Arts writer
THE nominees for the 50th annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, to be presented at Artscape Opera House on March 15 at 6pm, were announced in Stellenbosch yesterday.
“Five decades ago the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards started with only six categories and 17 productions that were eligible,” says Melanie Burke, chairperson of the adjudicating panel. She added that today awards are presented in 18 different categories and last year a total of 74 productions were eligible. In addition, 57 student performances were considered for the Most Promising Student Award.
The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards is a flagship arts and culture initiative of the Distell Foundation. “This year we are celebrating the golden anniversary of the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards which presents us with an ideal opportunity to look back at its unique role in the growth of South African theatre,” says Irma Albers, Distell’s Arts and Culture Controller.
Chris Weare, a Fleur du Cap alumnus, will direct the awards ceremony and a unique event is planned to celebrate the successes of the past 50 years, including an entertainment line-up featuring some of our top local artists.
The judges for 2014 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. Stephanie Klink completed a year-long internship in 2014 and has been accepted to join the panel of judges in 2015.
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.
Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play
Albert Pretorius for Playland as Gideon le Roux; Chris van Niekerk for 2092: God van Klank as Hernon Freytag; Jamie Bartlett for Death of a Colonialist as Harold Smith; Khayalethu Anthony for The Champion as Thulani; and Matthew Marsh for A Human Being Died That Night as Eugéne de Kock.
Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Play
Emily Child for The Pervert Laura as Laura; Janna Ramos-Violante for Constellations as Marianne; Mikkie-Dene le Roux for Grounded as The Pilot; Noma Dumezweni for A Human Being Died That Night as Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela; and Sandra Prinsloo for Oscar and the Pink Lady as various characters.
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play
Guy de Lancey for The Pervert Laura as Father; Mbulelo Grootboom for Playland as Marthinus Zoeloe; Phillip Tipo Tindisa for Fishers of Hope (Taweret) as John; Richard September for Rondomskrik as various characters; and Tobie Cronjé for Vettie Vettie as Henry.
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play
Buhle Ngaba for Missing as Ayanda; Jennifer Steyn for The Tragedy of King Richard III as Queen Elizabeth; Kate Liquorish for The Tragedy of King Richard III as Lady Anne, 2nd Citizen and the Cardinal; Kensiwe Tshabalala for Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike as Cassandra; and Lee-Ann van Rooi for Rondomskrik as various characters.
Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show
Godfrey Johnson for Vaslav as Vaslav Nijinsky; Khayalethu Anthony for The Champion as Thulani; Lizz Meiring for Cheaper than Roses as Betty Fourie; Mikki-Dene le Roux for Grounded as The Pilot; and Sandra Prinsloo for Oscar and the Pink Lady as various characters.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical or Music Theatre Show
Daniel Richards for Fergus of Galloway as Fergus; Godfrey Johnson for Vaslav as Vaslav Nijinsky; James Borthwick for The Sound of Music as Max Detweiler; Jonathan Roxmouth for Call me Lee as Liberace; and Sne Dladla for Fergus of Galloway as various characters.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Music Theatre Show
Bethany Dickson for The Sound of Music as Maria Rainer; Carmen Pretorius for The Sound of Music as Liesl von Trapp; Janelle Visagie for The Sound of Music as Mother Abbess; Lucy Tops for Bar None as Betty; and Taryn Sudding for The Sound of Music as Baroness Schreuder.
Award for Most Promising Student
David Viviers, Dylan Owen, Nathan Lynn, Sive Gubangxa, and Skye Russel, all from UCT.
Best Director
Alan Swerdlow for Constellations; Jaco Bouwer for Balbesit; Lara Foot for Fishers of Hope (Taweret); Marí Borstlap for 2092: God van Klank; and Tara Notcutt for ...miskien.
Best Lighting Design
Benever (Bennie) Arendse for Fishers of Hope (Taweret); Daniel Galloway for A Human Being Died That Night(Original design: Tim Mitchell); Guy de Lancey and Luke Ellenbogen for The Pervert Laura; Paule Constable for War Horse; and Wolf Britz for Balbesit.
Best Set Design
Albert Maritz for Playland; Marí Borstlap for 2092: God van Klank; Patrick Curtis for Fishers of Hope (Taweret); Robert Jones for The Sound of Music; and Saul Radomsky for The Shadow of the Hummingbird.
Best Costume Design
Jonathan Roxmouth for Call me Lee; Leigh Bishop for Slowly; Rae Smith for War Horse; Reza Levy for The Tragedy of King Richard III; and Robert Jones for The Sound of Music.
Best Sound Design, Original Music Composition or Original Score
Braam du Toit for Balbesit– Original score; Godfrey Johnson for Vaslav– Original Music; Marí Borstlap for 2092: God van Klank – Soundscape, soundtrack; Motshepe Pusho Kwagane for Silent Voice– Percussionist (live); and Nceba Gongxeka for Fishers of Hope (Taweret)– Musician (live)
Best Puppetry Design
Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones for War Horse– Puppet design; fabrication and direction, Alida van Deventer for The Snow Goose– Puppet props; and Jenine Collocott for The Snow Goose– Masks and puppet props.
Best New South African Script
2092: God van Klank by Wilken Calitz; A Human Being Died That Night by Nicholas Wright; Death of a Colonialist by Greg Latter; The Kingmakers by Louis Viljoen; and The Pervert Laura by Louis Viljoen.
Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors
Khayalethu Mofu for The Champion; Koleka Putuma for Uhm; Louis Viljoen for The Kingmakers and The Pervert Laura; Marí Borstlap for 2092: God van Klank; and Thando Doni for Passage.
The award for Innovation In Theatre and the Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the awards ceremony.
l Tickets: R200 including canapés and wine.
Twitter @FDCTheatreAward
http://on.fb.me/YuZtCk