NALEDI THEATRE AWARDS 2008

Winners of 6th annual Naledi Theatre Awards.

The star-studded 6th annual Naledi Theatre Awards ceremony took place on April 19 at the Drama Theatre, South African State Theatre, Pretoria. Once again staged and directed by Naledi's dynamic executive director Dawn Lindberg, the entertainment featured highlights from local hit shows The Magic Flute, Beauty and the Beast, The Fat Black Women Sing, Chess, Rocky Horror Show, Umoja and the internationally renowned African Children’s Choir.

MCs for the ceremony were popular comedian Mark Banks and, the perfect foil to his witticisms, the vivacious Rosie Motene. Angela Kilian, Ashley Dowds, Craig Urbani, Dorothy-Ann Gould, Lesego Motsepe, Kate Normington, Samantha Peo, Nqobile Sipamla, Rachel Tambo, Tamara Dey and Zuraida Jardine were just a few of the glamorous, high-profile stage and television celebrities that presented the various category awards. Popular comedian Marc Lottering presented the award for Best Community Theatre. A warm moment came when the doyenne of musical theatre, Joan Brickhill, came onto stage in her wheelchair to present the Best Production of a Musical.

The Naledi Theatre Awards covered all South African mainstream professional, live theatre productions that took place during 2008. The judges for 2008 were Welcome Msomi, Sibongiseni Mkhize, Janet Baylis, Lopang Molope, Mandla Motau, Moira de Swardt, Helen Heldenmuth, Paul Boekkooi, Peter Feldman, Brooks J Spector, Phillipa Sandilands, Renos Spanoudes, Sizie Modise, Tselane Tambo and William Prophet. An independent auditor verified the results.

Karoo MooseA, written and directed by Lara Foot Newton and produced by Baxter Theatre Centre in association with Absa and Aardklop and presented by the Market Theatre won Best New South African Play Produced; Best Production of a Straight Play and Best Director of a Play or Musical (sponsored by Percy Tucker). Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Play) went to Mdu Kweyama who also took the award for Best Original Choreography (Musical or Revue). Zoleka Helesi won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role with Chuma Sopotela receiving Best Performance by a Newcomer / Breakthrough (Female). Karoo Moose won the award for Best Production Cutting Edge/Ensemble

Beauty and the Beast, produced by Pieter Toerien and Hazel Feldman in association with Disney Theatrical Productions and directed by Robert Jess Roth won Best Production of a Musical. The show also garnered Best Performance in a Musical (Male) for Jonathan Roxmouth and Best Performance by a Newcomer / Breakthrough (Male) for Sibu Radebe. Both actors tied for the award for Best Comedy Performance (Male) (Play, Musical or Revue).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Play) went to Dorothy-Ann Gould for Hello and Goodbye; Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role went to Hamilton Dlamini for Ten Bush with Gina Shmukler winning Best Performance in a Musical (Female) for Chess and Philip Miller winning Best Musical Director / Score / Arrangement for Rewind. Judy Page won Best Comedy Performance (Female) (Play, Musical or Revue) for her performance in The Full Monty.

Best Costume Design went to Leigh Bishop for Magic Flute, Best Theatre Set Design to Gerhard Marx for Rewind; Best Theatre Lighting Design to Nomvula Molepo for The Jungle Book and Best Theatre Sound Design/Sound Effects - Radio Drama Department SAFM: to Schalk Vorster, Bruce Millar and Willem van der Meijden for For Your Ears Only.

The award for Best Community Theatre Production: (sponsored by Computicket) went to 8 o’Clock written and directed by Moses Muyela, produced by Extroverts Entertainment, Witbank

A new award was presented for the first time this year. the Executive Director’s Award presented by Dawn Lindberg and sponsored by Connie Nkosi, one of the directors of Naledi and chairman of Lidonga group, went to the producers and cast of The Magic Flute for their outstanding contribution to audience development by opening the entire season to the public free of charge and for the original and uplifting ‘africanisation’ of this legendary work by Mozart.

Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to Lynette Marais, director of the National Arts festival for 20 years, with two posthumous awards going to John Matshikiza and Es’kia Mphahlele, which were received by their children, Lindiwe and Suubi Matshikiza and Chabi Mphahlele. All the winners received silver Mandela medallions generously donated by the South African Gold Coin Exchange, as well as their Naledi trophy made from recycled glass.

Dawn Lindberg acknowledged the generosity of all the sponsors: Nando’s, Lidonga Group, the SA Gold Coin Exchange, Computicket, Wharfedale Pro, Matrix Sound, Wits Theatre and founding sponsors Christopher Seabrooke, Percy Tucker and Pieter Toerien. BASA also gave support funding. Distell sponsored the wine and the South African State Theatre generously sponsored the venue.

“We were especially thrilled to be at the Drama, State Theatre in Tshwane this time round,” said Dawn Lindberg, “and we extend our thanks to the Theatre’s management and administrative staff, and to all the presenters and entertainers who added their talent, glamour and support to make Naledi better each year.”

Visit www.naleditheatreawards.org.za for more information.