in DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER as Holländer, Lukhanyo Moyake in RIGOLETTO as The Duke of Mantua, Lukhanyo Moyake in DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER as Steuermann, and Martin Mkhize in THE MAGIC FLUTE as Papageno.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA - FEMALE: Brittany Smith in THE MAGIC FLUTE as Pamina, Johanni van Oostrum in DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER as Senta, Leah Gunter in THE MAGIC FLUTE as The Queen, Noluvuyiso Mpofu in RIGOLETTO as Gilda, and Nonhlanhla Yende in RIGOLETTO as Maddalena.

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer for PETER PAN, Jon Keevy for THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY, Marinda Engelbrecht and Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck for VLOOI EN DIE KONINGBY/KIPPER AND THE QUEEN BEE.

AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT: Luntu Masiza from AFDA, Matthew Stuurman from UCT, Melani-Roxanne Breedt from AFDA, Tristan de Beer from UCT and Zoe McLaughlin from WTS.

BEST NEW DIRECTOR: Dara Beth, Joshua G Ackerman, Nico Scheepers, Nwabisa Plaatjie, and Thando Mangcu.

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN: Nick Schlieper and Per Hording for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, Patrick Curtis for MARAT/SADE, Tim Mitchell for KING KONG, Wilhelm Disbergen for WHAT REMAINS, Wolf Britz for SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.

BEST SET DESIGN: Brian Thomson for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, Greg King for SUDDENLY THE STORM, Jaco Bouwer for MARAT/SADE, Nicola Mayer for IMMORTAL, Nigel Hook for THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Birrie le Roux for KING KONG, Birrie le Roux for FUNNY GIRL, Leigh Bishop and Lieze van Tonder for TWELFTH NIGHT, Sasha Ehlers for TARTUFFE, Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT.

BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION OR ORIGINAL SCORE: Charl-Johan Lingenfelder for Original Music Composition (additional) for KING KONG, Daf James and Michael Williams for Original Score for TIGER BAY - THE MUSICAL, Neo Muyanga for Original Music Composition for TWELFTH NIGHT, Pierre-Henri Wicomb for Original Music Composition for MARAT/SADE, and Tarryn Lamb and Marc Lottering for Original Score for AUNTY MERLE - THE MUSICAL.

BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT: DIE DANS VAN DIE WATERMEID by Amee Lekas, SUDDENLY THE STORM by Paul Slabolepszy, THE EULOGISTS by Louis Viljoen, THE VISIT by Brent Palmer, and WHAT REMAINS by Nadia Davids.

BEST DIRECTOR: Jaco Bouwer for MARAT/SADE, Jay Pather for WHAT REMAINS, Jonathan Munby for KING KONG, Lara Bye for DIE REUK VAN APPELS, and Sylvaine Strike for TARTUFFE.

BEST PRODUCTION: DIE REUK VAN APPELS - Theatrerocket (Johan van der Merwe and Rudi Sadler), KING KONG - The Fugard Theatre (Eric Abraham), MARAT/SADE - The Baxter Theatre (Nicolette Moses), PRISCILLA - QUEEN OF THE DESERT - ShowTime Management (Hazel Feldman) and WHAT REMAINS - Nadia Davids.

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A limited number of tickets for the ceremony at The Baxter Theatre will be on sale at R300 per person. However, there is no reason to miss this exciting annual event. For the first time in the history of the awards, theatre lovers can share in the celebrations from the comfort of their own home in real-time through a virtual experience at only R100 per ticket, with standard data rates applying. Tickets can be purchased from the Baxter's box office on 021 685 7880 or Webtickets from 15th February 2018. Share your Flair with Fleur du Cap wine and celebrate excellence in theatre with the award recipients. Follow the awards on Facebook at and on Twitter.

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