Top honours for the overall Best Production at the festival went to Skierlik, which was presented by Arch Entertainment from Joburg. Written and performed by Phillip Dikotla, the cleverly crafted play was inspired by a true South African event that deals with family tragedy and loss. Performed in English and Setswana, the story is about a young man who returns to his home town to deal with his past.
As part of winning the Best Production category Skierlik will receive a two-week run in June in the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio. An elated Dikotla said: "When I heard the news I could not believe it. It felt like suddenly something was happening for me in the early stages of my career after struggling. I came to the festival alone in this one-person play and that was quite daunting, so to win the award is overwhelming and wonderful. I am looking forward to the two-week run at the Baxter later this year and then, after that, I will be going to the National Arts Festival fringe programme in Grahamstown. The Zabalaza team was phenomenal in their support."
The winners on the Main Programme of the 2013 Zabalaza Theatre Festival in their respective categories are Best Performance by an Actor, Waseef Piekaan in Wrongly Accused (Mitchell's Plain); Best Performance by a Supporting Actor, Thabiso Rammala in T.O and Ma7 (Soweto); Best Performance by an Actress, Andiswa Anthony in Ukuqhawuka Kweqhina (Khayelitsha); Best Performance by a Supporting Actress, Somila Toyi in How Dare You? (Khayelitsha); Best Director, Malizo Madekazi for T.O and Ma7 (Soweto); Best Script, Sello Maseko for A Moment When Love Hurts (Pretoria); Best Ensemble,T.O and Ma7 by Bohemians (Soweto); Most Promising Production, A Moment When Love Hurts by Artz Cousins Theatre (Pretoria).
The Fringe Programme winners boasts Best Performance by an Actor, Nceba Mpiliswana, in The Notebook (Mbekweni); Best Performance by an Actress, Busisiswa Mpotye, in Inxeba Lendoda Alihlekwa (Kraaifontein); Best Director, Benny Jack, for Inxeba Lendoda Alihlekwa (Kraaifontein); Best Script, Mongezi Magwa for When The World Turns Against Me Kraaifontein); Best Ensemble, Championship Of Dreams by Future Line Arts Academy (Khayelitsha); Most Promising Production, The Notebook by Massive Productions (Mbekweni) and Best of the Fringe, Inxeba Lendoda Alihlekwa by Light of Life (Kraaifontein).
The Lingua Franca Naked Slam Poetry showcase winners were awarded to Thabiso wa ga Nkoana for Best Performance Poet; Nthepa Martha Moitsheki for Best Poet and to Khanyiso Mabhodla for Most Promising Writer.
In the Creative Database Word and Beats category RIVLN Clique featuring J.A.H, Jason and Big Weazy for the song Unify received the award for Best Collaboration, Blaq Scientist for Best Produced Song (Diamonds and Pearls) and S.S.K for Best Song.
As part of the Zabalaza Generations Initiative two actors were also selected by the panel of judges to have the opportunity to audition for a role on the popular television soapie Generations on SABC 1. They are Harrison Makhubalo from Achilles Heel and Andiswa Anthony from Ukuqhawuka Kweqhina. Generations head writer Bongi Ndaba and casting director Phophi Mulaudzi attended the awards ceremony.
Ndaba explained: "We, the producers of Generations, are always keen and excited to nurture talent in the country. When the opportunity to partner Baxter's Zabalaza Festival landed in our hands, through Thami Mbongo, we jumped at the chance. As a soap we always have new characters coming in and we feel what better way than to showcase some talent out there - someone who hasn't been discovered. And there's no better place to look than theatre. The two youngsters who won will be flown by Generations to Joburg for a professional screen test, some would say audition. Then we take it from there. If they really fit any character we need, they will be considered. We are impressed by the talent this country has and platforms like Zabalaza makes it easier for us to reach the pool of actors around the country."
