Naledi Theatre Awards 2020: All the nominees

“This year we are happy to announce three new categories to the mix,” founder and CEO of the awards, Dawn Lindberg, said. “These are Best Production for Independent/Fringe Theatre, Best Contemporary Dance/Ballet Production and Best Production Tertiary/Incubator Theatre.

Lindberg said the addition of the new categories was inspired by the quality and calibre of alternative productions in the past five years. She said it was important that the awards celebrated more unconventional genres.

“We have also decided to include tertiary and incubator productions, as often these are the theatre makers to watch for the future,” Lindberg said. 

Judging chairperson Renos Spanoudes said: “This year the Naledis fielded 50 judges, all from or associated with the industry, who were divided into six panels best suited to their fields of expertise.

“Between them Naledi judges saw more than 100 productions. They were tasked with ensuring the eligibility of each of the productions under scrutiny and to ensure that these productions adhered to the criteria as laid down in the rules.”

Best Production of a Musical

• Angola Camp 13 by Manti Makhulu
• Aunty Merle the Musical by Anwar Mc Kay & Marc Lottering
• Chicago by Showtime Management in assoc. with Barry & Fran
• Forever Plaid by VR Theatrical
• Into the Woods by Pieter Toerien and Kickstart
• Rock of Ages by Montecasino in assoc. with VR Theatrical

Best Lead Performance in a Musical: Female

• Carmen Pretorius as Roxie Hart in Chicago
• Jessica Sole as The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods
• Kate Normington as The Witch in Into the Woods
• Phethile Sibanyoni as Sizwe Manzine in Angola Camp 13
• Samantha Peo as Velma Kelly inChicago

Best Lead Performance in a Musical: Male

• Earl Gregory as The Baker in Into the Woods
• Josh Ansley as Drew in Rock of Ages
• Marc Lottering as Aunty Merle in Aunty Merle the Musical
• Musanete Sakupwanya as Cat in The Hat
• Soyiso Ndaba as Majoro Mnisi in Angola Camp 13

Best Featured/Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Lois du Plessis as Justice in Rock of Ages
• Marlee van der Merwe as Ursula Koekemoer in Aspoestertjie
• Noni Mkhonto as Henrietta Hen in Jack and the Beanstalk
• Siyasanga Papu as Michael/Mama in Santa Clause is coming to town
• Tankiso Mamabolo as Lydia in Aunty Merle the Musical

Best Featured/Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Anzio September as Carl in Aunty Merle the Musical
• Craig Urbani as Dennis in Rock of Ages
• Grant Towers as Amos in Chicago
• Loukmaan Adams as Denver in Aunty Merle the Musical
• Matthew Counihan as Franz in Rock of Ages
• Zak Hendrikz as the Prince/Wolf in Into the Woods

Best Director of a Musical

• Jaco van Rensburg (Forever Plaid)
• Neels Clasen (Aspoestertjie)
• Sello Amos Maseko (Angola Camp 13)
• Steven Stead - (Into the Woods)
• Timothy le Roux and Elizma Badenhorst - (Rock of Ages)

Best Musical Director

• Bryan Schimmel (Chicago)
• Cromwell Modise Modungwa (Angola Camp 13)
• Drew Bakker (Into the Woods)
• Wessel Odendaal (Forever Plaid)
• Wessel Odendaal (Rock of Ages)

Best Choreography in a Play or a Musical

• Craig Morris (Metamorphosis)
• Grant Van Ster (Aunty Merle the Musical)
• Mduduzi Vincent Nhlapo (Angola Camp 13)
• Mpho Maifadi (Xova)
• Sinenhlahla Mgeyi & Aalujah Zamm Matinela (Currently (G)old

Best Sound Design/Soundscape

• Blessing Jiyane (Angola Camp 13)
• Kholofela Sewela (The Lion and the Lamb)
• Mark Malherbe (Into the Woods)
• Nebo Mafabatho (Xova)
• Yogin Sullapen (Strange Land)

Best Original Score/Arrangement/Adaptation

• Clint Lesch (Aida Abridged)
• Cromwell Modise Modungwa (Angola Camp 13)
• Nebo Mafabatho (Xova)
• Tarryn Lamb & Marc Lottering (Aunty Merle the Musical)
• Kholofelo Sewela & Major Mockery (Venus vs Modernity)

Best Production of a Play

• Equus by Pieter Toerien
• Gertrude Stein by Daphne Kuhn and Authentik
• Metamorphosis by UJ Arts and Culture
• Pockets of Knowledge by The Soweto Theatre
• The Fisherman by The Market Theatre
• Xova by The State Theatre in assoc. with Ozone Fela

Best New South African Script

• Currently (G)old by the Kwasha Company
• Ekasi Lam’ by Jefferson Tshabalala
• Strange Land by Prof. Anton Krueger
• VAN WYK: The Storyteller of Riverlea by Zane Meas
• Venus vs Modernity by Lebo Mashile
• Xova by Joseph Komani

