By Chris Avant Smith
The Naledi Theatre Awards are one of the highlights of the Showbiz year. Ranging across all the disciplines of theatre, the Naledis are highly coveted by performers, designers, the production teams and staging crew, and are a celebration of Excellence in Theatre. As the largest theatre awards in South Africa, a nomination by the Naledi Judges is in itself an achievement. Ranging across most performing Arts Disciplines, the Naledi Judges are obliged to see the majority of the productions that qualify. Judges are invited to attend by the Producers of the productions and strict judging criteria are adhered to. The judging panels are made up of theatre practitioners and patrons, who provide a wide range of expertise and knowledge to the nominations. The final winners are audited by an independant professional auditor who receives the individual judges choices directly from the judges. This ensures that personality and bias are excluded from the final lists.
The 2023 year in review was a very busy one for theatre, with an extraordinary amount new talent, works and sheer entertainment on display.
“As judges, we were treated to real innovations this year in how theatre is produced”, said CEO of the Awards, Lihan Pretorius. He continued “from community halls to formal theatre settings, we were treated to productions, where producers and directors literally have thought outside the box and provided immersive theatrical experiences, which is proving really popular with new audiences and traditional theatre goers alike.”
“Given shrinking budgets and rising to the challenge of live entertainment and performance that is relevant to a digitally orientated new audiences, producers are pivoting to address these challenges and have provided us with entertainment that is relevant to the new and traditional audiences.” says judge and board member, Chris Avant Smith.
The productions mounted in 2023 certainly provided South African audiences with great entertainment. The annual Naledi Theatre Awards will take place on 20 May 2024 at the Mandela Stage of the Joburg Theatre.
On behalf of the Judges and the Board of the Naledi Theatre Awards, CEO Lihan Pretorius is proud to announce the nominations for the 2023 year in review.
The Nominees are:
BEST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG AUDIENCES – SUPPORTED BY ASSTEJ SA
Matilda The Musical JR. (Pretoria Youth Theatre)
Momo’s Magical Adventure (Lyall Ramsden)
Seussical JR. (People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)
Shrek The Musical JR. (People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)
Skin We Are In (The Kwasha Theatre Company)
The Hobbit (National Children’s Theatre)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Alexandra Girard (Shrek The Musical JR.; People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)
Jaden Coetzee (Matilda The Musical JR.; Pretoria Youth Theatre)
King B (Wanda The Musical; Ticket to the Moon Youth Theatre Company)
Lesedi Mpshe (Seussical JR.; People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)
Raquel Peixoto (Matilda The Musical JR.; Pretoria Youth Theatre)
Raymond Skinner (Shrek The Musical JR.; People’s Theatre at The Joburg Theatre)
Tebogo Molepo (Momo’s Magical Adventure; Lyall Ramsden)
BEST PRODUCTION: INDEPENDENT-/FRINGE THEATRE
A Faint Patch of Light (Festival International De Teatro Do Mindelo, National Arts Council, POPArt, Department of Sports, Arts & Culture)
Born Naked (IYABUYA iPOPArt Festival, supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa)
Firehouse (ZikkaZimba & Hijinks Theatre at IYABUYA iPOPArt Festival, supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa)
He Had It Coming (MVG Productions and Redfest)
Retch (The Market Theatre and Qondiswa James)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN INDEPENDENT-/FRINGE THEATRE PRODUCTION
Donovan Yaards (Born Naked; IYABUYA iPOPArt Festival, supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa)
Indalo Stofile (A Faint Patch of Light; Festival International De Teatro Do Mindelo, National Arts Council, POPArt, Department of Sports, Arts & Culture)
Kim Blanche Adonis (He Had It Coming; MVG Productions and Redfest)
Lethabo Bereng (Born Naked; IYABUYA iPOPArt Festival, supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa)
Qondiswa James (Retch; The Market Theatre and Qondiswa James)
Tshegofatso Mabutla (A Faint Patch of Light; Festival International De Teatro Do Mindelo, National Arts Council, POPArt, Department of Sports, Arts & Culture)
BEST PRODUCTION: STUDENT THEATRE
Amahemhem (UP Drama Department)
Chicago (Redhill School)
Medicine (St. Alban’s College)
Reflections (Oakfields College)
Sho’t Left Broadway (The National School of the Arts)
The Birdcage (St. Stithians College)
When They Go Low (De La Salle Holy Cross College)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A STUDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION
Benjamin Harrison (Chicago; Redhill School)
Karabo Machepa (The Birdcage; St. Stithians College)
