The winners of the prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were announced at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town this evening, Sunday 15 March 2015.
The much anticipated event, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is likened to the Tony’s 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 Awards’ unique role 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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)
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 (Taweret)
12. BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Leigh Bishop for Slowly
13. BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION OR ORIGINAL SCORE
Nceba Gongxeka for Fishers of Hope (Taweret) – 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 Pervert Laura
17. AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN THEATRE
Handspring Trust for Puppetry Arts
18. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Marthinus Basson
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.
