Cape Town Theatre Awards
A new era for the much-loved and long-running Cape Town theatre awards has been announced, alongside the nominees for the 61st Awards.
Building the scaffolding which has supported a 60-yearlong institution is no mean feat. In recent months that is what has been required to maintain the oldest theatre awards in the country. The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards enter a new era this year with a renaming to the Cape Town Theatre Awards. A newly established NPO will ensure their continued longevity and stability.
Founded by the United Tobacco Company in 1965, who sponsored the awards until 1977, the awards have always celebrated excellence. When the Oude Meester Foundation for the Performing Arts took over the sponsorship in 1978, the awards were renamed the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. Since the merger of the Distillers Corporation in 2000, the foundation was renamed and Distell Arts and Culture continued sponsoring the awards and several other creative organisations. After Heineken’s acquisition of Distell in 2023, that support continued until last year.
The CTTA is grateful for the generous investment in the arts sector that these companies have provided for the performing arts in Cape Town. Now the awards embark upon a new future. One with Cape Town as the main stakeholder reflected in the name of the awards.
“We are indebted to Distell and Heineken for their investment over many years, elevating these Awards to what they have become,” he says. “As we embark on a journey of transition, our awards event will be more intimate, but with the same heart of placing artistic excellence centre stage and in the spotlight,” says Panel Chair, Africa Melane.
“It is vital to recognise South African artists, encouraging them to continue sharing stories on stage and uniting us in an enriching experience that helps us to understand one another. We honour the astounding talent that exists here in Cape Town,” says Melane.
As this new chapter evolves, Melane says the panel will be exploring how the awards can implement initiatives that support theatre practitioners throughout the year.
The musical Cats earned 11 nominations, including Best Director and Best Production. Garnering seven nominations each were the one-woman show Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater and the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
An impressive 65 productions were eligible for consideration in 2025. Nominations were made by the panel of judges across 23 competitive categories. Some plays have enjoyed critical acclaim elsewhere but are only eligible this time for the CTTA, despite being staged previously.
In the student category, there were 139 students that were eligible for consideration. The institutions represented were Act (Cape Town), AFDA, CTDPS, LAMTA, University of Stellenbosch and the Waterfront Theatre School.
“The panel of judges was especially impressed by the quality of the new South African scripts which showcased the wealth of stories that are uniquely ours, adding to the vibrant tapestry of theatre. Audiences were invited on compelling journeys through history, emotion, sacrifice, and celebration,” says Melane.
Among the contenders, there were no less than 32 new South African scripts, sharing the lives, hopes dreams and despairs of the country. From very personal and intimate revelations in Beggared in South Africa, Cotton Wool Kid, earthside, Messy and Spin Cycles to the visceral excavation of South Africa’s violent history in Moffie, Undermined and Isidlamilo/The Fire Eater and the Grab After a Doll’s House.
Musicals continue to resonate with local audiences and old favourites including Chicago, Cats and Joseph and the Technicolour Dream Coat returned to the stage while Dear Evan Hansen was staged in South Africa for the first time. Local musicals Alice in the Cape Flats and Colleen the Musical had audiences out of their seats as they embraced very relatable and recognisable characters. While musicals provided escapism, they still explored heartfelt and often deeply moving themes. Children were also treated with their very own musical, Moana Jr. and were able to relate to the majority of the cast, who were children themselves.
Recent years have seen the addition of some of the highlights from the Afrikaans Festival circuit adapted to English and staged in both languages. This allowed audiences to experience Hedda Gabler and Glass Menagerie / Speelgoed van Glas in either one or both English and Afrikaans.
The recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre Awards will also be announced at the ceremony.
