Local theatre praised at Naledi Awards

Cape Town - Veterans within the theatre industry and several talented newcomers scooped the 10th Annual Naledi Theatre Awards held in Johannesburg on Monday evening, reports Sowetan Live.

The Naledi Awards, which recognises achievement within South Africa's theatre and performing arts environment, has honoured over 57 lifetime achievers within its 10 years of existence and aims to showcase new, up and coming talent.

And one of these newcomers, veteran actor John Kani's son Atandwa, has mesmerised audiences and stunned the judging panel for this year's awards ceremony.

Lifetime achievement award

Atandwa, who won the award for his role in the State Theatre production of Rhetorical, made headlines when he appeared in The Island - a production which was made famous by his father in the 1970's along with Winston Ntshona and Athol Fugard.

He has also now landed himself a role alongside many of SA's A-list celebs in the new SABC3 locally produced drama series, High Rollers, which is set to start on 2 April at 20:30.

The evening also saw veterans like songstress Sibongile Khumalo receive the lifetime achievement award for her role in South Africa's theatre and performing arts community.

Here is a full list of winners for the 10th Annual Naledi Theatre Awards:

Lifetime achievement award
Sibongile Khumalo

Executive director's award
Yvette Hardy, MD of Assitej SA

Best Theatre Set Design
Denis Hutchinson - Delirium

Best Costume Design
Sarah Roberts - The Miser

Best Theatre Lighting Design
Tina Le Roux - Abnormal Loads

Best Theatre Sound Design/Sound Effects
Braam du Toit - Trilogy: Lot/Betésda/Babbel

Best Production of Children Theatre
Goggas! - National Children Theatre

Best Performance by Newcomer/Breakthrough (Male/Female)
Atandwa Kani - Rhetorical

Best Community Theatre
Sello Le Dipogiso - Black Child Productions directed by Thembeni Joni

Best Original Choreography (Musical or Play):
Loukmaan Adams and Jodi Abrahams - The Kat and the Kings

Best Musical Director/Score/Arrangement:
Louis Zurnamer (MD) - Phantom of the Opera

Best Ensemble Production/Cutting Edge
Delirium - written by Ariel Dorfman. Produced by The Market Theatre. Directed by Greg Homann

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role/Cameo
Patricia Boyer - The Miser

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role/Cameo
Jeremy Richard - Red

Best Director of a Play or Musical
Sylvaine Strike - The Miser

Best Performance in a Musical (Female)
Samantha Peo - Cabaret

Best Performance in a Musical (Male)
Jonathan Roxmouth - The Phantom of the Opera

Best Production of Play
The Miser - produced by Fortune Cookie Theatre Company & Market Theatre, directed by Sylvaine Strike

Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Play)
Khutjo Green -The Line

Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Play)
Michael Richard - Red

Best New South African Script
Abnormal Loads - produced by the Market Theatre in association with Standard Bank and Think Theatre, written by Neil Coppen, directed by Neil Coppen and Janna Ramos-Violante

Best Production of Musical
The Phantom of the Opera - Produced by Pieter Toerien and The Really Useful Group Limited. Directed by Harold Prince