The Naledi Theatre Awards took place at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City on 19
April. This year saw an expanded judging panel, as well as four new award
categories.
“This year, we have the highest standard of excellence ever’ said Executive
Director, Dawn Lindberg “So much so that we have introduced four new categories:
“Best Director of a Musical’, “Best Support/Featured performance in a Musical’ and
“Best Performance in a production for Children’s Theatre’. The fourth new category
is in keeping with the new technology involved in design of sets: “Best
AV/Animation’.
The judging panel was expanded by six new judges, who were chosen after
extensive research following the highly successful “Forum’ held last year. This was
due to suggestions and input from the Industry as to how to improve and develop
the awards’ modus operandi. The new judges started assessing productions from
January 2016.
The 2016 Awards boasted 26 categories, as well as four Special Award categories,
namely The Life Time Achievement Award (for Theatre Stalwarts who have given
more than 30 years to the Industry), the Executive Director’s Award, for individuals
or companies who have contributed to the advancement and development of SA
Theatre through their vision and commitment, the World Impact Award, for
productions or individuals who have raised the bar of SA Theatre Internationally,
and a new Award: “The Lesedi Spirit of Courage’ Award, for individuals or
companies who have transcended deep trauma or handicaps to make a life changing
impact on SA Theatre.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS: The Naledi Theatre Awards 2016
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Janna Ramos-Violante, Doubt
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Phillip Tipo Tindisa, Fishers of Hope
BEST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN (Supported by Assitej SA) (0 – 12): Shrek, The
Musical. JR. Produced by People’s Theatre. Based on book by William Steig,
Directed by Jill Girard & Keith Smith.
BEST PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES (Supported by Assitej SA) (13 – 17)
Making Mandela, Produced by KBT Productions & Hello Elephant in assocation with
the SA State Theatre & Daphne Kuhn for the A&G Theatre on the Square. Written &
Directed by Nick Warren & Jenine Collocott.
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CHILDRENS’ THEATRE PRODUCTION: Gamelihle Bovana,
James and The Giant Peach
BEST NEWCOMER/BREAKTHROUGH (The Brett Goldin Award) Sponsored by Distell:
Menzi Mkhwane, A Voice I Cannot Silence
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Floris Louw, After Animals
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN (Sponsored by Robe Lighting): Kevin Stannet, After
Animals
BEST AV / ANIMATION: JanHendrik Burger, After Animals
BEST SET DESIGN (Sponsored by Dreamsets): Patrick Curtis, Fishers of Hope
BEST SOUND DESIGN (Sponsored by DWR Distribution): Larry Pullen, After
Animals
BEST SCORE / ARRANGEMENT / ADAPTATION: Nataniel, After Animals
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Rowan Bakker, Sister Act
BEST PRODUCTION: CUTTING EDGE: Johnny Boskak Is Feeling Funny, Written by
Greig Coetzee, Co-Directed by Roslyn Wood-Morris & Craig Morris.
BEST ENSEMBLE: Lepatata, Produced by Market Theatre & Windybrow Theatre.
Written by Moagi Modise, Dir. by Makhaola Ndebele.
BEST ORGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY: Grant van Ster, Fishers of Hope
BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL / REVUE: Steven Stead, Sweeney Todd
BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY: Khayelihle Dom Gumede, Crepuscule
BEST SUPPORT/FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL: Phumi Mncayi, Sister Act
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL (FEMALE): Candida Mosoma, Sister Act
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL (MALE): Jonathan Roxmouth, Sweeney Todd,
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY (FEMALE): Fiona Ramsay, Miss Dietrich
Regrets; Fiona Ramsay, Doubt
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY (MALE): Ralph Lawson, A Voice I Cannot
Silence
BEST NEW SA SCRIPT: A Voice I Cannot Silence. Produced by Arts Trust of SA
(ATSA). Written by Greg Homann & Ralph Lawson, Directed by Greg Homann.
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY: Fishers of Hope, Produced by the Baxter Theatre
Centre & Mopo Productions in association with the SA State Theatre. Written &
Directed by Lara Foot.
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (THE JOAN BRICKHILL AWARD): Sweeney Todd,
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Produced by Pieter Toerien & Kickstart by arr.
with DALRO (Pty) Ltd. Written by Hugh Wheeler, Music & Lyrics by Stephen
Sondheim, Dir. by Steven Stead.
LESEDI SPIRIT OF COURAGE AWARD: Gaynor Young
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S AWARD: Thembi Mtshali
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Taliep Petersen (Posthumous)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Alvon Collison
WORLD IMPACT AWARD: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
THE SOPHIE MCINGA EMERGING VOICE AWARD (SPONSORED BY THE MARKET
THEATRE 40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY): Thandazile “Sonia’ Radebe.
