The prestigious annual Naledi Theatre Awards, which were
held in Johannesburg at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City in April, will have
a repeat broadcast on SABC 3 on August 25 at 22h00.
The 90-minute show highlights the best of the best in South
African theatre productions staged in 2014.
Dawn Lindberg, Founder and Executive Director of the Naledi
Awards, thanked SABC3 for its vision and support of SA Live Professional
Theatre.
She said that it was a TV coup because the South African
public rarely get to see this range of entertainment and diversity of talent on
stage at one time. The Naledi Awards, recognise and honour excellence in
professional theatre, and is the biggest and most highly anticipated event of
the year for the theatre Industry. It’s a fitting showcase to what South Africa
has to offer in the field of theatre.
Highlights include Marikana
- The Musical receiving no fewer than 13 nominations and six awards, and
another highlight is the appearance of Topthorn, from the internationally
critically acclaimed and award-winning musical WarHorse.
Topthorn is a gigantic horse puppet, operated by a team of
talented puppeteers from Cape Town, which was created by South Africa’s own
Handspring Puppet Theatre. Audiences world-wide connected with Topthorn and
Joey's emotional journey through the horrors of World War 1. A new award, the
World Impact Award, for the SA producers of WarHorse
was presented by newly crowned Miss SA, Liesl Laurie and brought the audience
to their feet.
TV audiences can also expect to enjoy a variety of
entertainment from Michael Riff Thema performing the song Happy from Peter Pan to
the indomitable PJ Powers, and hot items from ShooWop Shop, the Vuyani Dance
Company, and a segment from Swan Lake
performed by the Joburg Ballet.
The MC’s were popular TV presenter, poet and actress Lebo
Mashile and the famous Chester Missing, a puppet whose curt comments on matters
political have sent the nation into stitches. To add a slice of beefcake to the
proceedings, Mr South Africa, Armand du Plessis and runner up, Sibusiso Sibanda
brought on the trophies.
Celebrity presenters included Kgomotso Christopher and Jack
Devnarain from Isidingo, Aubrey Poo,
Sylvaine Strike, Tats, Nkonzo, Terence Bridgett, Atandwa Kani and Zuraida
Jardine.
One of the highlights was the Lifetime achievement award
presented to Shaleen Surtie-Richards, a much-loved personality who has made an
indelible contribution to the arts.
The event was shot and edited by Clive Morris Productions
from a 2.20 hour live event, staged and directed by Dawn Lindberg, to a slick
and sharp 72 minute special which SABC3 have endorsed as deserving of exposure
on National television.
Dali Tambo, Chairman of the Naledi Awards for 11 years said:
“The Naledi Awards hold a mirror to what is happening in South Africa both
socially and politically and we are proud to be witness to the world class
excellence of our new script writers, directors and producers who highlight the
transformation of Live theatre in SA as well as new young voices rising up with
no load shedding at all in their daring and success!"
Ismail Mahomed, Artistic Director of the National Festival
of the Arts and also a prominent Board member of Naledi said “Theatre and the arts
internationally cannot sustain itself without considerable funding support from
Government structures such as Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts
Council and the Lottery. Naledi wishes to extend its gratitude to its major
sponsor over the past three years, Auto & General Insurance (facilitated by
Arts Activist, Carolyn Steyn), Distell, BASA, DWR lighting distribution, Dream
Sets, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) for bringing Topthorn to SA from Dubai, the
Market Theatre for sponsoring the Best Emerging Voice Award, the State Theatre
for sponsoring “Best New SA Script and in particular, Tsogo Sun and the Lyric
Theatre for a massive sponsorship in kind by providing their magnificent
theatre at Gold Reef City for the past four years".
For more information on the Naledi Awards visit http://www.naleditheatreawards.org.za/
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