The Naledi Theatre Awards was founded in 2004 and is recognised as the Premier Awards Event on the Gauteng Theatre Calendar.

It was founded by the late Dawn Lindberg, together with her husband, Living Legend Des Lindberg. Naledi’s mission is to recognize and reward excellence in the Performing Arts, to raise the profile of Live Theatre and to create awareness of the abundant talent alive and well on our SA stages. The Naledi Theatre Awards has honoured in excess of 70 Lifetime Achievers: veteran artistes, technicians, and administrators who have dedicated their lives to SA Theatre, and also pays tribute to people in the Arts who have taken their final bows during the year under review. The Naledi Theatre Awards normally covers professional productions from the period 1 January to 31 December of the previous year and the Naledi Judges typically evaluate over 100 productions in approximately 38 categories.

Founder

Dawn Lindberg

Founder of the Naledi Awards and appointed Living Legend with husband Des, by the Minister of Arts & Culture. BA (Fine Arts) WITS. Diplomas from Urbino, Italy and Salzburg. Entertainer and Independent Theatre Producer for 55 years.

Board of Directors

Dr. John Kani

Patron

International Award winning playwright, actor and director: “Sizwe Banzi is dead”, “Nothing but the Truth, “Missing”.  Recently starred in his own play “Kunene and the King” with Sir Anthony Sher. Starred in award winning movie: “Black Panther” and voiced Rafiki for the movie “The Lion King”.

Lihan Pretorius

CEO

Head of Legal: LEAD Group, Lecturer: Law Society of South Africa, Director (musicals & plays), and rugby referee.

Kgomotso Christopher

Chairperson

International Award-winning Playwright and Director. Master Fine Arts, Columbia University. SAFTA winner: best supporting actress in Scandal 2019/2020.

Anthony Chait 

Finance & Audit & Risk

Former non-executive director: SA Reserve Bank;

Recent publisher of the book: “Daar’s Kak in die Land.”

Sello Maake Ka Ncube

Deputy Chairperson

Esteemed Writer & Director; Performer of Stage (The Suit, Raisin in the Sun) TV (Generations, Scandal) & movies (SA, USA, UK & Canada).

Renos Spanoudes

Chair: Judging Panel

Playwright, Actor, Radio Presenter, & Drama Teacher.

Des Lindberg

Executive Director & Technical

Script and Lyric writer. BA (Wits).

Entertainer and Independent Theatre Producer for 55 years.

Chris Avant Smith

PR & Marketing

Corporate communications practitioner & Theatre PR. Producer (TV, film, theatre, events). Host & producer: Rant & Rave (Radio Today).

Des & Dawn Lindberg

Des & Dawn Lindberg.

The Naledi Theatre Awards was created by Dawn Lindberg in 2004 and she and Des built it into the biggest and most respected Awards Event in South Africa to recognise and honour excellence in Live Theatre.

Des and Dawn Lindberg both received the accolade of Living Legends by the Minister of Arts & Culture, Mr Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa.

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Aims & Objectives

  • To raise the profile of South African theatre
  • To stage a world-class awards event annually that includes entertainment from productions staged during the year under review
  • To become branded as the most respected award system for live theatre in South Africa
  • To hold a mirror to live theatre in South Africa and reflect what is staged on our stages during each calendar year
  • To sustain a national television media partner and thereby further popularize the performing arts industry to a wider cross-section of the population
  • To build new audiences of the future who will become regular theatre-goers
  • To recognize and reward young emerging producers and performers
  • To recognize theatre for children and young audiences
  • To identify and secure partners for funding and sponsorship in order to sustain and grow the Naledi Theatre Awards in all these spheres

The Naledi Team 2020

Creative Concept | Stage Direction

Dawn Lindberg

Assistant Director

Lihan Pretorius

Online Directors

Dan Correia & Dan Stillerman

AV: Nominees & In Memorium

Lungile Michael Themba (Nalithemba Productions)

AV: Mapping & Animation

Dan Correia (Nova Studios)

AV: Nominations Voice Over

Sipumziwe Lucwaba

AV: Nominations Music

Sipumzo Lucwaba & Blake Hellaby

Script & Citations

Dawn Lindberg (Silver Moon Productions)

Publicist | Social Media

Chris Avant Smith | Straight2Media

Website

Calum Stevenson | Blue Key Digital Marketing

ENTERTAINMENT 2020: 

  • ”Bingdu”, the Pandemic Project by UJ Arts & Culture Dept., choreographed and performed by Ignatius van Heerden; 
  • “We will be Back” written by Lungile Themba, performed by Nominees: 
  • “Children will Listen” from Into the Woods performed by Kate Normington; 
  • Pas de deux from Don Quixote, performed by Shannon Glover and Ruan Galdino: Joburg Ballet; 
  •  “It’s a Fine, Fine Line” from Loving You, performed by Sharon Spiegel Wagner, Lance Maron, Lorrie Strauss and Musanette Sakupwanya Accomp Drew Bakker;
  • Halleluja performed by the Roedean choir conducted by Ralf Schmitt; 
  • “Asimbonanga” performed by Johnny Clegg with Madiba;
  • “Angola Camp 13” performed by the cast; 
  • “Call Me Al” from Here’s to you

PRESENTERS:

  • Derek Watts
  • Thea Gafin
  • Tiffany Higgo
  • Lance Maron
  • Renos Spanoudes
  • Sello Maake ka Ncube
  • Kgomotso Christopher
  • Lihan Pretorius
  • Chris Avant-Smith
  • Kailin Pillay
  • Des Lindberg
  • Dawn Lindberg

MC/HOST:

Sne Dladla