Best Contemporary Dance/Ballet Production

• Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero by The Joburg Theatre & Vuyani Dance Theatre
• Exit/Exist by Vuyani Dance Theatre and The Market Theatre
• Giselle by Joburg Ballet
• I am Simon by Thami Tshabalala in assoc. with The State Theatre
• The Angel Trilogy by Joburg Ballet

Best Production for Independent/Fringe Theatre

• Born Naked by POPart Theatre in Collab with. Hijinks Theatre & ZikkaZimba Productions
• Cottonwool Kid by POPart Theatre
• Dick or Date by MoMo Matsunyane Productions
• No Easter Sunday for Queers by The National Arts Festival & The Market Theatre
• Unlearn by MoMo Matsunyane Productions

Best Production Tertiary/Incubator Theatre

• Eclipsed by The Market Theatre
• Frontières byThe Market Theatre & The Dept Arts and Culture Incubation
• Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Metaphors by Prof Marié-Heleen Coetzee & UP Drama
• Nailed by The Market Theatre & The Dept Arts & Culture Incubation
• Rhinoceros by Kwasha! Theatre Company supported by The Market Theatre Lab.

Best Lead Performance in a Play: Female

• Charmaine Mtinta as Zukiswa in Xova
• Dorothy Ann Gould as The Mother in Family Secrets
• Lebo Mashile as Saartjie in Venus vs Modernity
• Lynita Crofford as Alice B Toklas in Gertrude Stein and a Companion
• Shirley Johnston as Getrude Stein in Gertrude Stein and a Companion

Best Lead Performance in a Play: Male

• Graham Hopkins as Dr Martin Dysart in Equus
• Siyabonga Thwala as Obembe in The Fisherman
• Sven Ruygrok as Alan Strang in Equus
• Warren Masemola as Ben in The Fisherman
• William Harding as Gregor/Beetle in Metamorphosis

Best Featured/Supporting Actress in a Play

• Ameera Patel as the Sister in Metamorphosis
• Khutjo Green as the Mother in Metamorphosis
• Nondumiso Mabuza as Themba in Xova
• Nonhlahla Dube as Lady in White in Xova
• Zimkhita Nyoka as Thozama - (Xova)

Best Featured/Supporting Actor in a Play

• Craig Morris as the Father in Metamorphosis
• Matthew Lotter as Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap
• Sello Sebotsane as Oompie Tselapedi in Call us Crazy
• Yamikani Mahaka as Mr M in My Children my Africa
• Zolani Shangase as Thami in My Children my Africa

Best Breakthrough Performance

• Abongile Matyutyu as John Motokolo in Angola Camp 13
• Anele Nene as Malusi in Pockets of Knowledge
• Ann Masina as Venus in Venus vs Modernity
• Menzi Mkhwene as Sihle in Pockets of Knowledge
• Jessica Wolhuter as Young Tracy in Brutal Legacy

Best Ensemble

• Angola Camp 13 by The State Theatre in assoc. with Manti Makhulu
• Currently (G)old by the Kwasha Company in assoc. with the Market Theatre Lab andWindybrow Arts Centre
• Into the Woods by Pieter Toerien and Kickstart
• Shakespeare’s R&J by Abrahamse & Meyer Productions
• Woza Albert! By The State Theatre in assoc. with The Playhouse Company

Best Solo Performance in a Production Male/Female

• Ben Pienaar
• Billy Langa
• Ignatius van Heerden
• Pieter-Dirk Uys
• Renos Nicos Spanoudes
• Zane Meas

Best Production for Children and Young Audiences

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by National Children’s Theatre
• Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat by National Children’s Theatre
• Seussical Jr. by People’s Theatre
• Tiny the Tokoloshe & other African Tales by VR Theatrical
• Three Little Pigs by Pretoria Youth Theatre

Best Performance in a Production For Young Audiences (Male/Female)

• Jaques de Silva as The Cat in the Hat
• Jay Hlatshwayo as Duck the Duck for President
• Roberto Pombo as Willy Wonka & Narrator in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Tumelo Kope-Baloyi as Genie in the Aladdin
• Thokozani Jiyane as Marty the Zebra in Madagascar, A Musical Adventure Jr

Best Director of a Play

• Alby Michaels (Metamorphosis)
• Fred Abrahamse (Equus)
• James Ngcobo (The Fisherman)
• Joseph Komani (Xova)
• Pamela Nomvete & Koleka Putuma (Venus vs Modernity)
• Matthew Counihan (My Children my Africa)

Best Theatre Set Design

• Fred Abrahamse (Shakespeare’s R&J)
• Greg King (Into the Woods)
• Nthabiseng Malaka (Strange Land)
• Sheldon Marema (Xova)

Best Costume/Props Design

• Koketso Kekana (Xova)
• Marcel Meyer (Shakespeare’s R&J)
• Marcel Meyer (Equus)
• Neil Stuart Harris (Into the Woods)
• UJ Design Academy (Metamorphosis)

Best Lighting Design/Animations

• Fred Abrahamse (Equus)
• Mbongeni Clement Mabila (Angola Camp 13)
• Oliver Hauser (Metamorphosis)
• Tina le Roux (Into the Woods)
• Wandile Mgcodo (Xova)