The Board of the Naledi Theatre Awards are delighted to announce the new judges for the 2023 Awards Season.
Lihan Pretorius, Naledi Awards CEO, said “2022 has shown us that Theatre is fully back and as vibrant as ever. As judges, we saw in excess of 100 productions in 2022, which takes us back to pre-Covid levels of eligible productions.”. He went on to say, “The quality of productions in 2022 was mind-blowing, with a wonderful combination of new works and performers, combined with established performers in traditionally performed works.”.
Renos Spanoudes, Chair of judges, added “as with every year, we look at how the judges performed their onerous task and, against a set of strict criteria and through a natural attrition, some of our 2022 judges have left, mainly due to time constraints or work commitments given the sheer number of productions that needed to be seen.”
“In addition to some of the judges moving on, as the Board, we feel it’s really important to open up the panels to new judges as well” said Sello Maake Ka Ncube, Deputy Chair of the Awards, “We were pleasantly surprised by the calibre of applicants that responded to our open call for new judges.”.
“As a Board, we are really heartened by the composition of the judging panels for 2023 and we are especially excited to see what their experience and expertise in their various fields will bring to the Awards”, said Chris Avant Smith Strategy, Marketing and Sponsorship Board Member.
It is, therefore, with great pleasure that we announce the Judging Panels for 2023, which are set out below.
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Chris Avant Smith on Whatsapp 0610609257 or Straight2media@gmail.com
NALEDI THEATRE AWARDS JUDGING PANELS 2023
MANAGEMENT-/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Lihan Pretorius – CEO / Executive Director: Legal
Renos Spanoudes – Chair of Judging Panels
Chris Avant Smith – Strategy, Marketing and Sponsorships Dayle Littlefield – Administrative Manager
PLAYS AND MUSICAL THEATRE 2023
Gregory Goss – Convenor
Alby Michaels
André Schwartz (Musical Theatre only) Annelize Hicks
Chet Diepraam
Chris Avant Smith
Etienne van Niekerk
Gregg Pettigrew
Janice Leibowitz
Johan van der Merwe
Lance Maron (Musical Theatre only) Lihan Pretorius
Louisa Beukes
Maralin Vanrenen
Marié-Heleen Coetzee
Marintha Labuschagne
Nita Cronjé
Ntambo Rapatla
Renos Spanoudes
Sello Maake Ka Ncube
Talia Kodesh (Musical Theatre only) Thea Gafin (Musical Theatre only)
DANCE, PHYSICAL THEATRE AND BALLET 2023
Kelsey Middleton – Convenor Debbie Rakusin
Ignatius Van Heerden
Lesego van Niekerk
Phillida Le Roux-Liebenberg Talia Kodesh
INDEPENDENT- / FRINGE THEATRE 2023
Darren Meltz – Convenor Chubeka Nongwana Gcebile Dlamini
Gillian Wittstock Lehlohonolo Peega Lesego Moalafi
Lucky Mqoboli Thamsanqa Mbongo
STUDENT THEATRE 2023
Gillian Wittstock – Convenor Gcebile Dlamini
Johan (Swannie) Swanevelder Lihan Pretorius
Lucky Mqoboli Maralin Vanrenen Renos Spanoudes Tumelo Kope-Baloyi
CHILDREN’S THEATRE 2023
Thea Gafin – Convenor Darren Meltz
Janice Leibowitz
Johan (Swannie) Swanevelder Ratanang Mogotsi
Shira Milstein Tumelo Kope-Baloyi
