Now entering its 15th year, the Naledi Theatre Awards is the biggest and most prestigious Awards entity to recognise and reward excellence in SA Theatre.
With just a week to go til we celebrate the cream of South African theatre for performances in 2018, here is a reminder of who stands in line to collect a prestigious Naledi Award on 20 May.
Best Production Of A Play
Fool for Love – Prod. by The Market Theatre, Written by Sam Shepard, Dir. by Janice Honeyman
Macbeth – Prod. by Pieter Toerien, Written by. William Shakespeare, Dir. by Fred Abrahamse
Shoes & Coups – Prod. by The Market Theatre, Written & Dir. by Palesa Mazamisa, mentor Dir. by Maralin Vanrenen
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Prod. by Pieter Toerien, Written by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens, Dir. by Paul Warwick Griffin
The Train Driver – Prod. by The Market Theatre by arr. With DALRO, Written by Athol Fugard, Dir. by Charmaine Weir-Smith
Tshepang: The Third Testament – Prod. by Joburg Theatre , Written & Dir. by Lara Foot
Best Production Of A Musical
Avenue Q – Prod. by VR Theatricals & Kosie Smit by arr. With DALRO, Written by Jeff Whitty, Dir. by Timothy le Roux
Freedom – Prod. by The South African State Theatre, Written by Aubrey Sekhabi & Kabelo “Bonafide” Togoe , Dir. by Aubrey Sekhabi
Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Prod. by GATE 69 in assoc. with VR Theatricals, Written by John Cameron Mitchel & Stephen Trask Dir. by Elizma Badenhorst
Roald Dahl’s Matilda – Prod. by Pieter Toerien & GWB Entertainment, Written by Dennis Kelly & Tim Minchin, Dir. by Matthew Warchus
The Color Purple – Prod. by Joburg Theatre & Bernard Jay, Written by Marsha Norman, Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray, Dir. by Janice Honeyman
Best New South African Script
Another one’s bread – Prod. by The Market Theatre & DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security, in asso. with MVG Productions, Written by Mike van Graan, Dir. by Pamela Nompumelelo Nomvete
Dikakapa – Prod. by The Market Theatre in ass. With DAC, Written by Issac E Sithole & Tebogo P Serapelo , Dir. by Nketu Lebeko (Mentor Dir. Mpho Molepo )
Freedom – Prod. by The South African State Theatre, Written by Aubrey Sekhabi & Kabelo “Bonafide” Togoe , Dir. by Aubrey Sekhabi
Land Acts – Prod. by MVG & DMR Productions, Written by Mike van Graan, Dir. by Rob van Vuuren
My hole my home – Prod. by The Market Theatre & DAC Incubator project, Written by John Moalosi Ledwaba, Dir. by Phala Ookeditse Phala
Shoes & Coups – Prod. by The Market Theatre, Written & Dir. by Palesa Mazamisa, mentor Dir. by Maralin Vanrenen
Best Director Of A Play
Charmaine Weir-Smith – The Train Driver
Janice Honeyman – Fool for Love
Lara Foot – Tshepang: The Third Testament
Palesa Mazamisa – Shoes & Coups
Paul Warwick Griffin – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Phala Ookeditse Phala – My hole my home
Steven Feinstein – The Revlon Girl
Best Director Of A Musical / Revue
Aubrey Sekhabi – Freedom
Elizma Badenhorst – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Janice Honeyman – The Color Purple
Janice Honeyman & Timothy le Roux – Snow White: The fairest Pantomime in the Land
Timothy le Roux – Avenue Q
Weslee Swain Lauder – Great Balls of Fire
Best Breakthrough Performance
Jazzara Jaslyn as “Alex” – Fatal Attraction
Kai Luke Brummer as “Christopher Boone” – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Marianthe Smart as “The Revlon Girl” – The Revlon Girl
Rebecca Hartle as “Christmas Eve” – Avenue Q
Ryan de Villiers as “Miss Trunchbull” – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Best Supporting / Featured Actress in a Play
Heidi Mollentze as “Rona” – The Revlon Girl
Julie-Anne Mcdowell as “Marilyn” – The Revlon Girl
Moliehi Makobane as “Minister of Justice” – You fool how can the sky fall
Olive Strachan as “Alina” – African Gothic
