Naledi Theatre Awards nominees announced

The Awards have a standing authority to recognise and honour excellence in professional theatre. On awards night stalwarts like Athol Fugard (The Shadow of the Hummingbird) and John Kani (Missing) will be honoured.

But the business of 2014 productions were the order of tonight. Marikana –The Musical scored 12 nominations.

It received nominations for Best Musical, Best New South African Script, Best Director, Best Theatre Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, Best Choreography, Best Score/Arrangement/Adaptation, Best Musical Director, Best Performance in a Musical: Female, Best Performance in a Musical: Male, Best Supporting Actress and Best Production of a Musical.

Flamboyant singer and composer Nataniël received three nominations for Best Score/Arrangement/Adaptation, Best Performance in a Musical: Male and Best Musical Director.

The Rocky Horror Show received seven nominations. On the children’s theatre front, Naledi is excited to be partnering with ASSITEJ SA in the newly re-named category: “Best Production for Young Audiences”.

This category has a dedicated team of judges who now see a much broader selection of theatre for young audiences. Two Showcases are held at the Soweto Theatre at which judges can view a full day’s productions in one venue.

DESIGNER. Jonathan Roxmouth received an acting and costume design nod in the nominations list. Picture: Supplied

The MC’s will be popular Lebo Mashile and the famous Chester Missing, a puppet whose curt comments on matters political have sent a nation into stitches. To add a slice of beefcake to the proceedings, Mr South Africa contenders will bring on the trophies.

Nominees are as follows:

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role or cameo

• Vanessa Cook
• Lurdes Laice
• Koketso Mojela
• Pamela Ndlovu
• Buhle Ngaba
• Siyasanga Catherine Papu
• Kensiswe Tshabalala

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role / cameo

• James Cairns
• Antony Coleman
• Michael de Pinna
• Zak Hendrikz
• Weslee Lauder
• Bongi Mthombeni
• Lebo Toko

Best Production of a Play or Musical for Young Audiences Supported by ASSITEJ South Africa

• Animal Farm
• Foursight
• Freckleface Strawberry
• Mafrika!
• The Astounding Antics of Anthony Ant
• The Revealers
• Disney’s My Son
• Pinocchio Jr
• 

  FIRST TIMER. Weslee Lauder bagged his first ever nomination for best actor in a supporting role. Picture: Supplied

Best Performance by a Newcomer / Breakthrough (Male/Female) The Brett Goldin Award

• David de Beer
• Zethu Dlomo
• Jannes Erasmus
• Clint Lesch
• Ferdinand Gernandt.
• Momo Matsunyane
• Sphiwe Emma Mekwa
• Michael Riff Themba

Best Costume Design

• Noluthando Lobese – Pale Natives
• Floris Louw – Rainbow At Midnight
• Irene Moheedi Mathe – Marikana – The Musical
• Sarah Roberts – The Astounding Antics of Anthony Ant
• Jonathan Roxmouth – Call Me Lee
• Penny Simpson – The Rocky Horror Show

Best Theatre Lighting Design

• Wilhelm Disbergen – Hungry
• Wilhelm Disbergen – Mating Birds
• Daniel Galloway – The Rocky Horror Show
• Mannie Manim – The Shadow of The Hummingbird
• Mandla Mtshali – Cooking With Elisa
• Kevin Stannet – Rainbow At Midnight

Best Theatre Set Design

• Wilhelm Disbergen – Hungry
• Wilhelm Disbergen – Marikana – The Musical
• Wilhelm Disbergen – Mating Birds
• Tina Driedijk (Set) – The Rocky Horror Show
• Johan Ferreira – Reik Na Die Sterre
• Saul Radomsky – The Shadow of The Hummingbird

Best Theatre Sound Design

• Aki Khan – The Rocky Horror Show
• Murry Lubbe – Reik Na Die Sterre
• Richard Mitchell – Marikana – The Musical
• Trevor Peters – Peter Pan – The Pantomime
• Larry Pullen – Rainbow At Midnight

