The Nominations’ Reveal took place at the Laager Theatre, Market Precinct, hosted by Ntokoza Mbuli and were received with much cheering for those nominated and support from their peers.
“This year, we have the highest standard of excellence ever,” said Executive Director, Dawn Lindberg, “So much so that we have introduced 4 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’.
“To help the judges to assess this new category, we held a ‘Techie Training’ session at the Market Theatre Lab last year, at which experts in the fields of lighting, sound and set design as well as directing, were invited to share some of their techniques and vision. This will now become an annual event for students of theatre design and judges.
“We have also expanded the judging panel by six new judges, who were chosen after extensive research following the highly successful ‘Forum’ held last year to ascertain suggestions and input from the Industry as to how to improve and develop our modus operandi. The new judges started assessing productions from January 2016.
“The main panel now consists of the following: Annelize Hicks, Dorianne Alexander, Ferosa Marais, Fiona Gordon, Gregory Goss, Helen Heldenmuth, Jenni Newman, Johan van der Merwe, Lance Maron, Maishe Maponya, Mandla Motau, Matthew Counihan, Peter Feldman, Renos Spanoudes, Rudi Sadler, Sandile Mabaso, Tiffany Courthenay Higgo, Welcome Msomi.
“The special panel for Productions for Children and Young Audiences and partnered with Assitej SA are: Alison Green, Dorianne Alexander, Ferosa Marais, Gerard Bester, Helen Heldenmuth, Kgomotso Christopher, Lakin Morgan, Omphile Molusi, Renos Spanoudes and Tamara Guhrs. All are passionate and informed theatre-goers and include drama teachers, theatre critics, practitioners, academics and producers.
“We have 26 categories, as well as four Special Award categories: The Life Time Achievement Award (for theatre stalwarts who have given more than 30 years to our 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.
“We are honoured to announce several new sponsors for Award Categories: ROBE and DWR lighting Distribution, who, as well as sponsoring all the technical categories, ROBE is offering an all-expenses-paid trip to Prague, in the Czech Republic, for the winner of Best Lighting design, to visit the Robe factory and attend special workshops. Other category sponsors include Dreamsets, Distell, the State Theatre and the Market Theatre, which also sponsors the Best Emerging Voice Award, for young Directors and Theatre Makers of exceptional talent.”
Naledi Theatre Award nominations reveal for productions staged during 2015.
1. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- - Ameera Patel Cincinatti - Scenes from City Life - Prod. by The Market Theatre and The Windybrow Theatre by arr. with DALRO (Pty) Ltd. Written by Barney Simon, Dir. by Clive Mathibe.
- - Dorothy Ann Gould - The Something Prince - Prod. by The Market Theatre and The Windybrow Theatre. Written and Dir. by Sue Pam-Grant.
- - Janna Ramos-Violante - Doubt - Prod. by Daphne Kuhn for the A&G Theatre on the Square. Witten by John Patrick Shanley, Dir. by James Cuningham.
- - Liezl de Kock - Crazy in Love - Prod. by A Conspiracy of Clowns in ass. with The Market Theatre. Written by Rob Murray, Andrew Buckland, and Liezl de Kock, Dir. Rob Murray.
- - Mwenya Kabwe - Doubt - Prod. by Daphne Kuhn for the A&G Theatre on the Square. Witten by John Patrick Shanley, Dir. by James Cuningham.
- - Thami Ngoma - Crepuscule - Prod. by The Market Theatre and The Windybrow Theatre by arr. with DALRO (Pty) Ltd. Written by Can Themba, Adapt. and Dir. by Khayelihle Dom Gumede.
2. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
- - Carel Nel - People Are Living There - Prod. by The Market Theatre and The Windybrow Theatre by arr. with DALRO (Pty) Ltd. Written by Athol Fugard, Dir. by André Odendaal.
- - Conrad Kemp - Crepuscule - Prod. by The Market Theatre and The Windybrow Theatre by arr. with DALRO (Pty) Ltd. Written by Can Themba, Adapt. and Dir. by Khayelihle Dom Gumede.
- - Phillip M Dikotla - Fishers of Hope - Prod. by the Baxter Theatre Centre and Mopo Productions in ass. with the SA State Theatre. Written and Dir. by Lara Foot.
- - Phillip Tipo Tindisa - Fishers of Hope - Prod. by the Baxter Theatre Centre and Mopo Productions in ass. with the SA State Theatre. Written and Dir. by Lara Foot.
- - Shaun Oelf - Fishers of Hope - Prod. by the Baxter Theatre Centre and Mopo Productions in ass. with the SA State Theatre. Written and Dir. by Lara Foot.
- - Sven Ruygrok – Epstein, The Man Who Made The Beatles - Prod. by Pieter Toerien. Written by Andrew Sherlock, Dir. by Fred Abrahamse.