Tracey-Lee Oliver as “Annette” – Jungfrau
Best Supporting / Featured Actor in a Play
David Dennis as “Inspector Theo Abrahams” – Green Man Flashing
Jeremy Richard as “The Porter” – Macbeth
Roberto Pombo as “Ross Gardiner” – Visiting Mr. Green
Sipho Zakwe – Shoes & Coups
Tristan de Beer as “Lady Macbeth” – Macbeth
Best Supporting/Featured Performance In A Musical: Female
Bethany Dickson as “Miss Honey” – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Claire Taylor as “Mrs. Wormwood” – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Lelo Ramasimong as “Shug Avery” – The Color Purple
Neo Motaung as “Sofia” – The Color Purple
Nompumelelo Mayiyane as “Mrs. Phelps” – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Sebe Leotlela as “Nettie” – The Color Purple
Best Supporting/Featured Performance In A Musical: Male
Ben Voss as “Queen Hildegonda Hurl-A-Lot” – Snow White: The fairest Pantomime in the Land
Daniel Geddes as “Cookie Monster” – Avenue Q
Desmond Dube as “Dame Dolla Diddledaddledoodle” – Snow White: The fairest Pantomime in the Land
Stephen Jubber as “Mr. Wormwood” – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri as “Harpo” – The Color Purple
Best Lead Performance In A Play (Female)
Liezl de Kock as “Sussie Cilliers” – African Gothic
Michelle Mosalakae – Shoes & Coups
Natasha Sutherland as “Helen” – Meet me at Dawn
Nonceba Constance Didi as “Ruth” – Tshepang: The Third Testament
Pamela Nomvete as “Robyn” – Meet me at Dawn
Zikhona Sodlaka as “Queenie” – Nongogo
Best Lead Performance In A Play (Male)
Daniel Janks – Odd Man Out
Dawid Minnaar- The Train Driver
John Kani – The Train Driver
Kai Luke Brummer as “Christopher Boone” – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Langley Kirkwood as “Eddie” – Fool for Love
Marcel Meyer as “Macbeth” – Macbeth
Mncedisi Shabangu – Tshepang: The Third Testament
Best Lead Performance In A Musical (Female)
Ashleigh Harvey as “Kate Monster & Lucy” – Avenue Q
Didintle Khunou as “Celie” – The Color Purple
Genna Galloway – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Kiruna-Lind Devar as “Snow White” – Snow White: The fairest Pantomime in the Land
Kitty Harris, Morgan Santo & Lilla Fleischman as “Matilda” – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Simphiwe Ndlovu as “Phindile” – Freedom
Best Lead Performance In A Musical (Male)
Aubrey Poo as “Mister” – The Color Purple
Paul du Toit as “Hedwig” – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Ryan de Villiers as “Miss Trunchbull” – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Ryan Flynn as “Princeton & Rod” – Avenue Q
Tshepo Ncokoane as “Prince Charming” – Snow White: The fairest Pantomime in the Land
Best performance in a solo production: Female/Male
Daniel Mpilo Richards – Land Acts
Dawid Minnaar – Monsieur Ibrahim en die blomme van die Koran
Dorothy Ann Gould – The Year of Magical Thinking
Ignatius van Heerden – Nijinsky’s War
Leila Henriques – Florence
Best Ensemble
Avenue Q- Prod. by VR Theatricals & Kosie Smit by arr. With DALRO, Written by Jeff Whitty, Dir. by Timothy le Roux
Dikakapa – Prod. by The Market Theatre in ass. With DAC, Written by Issac E Sithole & Tebogo P Serapelo , Dir. by Nketu Lebeko (Mentor Dir. Mpho Molepo )
Hani: The Legacy – Prod. by The Market Theatre Laboratory, Created by Graduates of The Market Theatre Laboratory, Dir. by Leila Henriques & assis. Dir. by Linda Tshabalala
Macbeth – Prod. by Pieter Toerien, Written by William Shakespeare, Dir. by Fred Abrahamse
The Fall – Prod. by The South African State Theatre in ass. With The Baxter Theatre Centre at the Unviversity of Cape Town, Written by Ameera Conrad, Oarabile Ditsele, Kgomotso Khunoane, Tankiso Mamabolo, Thando Mangcu, Sihle Mnqwazana, Sizwesandile Mnisi & Cleo Raatus, Facilitated by Clare Stopford
The Little Prince – Prod. by Kwasha Theatre Company with the support of the Market Theatre Laboratory, the French Institute of South Africa & Mazars, Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Dir. by Clara Vaughan & Mwenya B. Kabwe
