The 48th Annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were held at Cape Town's Artscape Theatre last night. Hosted by comedian Alan Committie and radio personality Africa Melane, the glamorous red-carpet event featured a range of classical performances in addition to the presentation of awards celebrating theatre excellence.
Award-winning director Lara Bye, assisted by 2012 Emerging Director's Bursary recipient Thando Doni, directed the classically themed event. Their brief was to work with the companies sponsored by the Distell Foundation (which funds the awards) and so the evening featured performances from Cape Town Opera's Voice of the Nation Ensemble, the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, iKapa Dance Theatre, and Dance for All. A highlight was the pas de deux by dancers Michaela DePrince and Jonathan Rodrigues, stars of Mzansi Ballet's current production of Don Quixote.
"The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards ceremony this year lends itself to elegance," Bye said, "and we're excited to have so many classically trained artists on stage, presenting uplifting performances in dance, music, and song."
And the award goes to ...
Of course, the evening was mostly about the awards, each of which comes with a silver medallion and R15 000. From the list of nominations, the winners are:
- Most Promising Student Award: Roelof Storm (UCT).
- Best Performance In A Cabaret/Revue/ One-person Show: James Cuningham for Sunday Morning as Mat.
- Best New Script: Champ by Louis Viljoen.
- Rosalie van der Gucht Prize For New Director: Kim Kerfoot for Statements after an Arrest under the Immorality Act.
- Best Lighting Design: Paul Abrams for Mies Julie
- Best Set Design: Fred Abrahamse for Kingdom of Earth.
- Best Costume Design: Angela Nemov for The Comedy of Errors.
- Best Original Score and/or Sound Design: Daniel Pencer and Matthew Pencer (original music) for Mies Julie.
- Best Performance By A Supporting Actor In Music Theatre and/or A Musical: Peter Court for Cabaret as Herr Schultz.
- Best Performance By A Supporting Actress In Music Theatre and/or A Musical: Charon Williams-Ros for Cabaret as Fräulein Schneider.
- Best Performance By An Actor In Music Theatre and/or A Musical: Dean Balie for Kat and the Kings as Young Kat Diamond.
- Best Performance By An Actress In Music Theatre and/or A Musical: Samantha Peo for Cabaret as Sally Bowles.
- Award For Innovation In Theatre: Mandla Mbothwe (director of Biko's Quest).
- People's Choice Award: I Am Hamlet.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Kearns (senior stage manager, involved with Baxter Theatre since its inception in 1977).
- Best Performance By A Supporting Actor In A Play: Mbulelo Grootboom for Just Business as Mabuso.
- Best Performance By A Supporting Actress In A Play: Thoko Ntshinga for Mies Julie as Christine.
- Best Performance By An Actor In A Play: Elton Landrew for Boesman & Lena as Boesman.
- Best Performance By An Actress In A Play: Quanita Adams for Boesman & Lena as Lena.
- Best Director: Yael Farber for Mies Julie
The Fleur du Cap Awards were catered by Dish Food and Social. I'll be dreaming of that dessert spread and ice-cream stand for the next 12 months.
