52nd Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards nominees announcedThe 52nd Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards has announced this year's nominees, with the ceremony to take place on Sunday, 19 March, at the Artscape Theatre, Cape Town. For over 50 years the Fleur du Cap wine brand has proudly associated itself with the Theatre Awards as they showcase the flair that is synonymous with the wine. “The awards enable us to support theatre-makers who offer moments of freedom and purposeful expression,” says Distell Luxury brand director, Carina Gous. Winners of the awards are chosen from productions performed at professional theatre venues in and around Cape Town. Theatre practitioners are recognised for their acting, directing, staging and technical abilities. These nominations reflect the exceptional talent seen on stages last year, and which kept audiences coming back for more. 20 categoriesThe awards are considered in 20 different categories including awards for the Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre. The recipients of the latter two will be announced at the ceremony next month. A total of 85 productions from the year under review were eligible for consideration. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, an insufficient number of student productions could be adjudicated last year and consequently the award for the Most Promising Student will not be made. Similarly, no award is being made in the category for Best Puppetry Design. The judges for the 2016 productions were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Christine Moritz, Eugene Yiga, Johan van Lill, Marina Griebenow, Niel Roux, Steyn du Toit and Tracey Saunders. It was an exhilarating year in our theatres, where real life and art became interchangeable. “The stage was set for expressions of individual and collective stories, without which we would not be able to celebrate excellence in theatre. Thank you to Fleur du Cap wines, the hardworking panel of judges, theatre-makers and all the creatives behind the scenes who made this possible,” says Melanie Burke, chairman of the judging panel. 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 is accompanied by a silver medallion. All voting processes are audited and overseen by the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc. The nominees in the various categories (Name – Play – Role) are:Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a PlayAndrew Buckland for The Inconvenience of Wings as Paul Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a PlayAnna-Mart van der Merwe for The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek as Elmarie Kleynhans Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a PlayDavid Viviers for The Finkelsteins are Coming to Dinner as James Dean Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a PlayAmy-Louise Wilson for The Father as Laura Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person ShowAntoinette Kellerman for As die broek pas as Ella Gericke Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical or Music Theatre ShowAnton Luitingh for Annie as Daddy Warbucks Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical or Music Theatre ShowBianca le Grange for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as The Narrator Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical or Music Theatre ShowDean Roberts for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Jacob/Potiphar Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical or Music Theatre ShowCandice van Litsenborgh for Sweeney Todd as Various Best DirectorChristiaan Olwagen for A Doll's House Best Lighting DesignBen Cracknell for Annie Best Set DesignColin Richmond for Annie Best Costume DesignBirrie le Roux for District Six Kanala Best Soundscape, original Music Composition or original ScoreDavid Kramer for District Six Kanala - original Music Composition and original Score Best New South African ScriptAmy Jephta for Kristalvlakte Best New DirectorMbongeni Mtshali Tickets sales for the awards ceremony at the Artscape Theatre, open on 1 March via Computicket (0861 915 8000) and is R250 per person. For more info, go to www.fleurducap.co.za. |