Theatrical mavericks take honours

Directors Marthinus Basson, Jaco Bouwer and Christiaan Olwagen were rewarded for a remarkable theatrical year in 2014 at this year’s Fiesta Award Ceremony. The event, which took place last week, paid tribute to artists who perform at the Afrikaans festivals.

Basson collected an award for Best Director and Best Production for the mind-bending Bloed en Rose; Bouwer was rewarded for his visual splendour and daring in Samsa-masjien and Die Poskantoor and Olwagen for his self-penned Dogma.

These theatrical mavericks all challenge and defy the odds on an annual basis as they tackle and present work that doesn’t fit the stereotypical festival fare.

And yet, their reputation ensures they pack them in, presenting plays that command audiences to grapple with texts and performances, because they know their imaginations will be enriched and they’ll obtain a deeper understanding of the world we live in.

The acknowledgement is just, and hopefully, it will encourage them to keep toughing it out in an environment that doesn’t encourage risky theatre endea-vours. But fortunately for their admirers, that’s who they are and the only way they can keep telling stories.

Emo Adams opened his heart with Finding Emo and was richly rewarded for his courage with two awards, one for Best Performance and another for Best Production, while actors Rolanda Marais and Albert Pretorius were singled out for their acting prowess in two theatrical productions.

Visual artist Gerhard Marx had no equal with his intriguing The Garden at Night and composer Braam du Toit soared with his extraordinary music in Die Poskantoor.

The winners’ work should be seen wider than on the festival circuit. If any of them secure further seasons, check out these names and don’t allow any to slip through your fingers.

The full list of winners are:

Best Actor in Die Seemeeu and Playland: Albert Pretorius

Best Actress in Die Seemeeu and Dogma: Rolanda Marais

Best Supporting Actor in Bloed en Rose: Stian Bam

Best Supporting Actress in Rondomskrik: Lee-Ann van Rooi

Best Director for Bloed en Rose: Marthinus Basson

Theatre Design for Poskantoor and Samsa-masjien: Jaco Bouwer

Best Performance in music-driven production for Finding Emo: Emo Adams

Best Solo Performance for Die Klaagliedere van Ds. Tienie Benade:

Frank Opperman

Best New Afrikaans Production for Dogma: Christiaan Olwagen

Rising Star for Rondomskrik: Richard September