The nominees for the 61st Cape Town Theatre Awards are, in alphabetical order:
- AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT
- Asanda Mngadi | Waterfront Theatre School
- Britney Mackenzie Baker | AFDA
- Heinrich Wentzel | Stellenbosch University
- Katlego Thikithana Phetla | CTDPS
- Kimi Mia de Beer | Stellenbosch University
- Konstandinos Vavatzanidis | CTDPS
- Michelle Junker | LAMTA
- Scarlett Pay | LAMTA
- Shannon Hendry | Stellenbosch University
- Tumelo Gwanzura | AFDA
- BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Neil Coppen & Mpume Mthombeni
Moffie | written and adapted by Philip Rademeyer (based on the Novel by André Carl van der Merwe)
Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town | Louis Viljoen
Undermined | Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Nzama, Luke Brown, Stefan Erasmus, Tara Louise Notcutt
The Grab After a Doll’s House | Morapeleng Molekoa
- BEST NEW DIRECTOR
David Muller | A South African adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman
Henu Baden | Lemons,Lemons,Lemons
Larica Schnell | Spin Cycles
Samuel Jumat | ’n Pandok se Liefde
Zubayr Charles | this bra’s a psycho
- BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Kipper and the Toy Box / Vlooi en die Speelgoedkis
Moana Jr
The Magic Flute
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE
Cats | Austin Tshikosi, Brittane van Loggerenberg, Cassiel Eatock-Winnik, Darren Rockman, Hannah Marshall, Harry Smallman, Jackie Lulu, Marco Titus, Michael Fullard, Morgan Marshall, Noa Duckitt, Phoebe Charles, Ryan Flynn, Scarlett Pay, Sibusiso Mxosana, Sipesihle Ngamlana, Stephan Van Der Walt, Tania Mteto, Tannah Levick, Tatum Coleman, Zoë Mclaughlin
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Asanda Rilityana; Atandwa Kani, Buhle Themisile, Eben Genis,
Jennifer Steyn, Mongi Mthombeni, Wessel Pretorius
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Anna Olivier, Bradley Smith, Braeden Buys, Danie Conradie, Dylan Du Plessis, Gemma Bisseker, Gianluca Gironi, Jasmine Minter, Jayden Dickson, Justin Swartz, Léa Blerk, Logan Cornelius, Manyano Ngoma, Michael Stray, Michiel Bester, Miguel De Sampaio, Stuart Brown, Yethu Kibi
La Ronde | Aidan Scott, Awethu Hleli, Berenice Barbier, Carlo Daniels, Lyle October, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe, Tamzin Daniels
The Cry of Winnie Mandela | Ayanda Sibisi (Delisiwe), Les Nkosi (Prof Ndebele), Pulane Rampoana (Mamello); Rami Chuene (Manette), Siyasinga Papu (Marara), Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo (Winnie Mandela)
- BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW
David Viviers | Moffie
Mpume Mthombeni | Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
Tony Bonani Miyambo | Kafka’s Ape
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Carlo Daniels | Randall Simons | Colleen The Musical
Dean de Klerk | Amos | Chicago
Jordan Roelfze | Mr Mistoffelees | Cats
Tshepo Ncokoane | Bustopher Jones and Gus (Asparagus) | Cats
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Edith Plaatjies | Widow Mustapha | Aladdin
Jill Levenberg | Bronwynn Jeffries | Colleen The Musical
Samantha Peo | Velma Kelly | Chicago
Sharon Spiegel Wagner | Cynthia Murphy | Dear Evan Hansen
Tankiso Mamabolo | Matron Mama Morton | Chicago
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Dylan Janse van Rensburg | Joseph | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Jonathan Roxmouth | Billy Flynn | Chicago
King B | Old Deuteronomy | Cats
Marc Lottering | Colleen | Colleen The Musical
Stuart Brown | Evan Hansen | Dear Evan Hansen
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
Cindy Ann Abrahams | Grizabella | Cats
Kate Normington | Tracey Boonzaaier | Colleen The Musical
Kiruna-Lind Devar | Roxie Hart | Chicago
Lelo Ramasimong | Narrator | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Lucy Tops | Heidi Hansen | Dear Evan Hansen
- BEST PUPPETRY DESIGN
Adrian Kohler and William Kentridge | FAUSTUS IN AFRICA!
