The 16th June celebrates Youth Day and, as the Naledi Theatre Awards, we are proud to celebrate the Youth and Theatre on this auspicious day. “During the year in review 2024, we have seen many productions produced, performed and conceptualized by very talented young South Africans” said Lihan Pretorius, the CEO of the Naledi Theatre Awards, “it is hugely satisfying to all of us at the Naledis that we are seeing such young talent, interest and audiences’ growth, ensuring the longevity of theatre for the next generation,”
This celebration of youth is highlighted by LAMTA’s production of Spring Awakening, which garnered 10 Naledis, including Jonathan Conrad receiving the Breakthrough Performance Award and the production receiving the award for Best Production for a Musical or Opera.
Chris Avant Smith, board member, said “We are also incredibly thankful to Aubrey Sekhabi and the South African State Theatre for coming on board to host the Naledi Theatre Awards this year. Without all our amazing sponsors and partners, which are Splitbeam, Alan Ford Productions, Easy Equities, Andy Signs, Lift Airline, Stageworx School of Performing Arts, WS Pianos, Galore SA Media, Blue Key Digital Marketing, Mindpool Productions, STAND Foundation, The Buz Hive, Yihan Bronn Couture and all the wonderful entertainers, presenters and creative team, we would be unable to mount this prestigious event”
Renos Spanoudes, Chair of the Judging Panels added, “ it is a testament to the legacy of the founder of the awards, the late Dawn Lindberg, that we have been able keep the Naledi Theatre Awards afloat for 20 years, with little or no funding, and purely on the dedication and the passion of our judges for finding excellence in theatre, seeing more than 80 productions a year that has kept us going.”
“Many South African performers have received a Naledi over the 20 years who proudly cite the award in their biographies, and who have said that receiving a Naledi elevates them in the profession, both locally and abroad.” said Lihan Pretorius.
This year we are also incredibly proud to announce our Special Award winners who have shown their grit, talent and have devoted themselves to the furtherance of theatre in all its forms in South Africa. The 2024 Special Awards go to:
STAND MOHLOPI AWARD
Luyanda Sidiya and Thoko Seganye
SPECIAL AWARD – ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATRE
Mark Cheyne (Composer – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Ballet)
LESEDI SPIRIT OF COURAGE AWARD
Mark Hawkins
CEO’S AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN/CONTRIBUTION TO THEATRE
Vuyani Dance Company
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Dr. Sibongiseni Mkhize and Jane Gosnell
The Board of the Naledi Theatre Awards are proud to announce the winners in each of the following categories voted for by our Judging Panels:
CATEGORY AWARDS:
BEST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG AUDIENCES – SUPPORTED BY ASSITEJ SA
Aladdin Jr. (Peoples Theatre)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Raymond Skinner (Aladdin Jr.; Peoples Theatre)
BEST PRODUCTION: FRINGE THEATRE
Taxi Wars (City of Ekurhuleni’s Dumisani Masilela Theatre in partnership with The Joburg Theatre)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A FRINGE THEATRE PRODUCTION
Alex Sono (Yangthola; The Art Cave in collaboration with The Market Theatre Laboratory)
BEST PRODUCTION: STUDENT THEATRE
Godspell (Oakfields College)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A STUDENT IN A STUDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION
Neo Kele (Sister Act; Fourways High School)
BEST PRODUCTION: DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Joburg Ballet)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET PRODUCTION
Thami Tshabalala & Phume Sikhakhane (No Air; Kmad Dance Company)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET PRODUCTION
Nicole Ferreira-Dill (Sleeping Beauty; Joburg Ballet)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Khutjo Green (Ka Lebitso La Moya; Standard Bank, The National Arts Festival,
Momo Matsunyane, The South African State Theatre and Bonono Kreativez)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Job Kubatsi (The Suit; The Sello Maake KaNcube Foundation, Pearl Maake KaNcube and Daphne Kuhn)
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Jonathan Conrad (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY/MOVEMENT DIRECTION IN A PLAY OR MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Anna Olivier & Naoline Quinzin (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / ARRANGEMENTS / SOUNDSCAPE
Zolani Shangase and Tshepang Dean (Ka Lebitso La Moya; Standard Bank, The National Arts Festival, Momo Matsunyane, The South African State Theatre and Bonono Kreativez)
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Amy Campbell (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST CABARET, REVUE OR SMALL SCALE MUSICAL PRODUCTION
4 Panado’s en ‘n Chardonnay (The Market Theatre Foundation and Drama Drama)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SOLO PRODUCTION
Cara Roberts (The King of Broken Things; Theatresmiths in association with The Market Theatre)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SOLO COMEDY PRODUCTION (WITH ELEMENTS OF STAND-UP)
Marianne Thamm (Marianne Thamm’s Round of Applause Reloaded!; Marianne Thamm)
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Ben Stannard, Che-Jean Jupp, Gabriella Knight, Gemma Bisseker, Gerard Van Rooyen, Hannah Norcott, Jasmine Minter, Jayden Dickson, Jude Bunyan, Killian Blerk, Nandi Nyivana, Noa Duckitt, Skye Themeda Goss, Tatum Coleman, Tjaart Van Der Walt & Tumelo Mogashoa (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY
Diphapang Mokoena, Tumelo Mokoena, Abongile Matyutyu and Mbovu Malinga (Coal Yard; The Market Theatre in partnership with Ubuxhakaxhaka Theatre Productions)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Mariska Meyer (Janice Honeyman’s Beauty and the Beast; Joburg Theatre)
BEST THEATRE SET- AND AV DESIGN
Andrew Timm and Enos Ramoroko (Janice Honeyman’s Beauty and the Beast; Joburg Theatre)
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Michael Taylor-Broderick (The King of Broken Things; Theatresmiths in association with The Market Theatre)
BEST SOUND DESIGN
David Classen (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Sylvaine Strike (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Momo Matsunyane (Ka Lebitso La Moya; Standard Bank, The National Arts Festival,
Momo Matsunyane, The South African State Theatre and Bonono Kreativez)
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: FEMALE
Natalie Robbie (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: MALE
Francis Chouler (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: FEMALE
Carmen Pretorius (Aspoestertjie – Die Pantomime; Oak Entertainment)
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION: MALE
Dylan Janse van Rensburg (Spring Awakening; Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Charmaine Weir-Smith (Expelled; How Now Brown Cow in association with The Market Theatre)
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Josias Dos Moleele (Ka Lebitso La Moya; Standard Bank, The National Arts Festival,
Momo Matsunyane, The South African State Theatre and Bonono Kreativez)
BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT / ADAPTATION
Rosalind Butler (Expelled; How Now Brown Cow in association with The Market Theatre)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Ka Lebitso La Moya (Standard Bank, The National Arts Festival, Momo Matsunyane, The South African State Theatre and Bonono Kreativez)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL / OPERA
Spring Awakening (Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (LAMTA))
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By: Chris Avant Smith
For Media Queries please WHATSAPP Chris Avant Smith on 0610609257
Or email: Straight2media@gmail.com
(Please note that all names included in this press release have been provided to the Naledi Theatre Awards by the theatres of producers concerned)
