KKNK 2026 Die gebed van ‘n halfmens © KKNK30 Hans van der Veen.

Site-specific drama takes the lead at KKNK Kannas.

Nicola Hanekom’s latest site-specific drama, Die gebed van ’n halfmens, is nominated for ten Kanna Awards following the 30th KKNK.

These nominations include amongst others, Best Director, Best Production: Theatre, Best Debut Work: Theatre, Best Literary Contribution, Best Design and/or Technical Contribution, for the technical execution of the drama, as well as five performer nominations.

The KKNK’s Kanna Awards are adjudicated by an independent panel and annually recognise excellence at the festival in the Klein Karoo.

The return of Breyten Breytenbach’s Boklied, directed by Marthinus Basson, is nominated for seven Kannas, including Best Director, Best Production: Theatre, Best Design and/or Technical Contribution for technical execution, Best Ensemble, and three performer awards.

Tom Lanoye’s Atropa: Die wraak van vrede (also directed by Basson) is nominated for six Kannas, including Best Production: Theatre, Best Debut Work: Theatre, Exceptional Literary Contribution for Lanoye’s translation to Afrikaans, as well as three performer awards.

Ek is nie Danie by Danie Marais directed by Nico Scheepers, is nominated for five Kannas, including Best Director, Best Production: Music Theatre, Exceptional Literary Contribution for the script and adaptation by Marais, as well as Best Design and/or Technical Contribution for the sound design of the production.

Die ander dogter, a new one-person drama with Sandra Prinsloo, is nominated for four Kannas: Best Director (Lara Foot), Best Debut Work: Theatre, Best Production: Theatre and Best Design and/or Technical Contribution for the drama’s set and lighting design.

Five productions are nominated for three Kannas each: Carla Smith’s debut comedy CRYBABY, the debut of Andrew Buckland’s new drama The Fool’s Guide, Breyten Breytenbach’s last theatre production Verwelkingslied, Anna Davel en The Melisizwe Plaatjie Collective and the cabaret Wat om te doen as die wêreld brand by Bibi Slippers.

“The 30th KKNK’s packed programme presented a major challenge for the panel: we had more than 60 theatre productions and nearly 40 music productions to get through within a week, and thanks to each panel member’s dedication, professionalism, and sheer passion and love for theatre and music, it was one of the most rewarding challenges one could give this group.

“What gives you even more energy during such a week, however, is the quality of the art presented on stages, in sand pits, on sports fields, in galleries, and yes, even on rubbish dumps. It encompassed a broad spectrum of human experiences and emotions. There were well-known legends in new guises, and exciting emerging talent that made seasoned theatre and concertgoers sit upright and take notice.

“We were once again reminded how hard people work behind the scenes to make this festival happen, and as a result the technical teams at all the venues deserve special mention without a doubt,” says Naudé van der Merwe, convenor of the Kanna panel.

The independent Kanna judging panel for KKNK 2026 was Van der Merwe (convenor), Nolan Africa, Amelda Brand, Felicia Lesch, Wayne Muller, Ilza Roggeband, Tracey Saunders and Fahiem Stellenboom. A total of 25 children between the ages of 6 and 13 years from the broader Oudtshoorn community served on the Children’s Panel. Furthermore, the Kanna judging panel was supported by Haddad Viljoen, Marguerite Robinson and Diane de Beer, who adjudicated the Kanna for Best Contribution to Visual Arts.

Kanna Awards are sponsored by amongst others Absa, Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, ATKV, Castle Lager, Dotsure, Sonn Family Trust, Ton & Anet Vosloo, Wicus Pretorius, Glenwood Travel and the RautenTrust.

The winners will be announced at a glamorous event at Leopard’s Leap in Franschhoek on Thursday 14 May. A special panel prize, a special Kanna Award for Service to the KKNK and a Kanna for Exceptional Technical Service to the KKNK are also awarded during the event.

The 30th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, was presented in Oudtshoorn from Saturday 28 March to Saturday 4 April. KKNK 2026 was presented with the support of the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, Netwerk24, kykNET, ATKV, Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape Government.

Next year the KKNK takes place from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 March 2027. For more information, visit kknk.co.za or contact 044 203 8600, info@kknk.co.za or send a WhatsApp to 065 285 2337.

The complete list of Kanna nominations is:

Best Production: Comedy

•              Beste van alle tye

•              Comedy by Committie!

