The spotlight shines on: Celebrating 20 years of the Naledi Theatre Awards

By Carel Nolte

“As someone once sang, the hills are alive with the sound of music.”

As I said at this year’s Naledis, those hills were in full voice — not in the Alps, but right there at the 20th annual Naledi Theatre Awards in our State Theatre, where passion, perseverance and purpose filled every seat and stage light. It was my great honour to represent EasyEquities and present the final award of the night — Best Production of a Musical or Opera — a fitting climax to an evening that affirmed one central truth: theatre in South Africa is alive, vital and worth investing in.

From the electrifying energy of the youth-led Spring Awakening (scooping an incredible 10 awards), to the stirring tribute to the legacy of Naledi founder Dawn Lindberg, the night was a celebration of stories — and the storytellers who shape our world.

Yes, the creatives. The cast and crew. The directors and designers. But also the producers, sponsors, audiences and volunteers who — often unpaid, underfunded and unseen — make it happen. People like Bridget van Oerle, who continues to give freely of her talent to promote the arts. Or Chet Diepraam, whose passion and persuasion pulled me back into the Naledis family.

Thank you to CEO Lihan Pretorius, Chris Avant-Smith, and the entire Naledi team for keeping the flame burning for 20 years — mostly without government support. That in itself is a standing ovation moment.

It was moving to see the diversity of the nominees and winners. As Marianne Thamm so rightly said during her acceptance speech, “the audience tonight is the South Africa I love and want to see.” A theatre packed with possibility. A South Africa that reflects the best of us — not in spite of our differences, but because of them.

EasyEquities is proud to support this space. The arts matter. Theatre matters. Because stories change hearts. And when hearts shift, the world can follow.

But let’s not pretend the sector is without challenge. As a committed theatre-goer, I was embarrassed to realise I’d only seen about 75% of the nominated productions. That’s on me. But it’s also on all of us — creatives, funders and fans — to widen access, deepen engagement and bring the magic to more people.

Recognition matters. The Naledis prove that. But audiences matter too. And the best way to honour these artists is to show up. Book tickets. Take a friend. Sponsor a show. Share a link. Be present.

To every nominee, winner, and dreamer — thank you for reminding us that stories matter. You are what makes the world better.

And to everyone reading this — support the arts not because you must, but because it’s good for your soul. It’s good for society. It’s good for South Africa.

I’ll see you at the theatre.

EasyEquities brand goddess, Carly Esterhuizen, recorded this video as an introduction to the awards:

Here are this year’s winners…

SPECIAL AWARDS:

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

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))