Greg King | Jack and the Beanstalk
- BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Cats | Russell Thompson
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Wesley France
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Tina Le Roux
Moffie | Niall Griffin
Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie | Nico Scheepers
- BEST SET DESIGN
Aladdin | Fred Abrahamse
Cats | John Napier
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Adrian Kohler
Hedda Gabler | Rocco Pool
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Dylan McGarry, Greg King, Neil Coppen, Steven Woodroffe Wendy Henstock
- BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Aladdin | Marcel Meyer
Cats | John Napier
Chicago | William Ivey Long
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Niall Griffin
Julius Caesar | Marcel Meyer and Fred Abrahamse
- BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC, SOUNDSCAPE OR LIVE PERFORMANCE
Cats | Louis Zurnamer, Kurt Haupt, Jess West, Jack Griessel, Jarryd West, Nick Pitman, Nick Ford, Carl Ashford, Carla Ferreira
Hedda Gabler | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Tristan Horton
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | David Classen
Moffie | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
- BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – MALE
Innocent Masuku | Count Almaviva | The Barber of Seville
Lukhanyo Moyake | Radames | Aida
Thando Zwane | Figaro | The Barber of Seville
William Berger | Bluebeard | Bluebeard’s Castle
William Berger | Figaro | The Barber of Seville
- BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – FEMALE
Brittany Smith | Rosina | The Barber of Seville
Nobulumko Mgnxekeza | Aida | Aida
Nonhlanhla Yende | Amneris | Aida
Setsoane Ntseki | Rosalinde | Die Fledermaus
Siphamandla Moyake | Judith | Bluebeard’s Castle
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Albert Pretorius | Caliban | The Tempest
Anzio September | this bra’s a psycho
David Viviers | Antonio/Stephano | The Tempest
Ludwig Binge | Løvburg | Hedda Gabler
Mark Elderkin | Jim | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Ashley de Lange | Thea | Hedda Gabler
Carla Smith | Laura | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie
Jane de Wet | Miranda | The Tempest
Tankiso Mamabolo | Sebastian/Trinculo | The Tempest
Thea Martelize Kolver | Julia (Juliana) | Hedda Gabler
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Anna-Mart van der Merwe | Amanda | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie
Emily Child | Florence | The Vulgarians
Fiona Ramsay | Elizabeth I/Julius Caesar | Julius Caesar
Jenny Stead | Elsa | Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town
Rolanda Marais | Hedda | Hedda Gabler
- BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Aidan Scott | Marcus | Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town
Alan Committie | Hercule Poirot | Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee
Albert Pretorius | George/Jurg | Hedda Gabler |
Ben Albertyn | Tom | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie
Billy Langa | Guru | Poet-O-Type
- BEST DIRECTOR
Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Chrissie Cartwright | Cats
Christiaan Olwagen | Hedda Gabler
Greg Karvellas | Moffie
Neil Coppen | Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
- BEST PRODUCTION
Cats | Pieter Toerien, GWB Entertainment and Cape Town Opera, in association with LW Entertainment
Hedda Gabler | Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees and The Baxter
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Empatheatre in association with the National Arts Festival
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Pieter Toerien Productions and Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA)
Moffie | The Common Humanity Arts Trust in association With The Baxter Theatre Centre
The date and venue of the 2025 Awards Ceremony is yet to be confirmed.
The 2025 eligible productions were:
2Lovers, A Doll’s House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath, Adaptation of Gogol’s Diary of a Madman, Agatha Christie’s BLACK COFFEE, Aida, Aladdin, Alice in the Cape Flats, An Apprenticeship with Sorrow, An Unromantic Comedy, Atlas of Remote Islands, Becoming Benno, Beggared in SA, Bitter Winter, Blood & Silver, Bluebeard’s Castle, Cats, Chicago, Colleen The Musical, Cottonwool Kid, Count to Five , Darwin – a curious mind, Dear Evan Hansen, Die Fledermaus, earthside, FAUSTUS IN AFRICA!, Feedback, Hedda Gabler , I can buy myself flowers, Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater , Jack and the Beanstalk, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Julius Caesar, Kafka’s Ape, La Ronde, Lemons,Lemons,Lemons, Messy, MOANA Jr, Moffie, Mrs. Mitchell Comes To Town, Ms. B-Haved, ’n Pandok se Liefde, Poet-O-Type, Purpose, Rescue Remedy, Schumann & Janacek Unbound , Spin Cycles, Stirred not Shaken, Take me To Town, The Barber of Seville, The Cardinal, The Cry Of Winnie Mandela, The Glass Menagerie/ Speelgoed van Glas, The Grab After A Doll’s House, The Magic Flute, The Sun Is a Star and We Know What It’s made Of, The Tempest, The Tramp, The Vulgarians, this bra’s a psycho, Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story , To Life, With Love, Triptych: Women at War , Undermined, Vlooi en die Speelgoedkis / Kipper and the Toy Box, Zoo Story.
The panel for 2025 year was: Africa Melane (Chair), Dr Beverley Brommert, Hadley Tituss, , Naude van der Merwe, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Roxy Marosa Sive Gubangxa, Thabo K Makgolo, Tracey Saunders and Dr Wayne Muller.
For press pics of nominees visit here.
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ISSUED BY
Christine Skinner
christinemskinner@gmail.com
082 855 7277
On behalf of:
Cape Town Theatre Awards
