After much anticipation, the Naledi Theatre Awards will soon announce the nominees for productions staged during 2016.
Once again, the Market Theatre will be hosting the nominations event as a sponsorship in kind, for which Naledi was most grateful.
The reveal is expected to be a glittering event that will take place on 27 March at the Mannie Manim Theatre of the Market Theatre complex at 6pm.
The Naledi Theatre Awards have been rewarding theatre excellence in South Africa for 13 years and has grown into one of the biggest and most prestigious theatre awards events in the country.
This year, the panel of 20 judges deliberated over two days and discussed over 100 productions in 27 categories which were staged last year in more than 23 theatres.
“It is indeed a huge commitment and labour of love for the judges whose only reward is two tickets to the shows,” said Dawn Lindberg, executive director of the Naledis.
“The debates are open and vigorous, but in the end, an agreement is reached. Our only criterion is excellence and it is particularly gratifying to see how much new local work is rising to the top.”
The date for the awards event has not been determined as yet, due to lack of funding, said acting chairperson of the Naledi Theatre Awards, Welcome Msomi, who is also on the panel of judges. “However, we are hoping to hear from the NLC [National Lottery Commission] and other potential sponsors very soon so that the much-anticipated awards event can proceed as planned,” Msomi said.
Lindberg added, “It is vitally important to keep the Naledis alive as we hold a mirror to what’s happening on our stages while encouraging new audiences and practitioners.”
She said theatre reflects the ever-changing society and tells our stories of pain, rage, joy, celebration and those of the indomitable human spirit.
Details: www.naleditheatreawards.org.za and watch the 2016 promotional video here
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