•              CRYBABY

•              Kry vir jou ’n tux, Thomas

•              Ouma en die ou koeie

Best Production: Theatre

•              Atropa: Die wraak van vrede

•              Boklied

•              Die ander dogter

•              Die gebed van ’n halfmens

•              Verwelkingslied

Best Production: Music Theatre

•              Amanda Strydom en Je-Ani Swiegelaar: Tillie / Mathilda

•              Die kronieke van Buks

•              Ek is nie Danie

•              Hoort

•              Ommitafel

•              Wat om te doen as die wêreld brand

Best Debut Production: Music

•              Amanda Strydom en Je-Ani Swiegelaar: Tillie / Mathilda

•              Anna Davel en The Melisizwe Plaatje Collective

•              Die kronieke van Buks

•              Ommitafel

•              Stille vuur

•              Wat om te doen as die wêreld brand

Best Debut Production: Theatre

•              Atropa: Die wraak van vrede

•              Deep Heat

•              Die ander dogter

•              Die gebed van ’n halfmens

•              Spoel

•              The Fool’s Guide

Best Production: Contemporary Music

•              Anna Davel en Ilse Klink in harmonie

•              Anna Davel en The Melisizwe Plaatje Collective

•              KLAWER

•              Stille vuur

•              The Scullery Quintet: Stir-Fried Sonatas

Best Production: Blitsteater

•              Badtyd

•              Excerpts | Uittreksels

•              Met die maan gepla

Exceptional Literary Contribution (Newly created script, compilation or translation)

•              Bibi Slippers for the script of Wat om te doen as die wêreld brand

•              Danie Marais for the script and adaptation of Ek is nie Danie

•              Francois Toerien for the script of Hortjies dig: Die storie van digter Peter Blum

•              Nicola Hanekom for the script of Die gebed van ’n halfmens

•              Tom Lanoye for the translation of Atropa: Die wraak van vrede

•              Tshiamo Moretlwe for the script of Filled

Best Ensemble

•              Beste van alle tye

•              Boklied

•              Ganga Nyoko! Inzima Nyoko!

•              GAT

•              Zip Zap Circus: MOYA

Best Director

•              Janet Buckland (The Fool’s Guide)

•              Lara Foot (Die ander dogter)

•              Marthinus Basson (Boklied)

•              Nico Scheepers (Ek is nie Danie)

•              Nico Scheepers (Seun)

•              Nicola Hanekom (Die gebed van ’n halfmens)

Best Female Performer in a Leading Role

•              Anna-Mart van der Merwe (Atropa: Die wraak van vrede)

•              Antoinette Kellermann (Verwelkingslied)

•              Carla Smith (Atropa: Die wraak van vrede)

•              Miché van Wyk (GAT)

•              Rolanda Marais (Atropa: Die wraak van vrede)

•              Veronique Jephtas (Boesman en Lena)

Best Male Performer in a Leading Role

•              Albert Pretorius (Ek is nie Danie)

•              Andrew Buckland (The Fool’s Guide)

•              De Klerk Oelofse (Boklied)

•              Marlo Minnaar (Die gebed van ’n halfmens)

•              Tony Miyambo (Kafka’s Ape)

•              Wilhelm van der Walt (Seun)

Beste Female Performer in a Supporting Role

•              Alyssa Dionne (Die gebed van ’n halfmens)

•              Annelisa Weiland (Die gebed van ’n halfmens)

•              Daneel van der Walt (ge-gebergtes)

•              Minke Marais (Doolhof)

•              Nicole Holm (CRYBABY)

Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role

•              Brendon Daniels (Die gebed van ’n halfmens)

•              David Viviers (Boklied)

•              Frank Opperman (CRYBABY)

•              Keagon Cochrane (Boklied)

•              Tobie Cronjé (Die gebed van ’n halfmens)

Best Design and/or Technical Contribution

•              Marthinus Basson, Nicolaas de Jongh and Elana Snyman for the design and overall technical execution of Boklied

•              Wolf Britz for the set and lighting design of Die ander dogter

•              Nicola Hanekom and Elana Snyman for the design and technical execution of Die gebed van ’n halfmens

•              Schalk Joubert for the sound design of Ek is nie Danie

•              Marí Borstlap for the design of Verwelkingslied

Best Visual Arts Presentation

•              Brother Bear in Africa – Diane Victor (part of PLEK / PLACE)

•              Goue veer – Liza Grobler (part of PLEK / PLACE)

•              Kans Karoo – Hannah Paton and Barrydale Hand Weavers

•              PLEK / PLACE: A Geographical or Emotional Space – Liza Grobler (curator)

Best Production: Children’s Theatre

•              Hou die wêreld vas

•              Kaskenades!

•              Liewe Heksie word ‘gescam’

•              Zip Zap Circus: MOYA

Best Emerging Artist or Newcomer                                      

•              Graigan Mentoor Papier – saxophonist of the Papier Family Band

•              Heinrich Wentzel – performance in Akrasia     

•              Kristen Fichardt – script of Badtyd (Blitsteater)              

•              Kristen Fichardt and Shannon Hendry – script of Akrasia          

•              Kristi Steyn – song and lyrics in As die mooi aan ons haak        

•              Melisizwe Plaatjie – musical direction of Anna Davel en The Melisizwe Plaatjie Collective

•              Robert Kruger – script, directing, lighting and sound design of Doolhof

J.C. Aucamp
jc@kunste.org.za
076 333 5945   
KKNK
http://kknk.co.za