Lesego Mkhonza (Sho’t Left Broadway; The National School of the Arts)
Nathi Kekana (Reflections; Oakfields College)
Ryan Rossouw (Rou; Scenario College for Performing Arts and Enterprise)
Shane dos Reis (The Birdcage; St. Stithians College)
BEST PRODUCTION: DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET
Chant (IYABUYA iPOPArt Festival, supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa)
Don Quixote (Joburg Ballet)
Karatara (Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief (NATi) in partnership with The Market Theatre)
Kganya (Light) (The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival))
Ringmeester (The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival) in association with Leftfoot Productions)
The Gold Rhino of Mapungubwe Ballet (The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival) in association with Mzansi Ballet and the Mary Oppenheimer & Daughters Foundation)
Urban Circus (The Cirk)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET PRODUCTION
Chloe Blair (“Table for two” from Dialogues; Joburg Ballet)
Figure of 8 Dance Theatre (Karatara; Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief (NATi) in partnership with The Market Theatre)
Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson (Yebo Yes!; The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival))
Kelsey Middleton (“Tydloos” from 2 Decades; Kmad Dance Company)
Lulu Mlangeni (Kganya (Light); The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival))
Nicola Haskins (Rapture; The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival))
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET PRODUCTION
Bruno Miranda (“Table for two” from Dialogues; Joburg Ballet)
Carli Olivier (Sueños; James Grace & Carli Olivier, in association with Pieter Toerien Productions)
Jawaun Bester (Beyond Dreams; WGRUV Dance Company)
Nelmari Bornman (Sins; Kmad Dance Company)
Shaun Oelf (Karatara; Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief (NATi) in partnership with The Market Theatre)
Thami Tshabalala (2 Decades; Kmad Dance Company)
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: FEMALE
Itumeleng Ngxakazi (Fences; The Joburg Theatre)
Judy Ditchfield (A Marry Little Christmas; The Market Theatre & How Now Brown Cow)
Tankiso Mamabolo (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Tshireletso Nkoane (Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars; The Market Theatre, in association with The National Arts Festival)
Zaza Cala (Imxinwa; The South African State Theatre)
Ziaphora Dhakile (Nothing But The Truth; Sello Maake Ka Ncube & Daphne Kuhn)
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: MALE
Anelisa Phewa (Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars; The Market Theatre, in association with The National Arts Festival)
Atandwa Kani (Fences; The Joburg Theatre)
Caleb Swanepoel (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Gifter Ngobeni (Leina; TX Theatre)
Sibusiso Mamba (Fences; The Joburg Theatre)
Tailyn Ramsamy (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Caleb Swanepoel (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Daniel Anderson (Vincent; Wela Kapela Productions & Daphne Kuhn)
Gabriela dos Santos (Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story; Pieter Toerien Productions, by arrangement with Alan James)
Itumeleng Ngxakazi (Fences; The Joburg Theatre)
Jane De Wet (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Stuart Brown (We Will Rock You; Showtime Management)
Zimi Mphefu (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY/MOVEMENT DIRECTION IN A PLAY OR MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Bafikile Sedibe (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Daniel Buckland (1001 Nights; UJ Arts & Culture)
Khaya Ndlovu (Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan; The Joburg Theatre)
Natalie Fisher & Sylvaine Strike (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
The Company & Owen Lonzar (Firefly; US Woordfees at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Toni Morkel (1789; Sibikwa Arts Centre, The French Institute of South Africa & Théâtre du Soleil)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / ARRANGEMENTS / SOUNDSCAPE
Bruce Dennill (Actress; Collett Dawson of The Colab Network)
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Jacques du Plessis & Germaine Gamiet (Vincent; Wela Kapela Productions & Daphne Kuhn)
Johan Vorster & Jacomien De Wet (Die Kaplyn; Afriforum Teater & Inhoud Huis Musiek)
Jonathan Roxmouth (Key Change; Jonathan Roxmouth & Pieter Toerien Productions)
Zakhele Mabena, Simphiwe Skhakhane & The Band (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Adam Howard & Jonathan Roxmouth (Swingle Bells; Howard Events & The Colab Network)
Bruce Dennill & Paul Elliott (Actress; Collett Dawson of The Colab Network)
Germaine Gamiet (Vincent; Wela Kapela Productions & Daphne Kuhn)
Jonathan Roxmouth (Key Change; Jonathan Roxmouth & Pieter Toerien Productions)
Kevin Kraak (We Will Rock You; Showtime Management)
