It’s full steam ahead for the prestigious Naledi Theatre Awards, which will be held in June – despite a serious injury to its artistic director, Dawn Lindberg.
Lindberg suffered a bad fall from an unprotected staircase at the Dome in Northgate on 20 April, breaking her collarbone, cracking two ribs, suffering a concussion, bleeding on the brain and a huge gash on her head.
After spending three nights in ICU at Sunninghill Hospital and another three nights at the Donny Gordon to have a plate and six screws inserted into her collarbone, she is back at her desk in positive mode and hard at work on the 13th annual Naledi Theatre Awards, which will take place at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, on 5 June.
Lindberg said with a smile, “The show must go on. My arm is in a sling, and I do have to take it easy but to not stage the Naledis this year would be unthinkable.”
An exciting line-up of presenters and entertainers has been assembled for this year’s event, including Lilla Fleischmann, the star of Annie, performing Tomorrow; Earl Gregory from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat singing Close Every Door to Me and Daniel Richards delivering a sketch from the comedy Pay Back the Curry.
Marah Louw and the Kings of Harmony will perform a moving tribute to the departed, and the cast of Sarafina executing an emotive and rousing finale.
“We are also making a strong statement in support of LGBTQ rights with a special arrangement of John Lennon’s Imagine, led by Timothy Moloi and 10 of our very best voices in harmony,” added Lindberg.
“Four special awards will be given on the night – the Lesedi Spirit of Courage Award, the Executive Director’s Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the World Impact Award, but the names of the recipients are still under wraps. “We also have promises of some very special prizes to further honour some of our winners.”