Best Score / Arrangement / Adaptation

• Kutlwano Masote – Agreed
• Tshepo Mngoma – Ketekang
• Nolufefe Mtshabe – Ukutshona koMendi…Did We Dance
• Bernett Mulungo – The Mother of All Eating
• Nataniël – Rainbow At Midnight
• Kgafela Oa Magogod – Book of Rebellations
• Aubrey Sekhabi – Marikana – The Musical

Best Musical Director

• Charl Johan Lingenfelder – The Rocky Horror Show
• Murray Lubbe – Reik Na Die Sterre
• Mpho “Mckenzie” – Marikana – The Musical
• Tshepo Mngoma – Ketekang
• Mtshabe Nolufefe – Ukutshona koMendi…Did We Dance
• Nataniël – Rainbow At Midnight
• Louis Zurnamer – The Sound Of Music

Best emerging voice

• Khutjo Green – Performer. Writer. Director. Social Activist for Anti-Trafficking in Persons. Explorative Physical Theatre Performer
• Khayelihle Dominique Gumede – Actor, Director and Writer, Producer, Broadcast Media Executive and Creative Director
• William Harding – Playwright and Actor
• Sunnyboy Mandla Motau – Actor, Director, Writer and Arts Teacher

Best Production: Cutting Edge

• Agreed
• Animal Farm
• A Human Being Died That Night
• What The Water Gave Me
• Marat Sade
• Onskuld
• Smaarties

FEARLESS. Aubrey Sekhabi’s treatment of the Marikana tragedy managed to secure
12 nominations. Picture: Gallo Imagies

Best Ensemble Production

• Animal Farm
• Ukutshona koMendi… Did We Dance
• Book of Rebellations
• The Colored Museum
• Eclipsed
• Secret Ballot

Best Original Choreography

• Shelly Adriaanzen – Liefling: Die Musical
• Cast – Rainbow At Midnight
• Ferdinand Gernandt – Reik Na die Sterre
• Thabo Rapoo – Marikana – The Musical
• Luyanda Sidiya – Ketekang
• Louisa Talbot – The Rocky Horror Show

Best Performance in a Musical: Female

• Caroline Borole – Ketekang
• Bethany Dickson – The Sound Of Music
• Nokukhanya Dlamini – Ketekang
• Thembsie Matu – Peter Pan – The Pantomime
• Emma Mmekwa – Marikana – The Musical
• PJ Powers – Firefly
• Janelle Visagie – The Sound Of Music

Best Performance in a Musical: Male

• Desmond Dube – Protest
• Meshach Mavuso – Marikana – The Musical
• Nataniël – Rainbow At Midnight
• Aubrey Poo – Marikana – The Musical
• Jonathan Roxmouth – Call Me Lee
• Brendan van Rhyn – The Rocky Horror Show
• Craig Urbani – Peter Pan – The Pantomime

Best Lead Performance in a Play: Female

• Patricia Boyer – Cooking With Elisa
• Susan Danford – Missing
• Ashleigh Harvey – BASH
• Momo Matsunyane – Have You Seen Zandile
• Bo Petersen – Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
• Janna Ramos-Violante – Constellations
• Jackie Rens – The Vertical Hour

Best Lead Performance in a Play: Male

• James Alexander – BASH
• Athol Fugard – The Shadow of The Hummingbird
• Daniel Janks – BASH
• John Kani – Missing
• Lionel Newton – Pale Natives
• Michael Richard – The Vertical Hour
• Seputla Sebogade – Mating Birds

Best new South African script

• Book of Rebellations
• Hungry
• Marikana – The Musical
• Mating Birds
• Missing
• Skierlik
• The Shadow of The Hummingbird

Best production of a play

• Pale Natives
• Missing
• Cooking With Elisa
• The Shadow of The Hummingbird
• BASH
• A Human Being Died That Night
• VIGIL

Best production of a musical The Joan Brickhill Award

• The Rocky Horror Show
• The Sound Of Music
• Marikana – The Musical
• Reik na die Sterre
• Ketekang
• Peter Pan – The Pantomime