Zakhele Mabena (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SOLO PRODUCTION (INCL. SOLO COMEDY)
Annie Robinson-Grealy (Finding Rosetta; Daphne Kuhn & Starstruck)
Daniel Barney Newton (Shadow Boxing; Redhill Arts Festival)
Kim Blanche Adonis (My Fellow South Africans; MVG Productions, in association with Daphne Kuhn)
Marc Lottering (So I Wrote That Musical; Anwar Mc Kay at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Mpume Mthombeni (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater; The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
Pieter-Dirk Uys (The Echo of a Noise; PDU Productions at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
BEST CABARET / REVUE / SMALL-SCALE MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Actress (Collett Dawson of The Colab Network)
Femme is Fatale (Drama Drama, in association with The Market Theatre)
Key Change (Jonathan Roxmouth & Pieter Toerien Productions)
State of the Heart (Amanda Strydom at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Vincent (Wela Kapela Productions & Daphne Kuhn)
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Ensemble of Die Kaplyn (Afriforum Teater & Inhoud Huis Musiek)
Ensemble of Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan (The Joburg Theatre)
Ensemble of Letters of Hope (The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Ensemble of Lifted (The South African State Theatre, in association with Arts In Motion)
Ensemble of Sophiatown (The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Ensemble of We Will Rock You (Showtime Management)
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY
Cast of 1001 Nights (UJ Arts & Culture)
Cast of 1789 (Sibikwa Arts Centre, The French Institute of South Africa & Théâtre du Soleil)
Fairies & Rustics of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Choir of Leina (TX Theatre)
Cast of The Promise – On Stage (Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Jared Mackenzie (Stravaganza; Tsogo Sun)
Keamohetse Modisadife (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Mariska Meyer (Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan; The Joburg Theatre)
Michaeline Wessels (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Neil Coppen & Mpume Mthombeni (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater; The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
Wilhelm Disbergen (1789; Sibikwa Arts Centre, The French Institute of South Africa and Théâtre du Soleil)
BEST THEATRE SET DESIGN
Andrew Timm (Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan; The Joburg Theatre)
Greg King (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater; The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
Josh Lindberg (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Karabo Legoabe (Macabre; UJ Arts & Culture)
Lungile Cindi (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Wilhelm Disbergen (1789; Sibikwa Arts Centre, The French Institute of South Africa & Théâtre du Soleil)
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Johan Ferreira (Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan; The Joburg Theatre)
Josh Lindberg (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Nico Scheepers (Tien Duisend Ton; The Market Theatre, in association with Carel Nel & US Woordfees)
Oliver Hauser (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Patrick Mlungisi Mbatha (Saturday Night at The Palace; The Joburg Theatre)
Tina Le Roux (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater; The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Boitshoko Rebane & Nebo Mafabatho (Letters of Hope; The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Christo Davis (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Jannous Aukema (Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars; The Market Theatre, in association with The National Arts Festival)
Pieter-Louis Van Twisk (Die Kaplyn; Afriforum Teater & Inhoud Huis Musiek)
Tristan Horton (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater; The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Amanda Bothma (Vincent; Wela Kapela Productions & Daphne Kuhn)
Aubrey Sekhabi (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Daniel Geddes (Actress; Collett Dawson of The Colab Network)
Jannes Erasmus (Die Kaplyn; Afriforum Teater & Inhoud Huis Musiek)
Vusi Africa (Letters of Hope; The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Zakhele Mabena (Lifted; The South African State Theatre, in association with Arts In Motion)
BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Billy Langa & Mahlatsi Mokgonyana (Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars; The Market Theatre, in association with The National Arts Festival)
Geoffrey Hyland (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Neil Coppen (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater; The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
Nico Scheepers (Tien Duisend Ton; The Market Theatre, in association with Carel Nel & US Woordfees)
