CAPE Town’s biggest theatre awards evening is well on its way to getting red-carpet-ready for its 50th edition. The nominees for the prestigious annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards have been announced and will have those in the running waiting anxiously in the wings before the function on March 15 at the Artscape Opera House.
“Five decades ago the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards started with only six categories and 17 productions that were eligible,” said Melanie Burke, chairwoman of the adjudicating panel.
Today, awards are presented in 18 different categories and last year 74 productions were eligible.
In addition, 57 student performances were considered for the Most Promising Student Award.
The awards event is a flagship arts and culture initiative of the Distell Foundation.
“This year we are celebrating the golden anniversary of the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, which presents us with an ideal opportunity to look back at its unique role in the growth of South African theatre,” said Irma Albers, Distell’s arts and culture controller.
Chris Weare, a Fleur du Cap alumnus, will direct the awards ceremony and a unique event was planned to celebrate the successes of the past 50 years, including an entertainment line-up featuring top local artists.
The awards are among the most coveted in the South African performing arts fraternity, with the winners chosen from productions performed at about 15 venues in and around Cape Town.
Theatre practitioners are recognised for acting, directing, staging and technical abilities, and the panel of judges furthermore considers an individual, company or organisation in the theatre industry that has consistently created exceptional and innovative work.
The panel of judges, with a non-voting chairman, is comprised largely of local critics, journalists, writers and drama teachers.
Last year’s judges were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Christine Moritz, Eugene Yiga, Gillian Mitchell, Herman van der Westhuizen, Jill Markram, Johan van Lill, Len Ashton, Mariana Malan, Marina Griebenow, Peter Tromp, Steyn du Toit and Tracey Saunders.
Stephanie Klink completed a year-long internship last year and has been accepted to join the panel of judges this year.
For a production to be eligible, a run of a minimum of eight performances over three weeks at the same venue is required. Each award carries a cash prize of R15 000 and each award recipient will be given a silver medallion.
All voting processes are audited and overseen by the legal firm Cluver Markotter.
The nominees in some of the main categories are:
l Best performance by a lead actor in a play: Albert Pretorius for Playland as Gideon le Roux, Chris van Niekerk for 2092: God van Klank as Hernon Freytag, Jamie Bartlett for Death of a Colonialist as Harold Smith, Khayalethu Anthony for The Champion as Thulani, Matthew Marsh for A Human Being Died That Night as Eugéne de Kock.
• Best performance by a lead actress in a play:
Emily Child for The Pervert Laura as Laura, Janna Ramos-Violante for Constellations as Marianne, Mikkie-Dene le Roux for Grounded as The Pilot, Noma Dumezweni for A Human Being Died That Night as Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Sandra Prinsloo for Oscar and the Pink Lady as various characters.
• Best performance by a supporting actor in a play:
Guy de Lancey for The Pervert Laura as Father, Mbulelo Grootboom for Playland as Marthinus Zoeloe, Phillip Tipo Tindisa for Fishers of Hope (Taweret) as John, Richard September for Rondomskrik as various characters, Tobie Cronjé for Vettie Vettie as Henry.
• Best performance by a supporting actress in a play:
Buhle Ngaba for Missing as Ayanda, Jennifer Steyn for The Tragedy of King Richard III as Queen Elizabeth, Kate Liquorish for The Tragedy of King Richard III as Lady Anne, 2nd Citizen and the Cardinal, Kensiwe Tshabalala for Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike as Cassandra, Lee-Ann van Rooi for Rondomskrik as various characters.
• Best director:
Alan Swerdlow for Constellations, Jaco Bouwer for Balbesit, Lara Foot for Fishers of Hope (Taweret), Marí Borstlap for 2092: God van Klank, Tara Notcutt for ...miskien.
•
Tickets for the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards ceremony are R200 per person and include canapés and Fleur du Cap wines. Follow the awards on Twitter @FDCTheatreAward and on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/YuZtCk