The Fleur du Cap Theatre Award Winners Announced in Glamorous Artscape Opera House Ceremony
By: David Fick Mar. 16, 2015
won the award for Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play
for his performance as Gideon le Roux in PLAYLAND
Photo credit: Jesse Kramer
The winners of the prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were announced at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town last night. The much local anticipated event, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is often likened to the Tony Awards in New York. The onstage ceremony was directed by Christopher Weare, himself a past recipient of no fewer than four Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. The inimitable Alan Committie was in fine form as the MC and the glamorous audience was made up of the Who's Who of the South African theatre scene, dignitaries, and members of the public.
Weare's concept followed a 'vintage celebration' theme, incorporating the unique role of the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards in the growth of South African theatre and celebrating the synergy and partnerships over the past 50 years between theatre spaces, actors, creatives, technicians and Distell, the sponsors of the awards ceremony. The outstanding onstage entertainment included iconic performers such as veteran actor Andrew Buckland, slam poet Koleka Putuma, the Figure of Eight Dance Collective and Not The Midnight Mass.
Awards were presented in 18 different categories and a total of 74 productions were eligible in 2014. In addition, 57 student performances were considered for the Most Promising Student Award. The immensely talented multiple award winner Marthinus Basson was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his huge contribution to theatre over a long and still, very successful career. The Handspring Puppet Company and the Handspring Trust for Puppetry Arts received the Award for Innovation in Theatre for their phenomenal contribution to the innovative growth and development of the craft of puppetry in theatre not only in South Africa but worldwide.
in a Play as the titular character in THE PERVERT LAURA.
She is seen here with Sarah Potter.
Photo credit: Jesse Kramer
The full list of winners is as follows:
1. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY: Albert Pretorius for PLAYLAND as Gideon le Roux
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Emily Child for THE PERVERT LAURA as Laura
3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY: Richard September for RONDOMSKRIK as various characters
4. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Lee-Ann van Rooi for RONDOMSKRIK as various characters
5. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW: Khayalethu Anthony for THE CHAMPION as Thulani
6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW: Sne Dladla for FERGUS OF GALLOWAY as various characters
7. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW: Janelle Visagie for THE SOUND OF MUSIC as Mother Abbess
8. AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT: Sive Gubangxa (UCT)
a Supporting Actor in a Play for his
performance in RONDOMSKRIK.
9. BEST DIRECTOR: Jaco Bouwer for BALBESIT
10. BEST LIGHTING DESIGN: Wolf Britz for BALBESIT
11. BEST SET DESIGN: Patrick Curtis for FISHERS OF HOPE (TAWARET)
12. BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Leigh Bishop for SLOWLY
13. BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION OR ORIGINAL SCORE: Nceba Gongxeka for FISHERS OF HOPE (TAWARET) - Musician (live)
14. BEST PUPPETRY DESIGN: Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones for WAR HORSE - Puppet design, fabrication and direction
15. BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT: THE KINGMAKERS by Louis Viljoen
16. ROSALIE VAN DER GUCHT PRIZE FOR NEW DIRECTORS: Louis Viljoen for THE KINGMAKERS and THE PERVERY LAURA
17. AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN THEATRE: Handspring Trust for Puppetry Arts
18. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Marthinus Basson
The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards is the most established event of its kind in South Africa, ranking high on the Mother City's cultural calendar each year. Category winners each receive R15,000 and a beautiful silver medallion. For a production to qualify, a minimum run of eight performances over three weeks at the same venue in the Cape Town Metropole and surrounds, is required. Theatre practitioners are recognised for excellence in acting, directing, staging and technical abilities, and the panel of judges furthermore consider an individual, company or organisation in the theatre industry that has consistently created exceptional and innovative work.
in a Play for her performance in RONDOMSKRIK.
The judges for the 2014 productions were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Christine Moritz, Eugene Yiga, Gillian Mitchell, Herman van der Westhuizen, Jill Markram, Johan van Lill, Len Ashton, Mariana Malan, Marina Griebenow, Peter Tromp, Steyn du Toit and Tracey Saunders, with Stephanie Klink joining this year. The panel, made up largely of local critics, journalists, writers and drama educators, is chaired by Melanie Burke, the non-voting chairperson. Voting is by secret ballot and all processes are strictly overseen and audited by the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc.
Established in 1965 as the Three Leaf Award, the prize became known as the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award in 1978. David Bloomberg, one of the first Three Leaf Award judges and a former Mayor of Cape Town, was also present at last night's event.
The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards are an initiative of the Distell Foundation and forms part of Distell's Corporate Social Investment Programme, which is dedicated to supporting the development of the creative arts industry in South Africa.
The 51st Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards will be held at the Baxter Theatre in March 2016.
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