2023 offered an almost unprecedented high standard of productions across all genres. Judges saw over 88 productions in the Plays and Musicals Category alone.
“When it came to judging this year, the judges were faced with a very difficult task, as the standard of productions we see are competing at the standard aligned with fulfilling the Naledis’ mandate of celebrating excellence in the performing arts.” enthused Renos Spenoudes, Chair of the judging Panel. Lihan Pretorius, CEO of the awards, agreed, “2023 provided us with truly innovative work, that engages the audience and make us appreciate really superb theatre, in fact, the bar has definitely been raised.”. He continues “What is really exciting, is the standard of tertiary- and school productions, which are proving to be so instrumental in producing the next generation of performers, which is becoming evident in the calibre of the artists we see entering the industry.”.
This year’s Awards Ceremony has risen to the challenge and the production was, as always, a most glamorous event. There was a star-studded line up of performers who provided the entertainment on the evening, which includes the likes of Jonathan Roxmouth with the love medley from his hit show, Key Change, “I’m Here” from Actress, performed by Thalia Kodesh, and Abel Knobel performed “My pa se huis” from Die Kaplyn. Daniel Anderson performed “Vincent” from the musical of the same name. The evening was rounded off by the cast of Lifted – let the blind sing, who performed a medley from this celebrated work.
This Black-Tie event, always a highlight on the Theatre Calendar, would not be possible without the wonderful sponsorships in kind the Naledis receive from their host, The Joburg Theatre, our technical sponsor, Splitbeam, the South African State Theatre, Alan Ford Productions, Cepacol (a brand of Adcock Ingram), Heineken Beverages, Mindpool Productions, Blue Key Digital Marketing, Galore SA Media, Lift Airline, Stageworx, The Buz Hive, the STAND Foundation, WS Pianos, Yihan Brönn Couture and all the volunteers who have helped with the Event. Without these generous contributors the event would not take place despite very concerted efforts to find a Headline Sponsor for the awards.
“The Naledis are especially proud to be announcing two lifetime achievement awards, which go to Theatre Legends Ismail Mahomed and Paul Ditchfield, and the CEO’s Award for Innovation in Theatre to the Sibikwa Arts Centre. The Lesedi Spirit of Courage awards goes to Caleb Swanepoel and the Dawn Lindberg World Impact award goes to the internationally renowned Robyn Orlin” enthuses Lihan Pretorius, CEO of the Awards.” A new award, the STAND Foundation Mohlopi Award (in association with the Naledi Theatre Awards) goes to Gerard Bester.
The CEO and Board of the Naledi Theatre Awards are proud to announce the Winners of the 2024 Naledi’s for productions staged in 2023 as follows:
BEST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG AUDIENCES – SUPPORTED BY ASSITEJ SA
The Hobbit (National Children’s Theatre)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Tebogo Molepo (Momo’s Magical Adventure – Sandton City and Phly Media)
BEST PRODUCTION: INDEPENDENT-/FRINGE THEATRE
Born Naked (ZikkaZimba & Hijinks Theatre at IYABUYA iPOPArt Festival, supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN INDEPENDENT-/FRINGE THEATRE PRODUCTION
Qondiswa James (Retch – The Market Theatre and Qondiswa James)
BEST PRODUCTION: STUDENT THEATRE
The Birdcage (St. Stithians College)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A STUDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION
Shane dos Reis (The Birdcage – St. Stithians College)
BEST PRODUCTION: DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET
Kganya (Light) (The South African State Theatre (Kucheza Afrika Festival))
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET PRODUCTION
Chloe Blair (“Table for two” from Dialogues – Joburg Ballet)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET PRODUCTION
Nelmari Bornman (Sins – Kmad Dance Company)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Zaza Cala (Imxinwa)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Caleb Swanepoel (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Daniel Anderson (Vincent)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A PLAY OR MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Natalie Fisher & Sylvaine Strike (The Promise – On Stage)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / MUSICAL SOUNDSCAPE / ARRANGEMENTS
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (The Promise – On Stage)
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Jonathan Roxmouth (Key Change)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SOLO PRODUCTION
Mpume Mthombeni (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater)
BEST CABARET/REVUE/SMALL-SCALE MUSICAL PRODUCTION
Vincent (Wêla Kapela Productions)
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Ensemble of We Will Rock You (Showtime Management)
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY
Cast of The Promise – On Stage (Club Dezza Productions & The Market Theatre)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Michaeline Wessels (A Misdummer Night’s Dream)
BEST THEATRE SET- AND/OR AV DESIGN
Josh Lindberg (The Promise – On Stage)
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Tina le Roux (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater)
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (The Promise – On Stage)
BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Aubrey Sekhabi (Sophiatown)
BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Neil Coppen (Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Danelle Cronjé (We Will Rock You)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Tiaan Rautenbach (We Will Rock You)
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Talia Kodesh (Actress)
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Daniel Anderson (Vincent)
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Cintaine Schutte (Tien Duisend Ton)
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Rob van Vuuren (The Promise – On Stage)
BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT
Jefferson “J Bobs” Tshabalala (Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater (The Market Theatre, in association with Empatheatre & The National Arts Festival)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL/MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
We Will Rock You (Showtime Management)
SPECIAL AWARDS:
STAND MOHLOPI AWARD (presented in partnership with Naledi Theatre Awards) Gerard Bester
CEO’S AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN THEATRE Sibikwa Arts Centre
LESEDI SPIRIT OF COURAGE AWARD Caleb Swanepoel
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Ismail Mahomed
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Paul Ditchfield
DAWN LINDBERG WORLD IMPACT AWARD Robyn Orlin
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