THE MERCURY DURBAN THEATRE AWARDS

Last night, The Mercury Durban Theatre Awards held their annual awards event, recognising top talent and production excellence in the performing arts industry of the previous judging year which ran from October 2011 to September 2012.

Possibly the most memorable moment of the evening was when acclaimed Johannesburg actor, Michael Richard, received the award for Actor in a Drama Production for his performance in KickstArt’s Red. He commended Durban on the quality of work that is produced in this city and said that there was a great spirit of creativity. Coming from one of South Africa’s top actors, this meant a great deal to the audience – many of whom were theatre practitioners who often battle to attract audiences.

Awards were presented to the following:

Poster Design: Shirley Berko: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Sound Design: Megan Levy: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Lighting Design: Tina le Roux: Abnormal Loads

Costume Design: Greg King: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Set Design: Greg King: Don’t Dress for Dinner

New Performer – Female: Fortunate Dhlomo: Abnormal Loads

New Performer – Male: Wiseman Mncube: Meet Bra 6-2

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

 Supporting Actress: Belinda Henwood: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Supporting Actor: Bryan Hiles: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Lead Actress: Georgina Mabbett: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Lead Actor: Peter Court: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Director: Steven Stead: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Production: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: KickstArt

MUSICAL THEATRE & MUSIC REVUE / MUSIC COMPILATION / CABARET

 Choreography - Janine Bennewith: Burlesque

Performer: Music Revue / Music Compilation / Cabaret: Liesl Coppin: Burlesque

Supporting Actress: Musical Theatre - Lauren Dasappa: Cinderella

Supporting Actor: Musical Theatre - Darren King: Cinderella

Lead Actress: Musical Theatre - Nondumiso Tembe: Cinderella

Lead Actor: Musical Theatre - Ryan Flynn: Cinderella

Musical Director: Evan Roberts & Charon Williams-Ros: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Director: Janine Bennewith: Burlesque / Ralph Lawson: Cinderella

Music Revue Production: Burlesque: Gary McKenzie

Musical Theatre Production - Cinderella: The Playhouse Company

DRAMA / COMEDY

 Script - Neil Coppen: Abnormal Loads

Supporting Actress - Jailoshini Naidoo: Don’t Dress for Dinner

Supporting Actor - Jeremy Richard: Red

Comedic Performance by a Female - Janna Ramos-Violante: Don’t Dress for Dinner

Comedic Performance by a Male - Tim Wells: Don’t Dress for Dinner

Solo Performance - Adam Dore: Birdman

Lead Actress - Janna Ramos-Violante: Don’t Dress for Dinner

Lead Actor - Michael Richard: Red

Director - Neil Coppen & Janna Ramos-Violante: Abnormal Loads

Production - Abnormal Loads: ThinkTheatre in association with The Playhouse Company

The recipient of the Monica Fairall Memorial Award was Emma Durden and Pieter Scholtz received the Judges Award. The Mercury Theatre Personality of the Year Award, by public vote, was Marion Loudon.

The judges for 2011-2012 year were Stavros Anthias, Christa Biyela, Musa Hlatshwayo, Glynis Horning, Debbie Lutge, Sally Scott, Caroline Smart, Billy Suter, Jean van Elden and Janet Whelan. The Administrator of the awards is Peter Taylor.