Phyllis Klotz & Smal Ndaba (1789; Sibikwa Arts Centre, The French Institute of South Africa & Théâtre du Soleil)
Sylvaine Strike (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: FEMALE
Danelle Cronjé (We Will Rock You; Showtime Management)
Gabriela dos Santos (Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story; Pieter Toerien Productions, by arrangement with Alan James)
Hlengiwe Lushaba-Madlala (Letters of Hope; The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Princess Sechele (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Virtuous Kandemiri (Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan; The Joburg Theatre)
Zimi Mphefu (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: MALE
Dihan Keun (Die Kaplyn; Afriforum Teater & Inhoud Huis Musiek)
Mncedisi Hadebe (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Nathan Ro (Actress; Collett Dawson of The Colab Network)
Otto Maidi (Letters of Hope; The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Tiaan Rautenbach (We Will Rock You; Showtime Management)
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: FEMALE
Elzabé Zietsman (Femme is Fatale; Drama Drama, in association with The Market Theatre)
Kiruna-Lind Devar (Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan; The Joburg Theatre)
Nhlanhla Dube (Lifted; The South African State Theatre, in association with Arts In Motion)
Sibulele Gcilitshana (Letters of Hope; The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Sindisile Nkuna (Sophiatown; The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
Talia Kodesh (Actress; Collett Dawson of The Colab Network)
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: MALE
Abel Knobel (Die Kaplyn; Afriforum Teater & Inhoud Huis Musiek)
Daniel Anderson (Vincent; Wela Kapela Productions & Daphne Kuhn)
Jonathan Roxmouth (Key Change; Jonathan Roxmouth & Pieter Toerien Productions)
Luthuli Dlamini (Letters of Hope; The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Sandisile Dlangalala (Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan; The Joburg Theatre)
Stuart Brown (We Will Rock You; Showtime Management)
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: FEMALE
Chuma Sopotela (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Cintaine Schutte (Tien Duisend Ton; The Market Theatre, in association with Carel Nel & US Woordfees)
Judy Ditchfield (Macabre; UJ Arts & Culture)
Sharon Spiegel-Wagner (Same Time, Next Year; Pieter Toerien & Gloucester Productions)
Sylvaine Strike (Firefly; US Woordfees at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Thobeka Plank (Imxinwa; The South African State Theatre)
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: MALE
Albert Pretorius (Tien Duisend Ton; The Market Theatre, in association with Carel Nel & US Woordfees)
Francois Jacobs (Saturday Night at The Palace; The Joburg Theatre)
Lebohang Motaung (Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars; The Market Theatre, in association with The National Arts Festival)
Mark Elderkin (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Rob van Vuuren (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Tshwarelo Selolo (Leina; TX Theatre)
BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT / ADAPTATION
Bruce J Little (Femme is Fatale; Drama Drama, in association with The Market Theatre)
Damon Galgut & Sylvaine Strike (The Promise – On Stage; Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Greg Homann (A Marry Little Christmas; The Market Theatre & How Now Brown Cow)
Jefferson “J Bobs” Tshabalala (Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars; The Market Theatre, in association with The National Arts Festival)
Mike van Graan (My Fellow South Africans; MVG Productions, in association with Daphne Kuhn)
Neil Coppen & Mpume Mthombeni (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater; The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
1789 (Sibikwa Arts Centre, The French Institute of South Africa & Théâtre du Soleil)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (VR Theatrical at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre)
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater (The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars (The Market Theatre, in association with The National Arts Festival)
Leina (TX Theatre)
The Promise – On Stage (Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
Tien Duisend Ton (The Market Theatre, in association with Carel Nel & US Woordfees)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Die Kaplyn (Afriforum Teater & Inhoud Huis Musiek)
Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan (The Joburg Theatre)
Letters of Hope (The South African State Theatre, in association with Vusi Africa)
Lifted (The South African State Theatre, in association with Arts In Motion)
Sophiatown (The South African State Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO)
We Will Rock You (Showtime Management)
Please visit our website www.naleditheatreawards.com for further information and updates on these epic awards.