Best Original Score / Arrangement / Adaptation
Aubrey Sekhabi & Kabelo“Bonafide” Togoe – Freedom
Azah Mphago – Khwezi
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder – Macbeth
Jonathan Roxmouth – Great Balls of Fire
Yogin Sullaphen – Jungfrau
Best Musical Director
Dawid Boverhoff – Avenue Q
Kabelo “Bonafide” Togoe – Freedom
Louis Zurnamer – Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Rowan Bakker – The Color Purple
Wessel Odendaal – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Best Original Choreography in a Play/ Musical
Ignatius van Heerden – Nijinsky’s War
Nketu Lebeko – Dikakapa
Mdu Nhlapo – Freedom
Oscar Buthelezi – The Color Purple
Best Production For Children & Young Audiences (Supported by Assitej SA) (Age 0 – 13)
Chiffonade – Prod. by Lulu Mlangeni, Choreo & Dir. by Michelle Dhallu, Carre Blanc Cie
Goggas! – Prod. by National Children’s Theatre, Written by Gillian Katz adapted by Francois Theron, Dir. by Jade Bowers
Nutcracker Winter Circus – Prod. by Lyall Ramsden, Choreo. by David Gouldie, Design by Andrew Botha
Our Stories our Africa – Prod. by People’s Theatre , Dir. by Jill Girard & Keith Smith
The Boy who cried Ninja – Prod. by Daphne Kuhn at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square and Contagious Theatre, Written by Alex Latimer adapted & Dir. by Jenine Collocott
Best Production For Children & Young Audiences (Supported by Assitej SA) (Age 14 – 17)
Hani: The Legacy – Prod. by The Market Theatre Laboratory, Created by Graduates of The Market Theatre Laboratory, Dir. by Leila Henriques & assis. Dir. by Linda Tshabalala
My Children! My Africa! – Prod. by National Children’s Theatre, Written by Athol Fugard, Dir. by Siphumeze Khundayi
Polkadots – Prod. by Redhill School in partnership with &CO., Written by Melvin Tunstall III, Douglas Lyons, Greg Borowsky & Douglas Lyons, Dir. by Shelley Adriaanzen
Romeo’s Passion – Prod. by Umculo, Composed by Cathy Milliken, Dir. by Robert Lehmeier
The Little Prince – Prod. by Kwasha Theatre Company with the support of the Market Theatre Laboratory, the French Institute of South Africa & Mazars, Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Dir. by Clara Vaughan & Mwenya B. Kabwe
Best Performance In A Production For Children & Young Audiences (Male of Female) (Supported by Assitej SA)
Gugu Dlamini – Polkadots
Jaques De Silva – Goggas!
Luciano Zuppa – Our Stories Our Africa
Nirvana Nokwe- Mseleku – Under The Magical Moon
Toni Morkel – The boy who cried Ninja
Best Set Design: sponsored by DWR
Niall Griffin – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Sarah Roberts – The Color Purple
Stan Knight – Fool for Love
Thando Lobese-Moropa – The Train Driver
Wilhelm Disbergen – Freedom
Best Lighting Design: sponsored by Splitbeam
Fred Abrahamse – Macbeth
Gareth Hewitt Williams – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Mannie Manim – Fool for Love
Michael Maxwell – My hole my home
Thapelo Mokgosi – Dikakapa
Oliver Hauser – African Gothic
Best Sound Design : sponsored by Splitbeam
Akhona Bozo – Snow White: The fairest Pantomime in the Land
Ntuthuko Mbuyazi – Shoes & Coups
Ntuthuko Mbuyazi – Florence
Richard Smith – The Color Purple
Wessel Odendaal – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Best AV / Animation Design
Gopala Davies – Nijinsky’s War
Lungile Cindi – Shoes & Coups
Naret Loots – Hedwig and the Angry inch
Tina Driedijk – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Wilhelm Disbergen – The Little Prince
Best Costume Design
Chrisna Scott & David Hutt – Nijinsky’s War
Fred Abrahamse & Marcel Meyer – Macbeth
Niall Griffin – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Nthabiseng Malaka – Shoes & Coups
Sarah Roberts – The Color Purple
For all the winners, keep an eye on www.naleditheatreawards.com