It is with great pleasure that we announce the new Naledi Theatre Awards Judges for productions staged during 2019.
The Naledi Theatre Awards for these productions will be held at the prestigious Mandela Stage at the Joburg Theatre in 2020.
The Naledi Theatre Awards (for productions staged during 2018) will be held at the new home for Naledi, the Mandela Stage at the Joburg Theatre, on Monday 20 May 2019.
Now in their 15th year, the Naledi Theatre Awards have constantly re-evaluated the theatrical landscape in South Africa as it has developed considerably during that period. The new Board of Directors, led by TV star and Law degree and marketing expert, Chairperson, Kgomotso Christopher, have been hard at work in re-imagining and re-structuring the Awards to reflect the essential transformation of theatre in our industry.
Founder of The Naledi Theatre Awards and CEO, Dawn Lindberg, (with over 50 years’ experience in the business of Show business), gave an overview of the re-structuring of the panel of judges: “over 100 professional shows are produced and staged throughout Gauteng each year, which makes it challenging for our existing panel of judges to see the requisite 80%. We have therefore created 6 new panels of judges specialising in each of the essential genres. They will be required to see and judge only the productions pertaining to their specific fields of expertise. These changes have necessitated the inclusion of nearly 50 new judges to the Naledi Awards Panels!”
Executive Director and Legal, Lihan Pretorius: Judges for each panel have been carefully selected, maintaining a good mix of age, genders and cultures. Each panel is led by a convenor and we will facilitate a special one-day workshop for the Convenors of each panel, as well as interested judges and industry participants, to explain and clarify our vision and modus operandi. We will also create liaison links with Theatre producers to assure them that they will not be inundated with judges clamouring for tickets!”
This all important and ground-breaking workshop will be held on Saturday 26 January at 13.30 for 14:00 – 17:00 followed by Q&A. Seats are limited and bookings are essential. These can be made through the Admin Manager, Kealeboga Tshenye on 010 900 4581 or info@naleditheatreawards.org.za
Continuing in his role as Chairperson of Judges, Renos Spanoudes, in ongoing consultation with the Board and Category Convenors, will ensure that the judging and eligibility criteria for each of the panels is strictly adhered to, as well as offering advice and guidance throughout the year. All panels will be re-assessed after 6 months.
The new categories and panels for productions staged during 2019 are as follows:
PLAYS – convenor – Johan van der Merwe
Andre Odendaal
Annelize Hicks
Ben Pienaar
Chris Avant-Smith
Dawn Lindberg
Eghard Basson
Gregory Goss
Henriëtta Gryffenberg
Jenni Newman
Johan Van der Merwe
Josias Moleele
Kailin Pillay
Khutjo Green
Lihan Pretorius
Marie-Heleen Coetzee
Neka Da Costa
Obett Motaung
Renos Nicos Spanoudes
Thea Gafin
Tiffany Hocking
MUSICALS/REVUE – convenor – Lance Maron
Annelise Hicks
Ben Pienaar
Chris Avant-Smith
Dawn Lindberg
Drew Bakker
Gregory Goss
Jenni Newman
Johan van der Merwe
Josias dos Santos
Kailin Pillay
Khutjo Green
Lihan Pretorius
Lance Maron
Marie-Heleen Coetzee
Neka da Costa
Renos Spanoudes
Rowan Bakker
Rudi Sadler
Tiffany Higgo
THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG AUDIENCES (0-16) – convenor – Thea Gafin
Amy Sue Lithgow
Eghard Basson
Lihan Pretorius
Ratanang Mogotsi
Renos Spanoudes
Shira Milstein
Tsholofelo Shounyane
Thea Gafin
INDEPENDENT/FRINGE – convenor – Obett Motaung
Lihan Pretorius
Amy-Sue Lithgow
Bongani Maseko
Khutjo Green
Obett Motaung
Ratanang Mogotsi
Renos Spanoudes
Tiffany Higgo
TERTIARY/INCUBATOR – convenor – Tiffany Higgo
Amy-Sue Lithgow
Chubeka Nongwana
JT Medupe
Khutjo Green
Lihan Pretorius
Neka da Costa
Obett Motaung
Renos Spanoudes
Sifiso Moyo
CONTEMPORARY DANCE/BALLET – convenor – Ignatius van Heerden
Bailey Snyman
Dawn Lindberg
Gladys Agulhas
Ignatius van Heerden
Sonia Radebe
Trish Mckenna
